Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1901-12-26

James r. Hay, secretary of the Pa
cific Lumber company, at Salt Lake,
who disappeared Monday night after
having collected SO, 500 due from Peter
Morteusen, contractor, was foully
murdered His body was found We'd
nesday forenoon buried in a shallow
grave along the right of way of the
Rio Grande Westerns Park City line,
near Sixth East and Twelfth South.
Hay was shot in the back of the head
twice, and his head evidently bruised
with some blunt instrument.
Peter Mortensen, the man who al
leges he paid the money, and who has
Hays receipt for the same, is in Jail
charged with the crime.
The story is an unusual one. Nor
Jensen was indebted TO the Pacific
Lumber company in the sum of $1,000.
Monday after banking hours he called
at the uptown office of the company,
and stated that he had the money at
home to discharge the obligation, and
requested that Hay call that evening
lectured and get it. ManagerGeorge E.
Romney Mortensen for keeping so much
money at home, and positively refused to
send for the money, and positively in
structed Hay not to accept the money
until the next morning. With this un-
derstanding Mortensen and Hay left
the office and took a car for home, they
living in Forest Dale, few rods apart.
What transpired on the way home to
induce Hay to disobey positive orders
and call for the money at night is not
known.
About o'clock Monday night Hay
drew on his overcoat and left home for
Mortensens S to get the money, telling
his wife of his errand, and stating
that he would not be absent long.
Mrs. Hay retired and did not awaken
until 3 o'clock, when she became APP
prehensive because her husband had
not returned, and hastily dressing her.
self, went across the street to Morten-
sens house, arousng him to inquire
about the missing man. Mortensen
assured her that Hay had left his house
with the money about 10 o'clock to
take the money up town to turn over
to Mr.. Romney, and that he probably
missed the last car home and had re-
manned up town with friends.
AS Hay did not appear Tuesday
morning, an inquiry was set on foot.
Mortensen told straight story about
| Hays having called about 9:30 o'clock,
taken the money and given a receipt
for the same, which he exhibited; that
he had left shortly afterward with the
intention of taking the money up town
and turning it over to Mr.. Romney for
safe keeping.
| Putting these circumstances together
the officers suspected flight, and sent
descriptions of the missing man abroad
in hopes of apprehending him. Hay
| friends and associates, however, in
sisted that he had either been foully
dealt with or had lost his reason, and
their suspicious were verified by subse-
quent developments.
Upon the discovery of the grave the
officers were notified. Neighbors OF
Hay were soon on the ground, among
whom was Mortensen, When the offi-
GERS arrived the body was soon un-
covered. The grave was barely eigh.
teen inches deep, and scarcely covered
the dead mans feet. The hands were
folded across his breast, and his over
coat drawn over his face to hide it from
the assassin's view or to protect it from
the dirt.
After short consultation, Morten.
sen was arrested on suspicion of having
committed the deed, and is awaiting a
preliminary examination. He stoutly
maintains his innocence.