davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-12-19
WIFE AND SISTER-IN.LAW TELL STORY
THAT MAY PROVE ALIBl FOR MORTENSEN

The groundwork of an abb, should
Peter Mortensen De formally charged
with the murder CT Hay, is found in
the declaration of his wife and sister
in-law. who assert that Mortensen was
in their company at the time shat Hay
IS believed to have been dying at the
hands of an assassin.
Mrs MOrtensen and her sister-in-
law were brought into town yesterday
by the officers and taken to the Office
of County Attorney Christensen, where
they related their stories TO the county
attorney. Mrs. Mortensen told a
straightforward story and in most of
il coTroborated the statements of her
husband. She said that her husband
had been at home some time when Mr..
Hay came, and went with him into
the middle room Of the house. She said
that they remained there a short time
and that then Hay left, going out the
south door. Her husband. she said,
had accompanied him to the door, and
after standing thcTa q few moments.
closed the door anS remained in the
house. while iater, she said he
went home with his sister-in-law, but
was gone only a short time and re-
turned.
In regard to the alleged payment Of
the $500 to Hay, Mrs. Mortensen
could give no. information. She said
that she did not know that there was
any money hidden about the house, and
did not know that Mr.. Mortensen paid
Mr. Hay. She said she and her lister
in-law were in d rear room and that
she did not see any money or sack of
gold in the possession Of Hay when he
left. but she did not know whether he
had it or not. She had heard no
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-12-19
POLICE MAKE SEARCH
OF MoRTENsEN's HOUSE.

The police, after making a thorough
search Of Mortensen's cellar, where he
claimed to have had the money hidden,
freely expressed themselves as believ-
ing that he had never had any money
there. They declared that there was
not a sign to show where any money
had been hidden. A thorough search
of the cellar was made yesterday by
Detective Sheets and Assistant County
Attorney BoOfbourow. They made
close examination of the walls below
the joists. where MOrtensen claimed to
have had the jars containing the money
hidden, and they state that there was
nothing to show that the dust which
had accumulated on the walls had been
disturbed anywhere.
There were no signs of the jars. and
the undisturbed condition of the dust,
according TO the officers. showed that
none had been there. After making the
search the detective and attorney were
confident that no money had been hid
den there. A thorough search of the
whole house failed to reveal any signs
of the money or the jars in which IL
vas alleged to have been hidden.
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-12-19

Every place was examined that was
thought likely TO conceal a revolver.
In going through a bookcase Sergeant
burnidge found a small 5z-calibre pIs-
toll he weapon was discovered hid
den behind number OF books. 1t was
rusty on one side, and the make is not
discernable, but it is the opinion OF the
officers that it is a cheap article.
When examined two chambers were
found to be empty, two were still load
ed and one carried an empty shell The
weapon is old and bears no evidence
Of having been cleaned recently, so the
officers are unable to decide from the
appearance of the weapon whether the
chambers were emptied before or after
he murder.
Sergeant Burbidge made no state
ment as to when ne thought the YEA
pom was used last, saying that from
It's appearance il was impossible TO
judge.
From the fact that the bullet found
in Hays head was apparently 5s-
Caiibre the officers are not inclined TO
attach much importance TO this small
revolver.
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-12-19
FRANK T0RGERSEN TELLS HOW
He FOUND THE BODY OF HAY

Il was a strange combination Of cir
cumstanees that led Frank Torgersen's
steps to the spot where the evidence
Of the crime was concealed and
prompted him TO tear from the grave
its Ocead zee It. Torgersen's story as
relateI Last Tight to a reporter Tor The
Herall follows in his own words:
son tirie near o'clock, possibly
little ear ier, I looked OUT from my
home across the prairie TO the north
and missed one Of the three horses We
are keepinr for hire on tile big lot
north of the railroad tracks. Thinking
that something was wrong 1 set of
eoross the 1U.ste Of snow 20 investi-
gate. ReaeLing the slight elevation
near the Rio Grande x Western track
q looked of across The field and saw
tae inisang horse.
At the same time = EtSune ci0se at
hand attracted my attention. 1t was
a9Fiously a grave. the mound consist
Sis.g o. earth thrown loosely over what
ever was wirhla. ana the snow being
feraped back III an effort = cover up
f1e. exposed earth
AT different times valuable dogs
have been killed hereabouts and cen
eealed. VITA the thought that might
receive reward FOR clearing up the
mystery Of the 5izappearance OF some
ones pet e1iHabsd the barbed-wire
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-12-19
JAMES R HAY VICTIM
OF ASSASSIN'S BULLET
(Conenued from Page Il

the ditch along the tracks to unearth
the rretended cached wealth, or else
an effort might have been made to dig
a grave, and abandoned for more
suitable spot.
In airy event something happened
something nOJ on the programme, and
for which Hay was unprepared. Back
in peaceful Forest Dale there were
those who heard what they thought to
he the faint echo of a shot Laughed
at Tor their fears. they sought their
beds and held their peace. Across the
trackn leaving a telltale trail Of
blood an that was mortal of James
Hay was dragged. It was a strcng
man who did the work. for his victim
was lifted over the ditch and thrown
bodily over the five-strand barbed-Wire
fence beyond. 1T was also one who q ID
not relish the job, for he shut out the
view OF the face before BIN by pulling
his victims 5vercOat from the back
and drew it over his face like a cowl.
il was no common thief or hold-up
nan who took these precautions the
officers declare, nor was it characteris-
tic OF q common thug to bury his VIC
tim as deoently as possible, his watch
and valuables untouched. his arms
folded and his face sin hooded and
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-12-19
MoRTENSEN COLLECTED
SUN OF MONEY MONDAY

The claim of AOrtensen that he had
$500 hidden in two fruit jars in the
cellar caused comment on every hand
yesterday and there was much con-
lecture as to whether there could have
been that sum Of money there. 1t was
learned yesterday that Morten-
son on last Monday received a
check from John Sharp for 81
200, as payment for work done
on a house for him. This, it was
learned further, was cashed by MOrten-
sen at the Deseret National bank Mon
cay afternoon. MoTtensen said Wnen
questioned yesterday afternoon that he
had collected other checks and cashed
them, but he did not know just what
they were.
George VI. Cannon of the State bank.
where MOrtenSen has been transacting
his business, when seen yesterday
afternoon stated that ne did not know
whether MOrtensen had cashed any
checks there lately or not. He, how
ever, stated that he knew Mortensen
had been in hard financial straits for
q year past and that he had been
bounded by his creditors through the
Luke collection agency. Last night Mr..
Cannon said that he had learned that
NOrtensen had collected other money
besides the check from Mr.. Sharp, and
that he did have the amount he
claimed. at his house. He said that
MOrtensen had told him that he kept
the money there because his creditors
were after him, and he wanted to pay It
to the lumber company before they
got a chance to get at it.
It was learned from the Luke coIIec-
ton agency yesterday that they had
some claims against Mortenson, but
that they had been unable to get their
money.
Mr.. Cannon stated that he knew Nor
Jensen had been behind with his con-
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-12-19

out The murderer had come wei pre-
pared for his work From northeast to
southwest he had chopped out a cavity
with soma ms trUment suggesting
forcibly in its results a carpenters adj.
While he labored the surroundings fast
assumed the appearance Of a slaughter
house. Pushing MS victim in, trusting
to luck that nome would pass that way
until the next snow fell, he left. With
him ne took three things, besides that
for which he had committed the muir
der-the hat ot the victim, the revolver
with which he had encOmpassed his
death and the instrument with which
h. had dug the grave. As yet nothing
Uf d positive nature had been unearthed
cuncerni1g either.
Before Peter MOrtensen and those
with him had proceeded to follow up
7 rank TUsgersen's discovery, the police
had been notified, and they were not
long ia reaching the scene. With tnem
went Mr.. LOOfbOurow Of the coCnty at
torney's Office and the sheriff's Office
was soon represented. Loofbourow, at
tired in a great fur coat. turned detec-
tive at once, and was perhaps the most
jealous Yorker in the big staff OF in
vestigatOrs, The cramped body was
tsnderly lifted from its dreadful rest
ing place. and a suppressed groan of
horror went up from those who
watched
InsttnctNely every eye was turned
upon the man with whom Hay was
last seen alive, but he met the gaze
calmly cOolly and without a sugges-
ton of fear or guilt. He was still hold
ing the shovel in his hanL with which
ne had helped TO exhume the dead. The
r.rrr Il
Taylors undertaking rooms and Nor
Jensen, who had been informed that
he was wanted at police headquarters.
was loaded into the patrol, too, and left
the scene.
From that moment until nightfaH
every POSSIBLE hiding place was
searched Tor the missing money OF for
other evidence. but almos, without re-
suit. Until the autopsy there was no
thought Of Hay having been shot. the
impression being that he had been
struck with some blunt instrument
hence valuable time was lost in search
ing for evidence not in existence.
When the grave was emptied it
caused general surprise. The nature of
the tool was made obvious by the roots
that had been cut and by its general
contour. LOofbOurow examined it
closely and then staggered everyone by
eXclaiming: Let US search the tool
kits al Mortensen's FOR an adj"
All followed. and he led the way to
the partially completed home. Close by
along tire railroad track another hole
was found, apparently made by the
same kind Of an instrument. Little at
tentiOn was paid TO it, and the search
of the house followed, no tool of that
character being found.
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-12-19
AUTOPSY REVEALS THAT BULLET
WAS FIRED INTO THE BRAIN OF HAY

and was found imbedded in the front
portion of the brain. The physicians
state that the shot was evidently fired
by some one at close quarters. and by
a person evidently walking at his side
or a little behind him.
After the autopsy had been Completed
the county attorney said that be did
not consider an inquest necessary. and
it is said that one will not likely be
held
After notifying Mr. Sharp of the re-
suit of the autopsy. Mr.. Christensen.
Sheriff Naylor. Deputy Raleigh and
Sergs ant BuTbidge held a conversation
with Mortensen in an attempt to find
out something from him about the
money, but, as they state. they were
unable to get anything ont OF him.
Immediately after the fact was de-
veloped by the autopsy that bullet
was lodged in the murdered mans
brain, Sergeant Bur5idge was detailed
TO search Mortensen's residence for the
weapon which may have been used.
Sergeant Burbidge went at once to the
prisoners home and instituted a thor
0ugh examination Of the premises.
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-12-19
MORTENSEN EXPRESSED GRIEF WHEN
He UNEARTHED THE BODY ,C.-anAY

where. as was demonstrated a few min
utes afterward, the body of the muir
dered young man lay.
During the process of turning over
the frozen clods Of earth, in which task
MortenseH assisted Mr.. Young, both
expressed the hope that it might not
be the body o. a human being. the
clothing of which began to come in
sight With no little trepidation the
two friends Of James r. Hay laborad
unJil the shock came.
1t is Jimmie, poor BOY both ex-
claimed, as enough Of the covering was
removed to reveal the bloody features
of their friend and neighbor. As soon
as Identification was complete Mr.
Young and AIortensen ceased digging
and word was at once sent To the po-
Ice station of the gruesome find.
Mr. Young states that ne saw moth
ing in the demeanor Of Mortenson and
heard nothing from his lips to indicate
that he had any previous knowledge Of
the tragedy. In fact, Mortensen's every
expression was one of personal grief
at the distressing fate which had over
taken his friend, Jimmie Hay.
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-12-19

Although there were rumors OF shots
having been heard in the vicinity of
the scene Of the tragedy Monday night,
no one had any idea that Hay had been
shot until the autopsy was held last
night. Il vas a complete surprise to
the officers and every s5ne when a bull
let was found in his head.
The autopsy was performed by Drs.
Mayo and Root at the morgue Of 30
seph E. Taylor at 10 o'clock last night.
The county attorney, the sheriff and
a deputy and several others were pres
ent. AS soon as they commenced the
autopsy the doctors discovered a small
hole in the back Of the head just three
and one-hslf inches back Of the left
ear, and it was evidently made by a
bullet. for a portion Of the lead had
been scraped from the ball by the bone
and surrounded the hole.
II was discovered upon further in
vestigation that the ball ranged up
ward at an angle Of about A. degrees
and struck the tap Of the skull frac-
turing e. 1t then glanced downward
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-12-19

While Royal B. Young and Mortensen
were waiting for the street car shortly
before 9 O'Clock yesterday morning to
come TO Town, Miss Hattie Cannon.
niece of Mr. Young, brought them
word that Frank FOrEsrsen had made
q discovery which. 1t was suggested.
might prove 20 be the place where
Hays body was buried. Both Mr.
Dung and MCrteusen were talking
about the mysterious disappearance Of
Hay and without delay they went over
80 where it was reported that TOrger-
seen had discovered a newly-nade
grave.
According TO Ny. Yodng, every state
ment made to him BY MortenseE did
rot vary 20 any important degree nom
the accounts published in the news
papers.
Arriving at me place indicated, the
tive men found blood. imprints in the
snow and other evidences along the
railroad track that a tragedy had
taken place T0rgersen rad gone for
some implements to dig ia the frozen
mound, and at about the-t;Ee he re-
turned Mr. Dung located the spot
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-12-19

9c5Iy md could not be tangled on il.
When asked for his side o. the story
by newspaper representatives he
talked freely during the afternoon, but
last night after being in consultation
for a while with Attorney Stewart of
of the firm OF Stewart & Stewart, he re-
fused to say anything at even to
the officers. In telling his story, Nor
tenSen said:
I had been working for the Pacific
Lumber company up to eighteen
months ago. at which time I went into
the contracting business for myself 1
was indebted to the lumber company
and Saturday I went to the office and
told them that I was going TO settle
the account. as ] had been making
some collections and would have the
money. we went over the account by
items. and finding that my indebted
ness was exactly $3,907, I promised to
Fay $4,000 in cash and give an order
on Mrs. Andrew Brixen for the bal
ance, as she was owing me that
amount. I told ROmney that had the
money in my house, and he remon-
strated with me for keeping it there.
I went to the Office Of the lumber
company again Monday afternoon
about 6 o'clock and told them that
was ready to settle the account. Mr..
ROmney said he would not run the
risk of bringing that amount of money
TO the Office after night, and il was
arranged that Mr.. Hay should call at
my home the next morning and get the
money
Mr.. ROmney, Mr. Hay and myself
left the Office together and Mr.. Romney
left US to go TO his home on Third
street, Hay and l took a Callers park
car at West Temple street and rode TO
Simpson avenue, where we got OF and
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-12-19

protected from contact with the earth
il Che author Of the crime did not seek
Hays valu4bles. II he enjoyed his con-
ddence 10 a sufficient extent 30 lead
him 10 thai place of death vat was
it Hay possessed that inspired ais des-
per1ti0U
Assistant County Attorney Loot
b0arow who went out and plowed
through the muddy fields as a detective,
thinks he kuoWsi Chief Of Police Hi
ton and Detective Sheets think they
know, and all hint significantly at the
document Hays carried home from the
office Of the Pacific Lumber COMPANY,
and imply that their work on the case
Is nearly done.
In their opinion one man, and one
man only, could have been benefited
by Hays death, the same man. and
he only, could have been benefited by
the impression that the unfortunate
lumber Official had abscOndcd, and only
one mar has been mentioned as de-
irving any possible benefit from the
paper Hays carried. Had the hypOthet-
zeal buried money been forthcoming
the document would have been OBJ
tanned by fairer means. As it was. the
paper was obtained auyway-that is
the theory, at least
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-12-19
VOW CONDITIONS ABOUT THE CRAVE
TOLD THE STORY OF THE TRAGEDY

a broad expanse OF snowy desola-
tlon, gliStening in the cold, cruel De
cember sunlight. Mfcless save for lit
tie knot of excited men gathered about
some dark object upon the ground
such was the picture the scene Of the
tragedy presented when the police ar
rived at the Forest Dale pasture yes
terday morning. That, at least, was
the appearance from the distance as
the patrol wagon plowed its way over
the trackiess meadow. Closer inspec-
4ion revealed q condition Of affairs
lSat told more eloqUently than any ex-
preston in words Of every detail Of a
terrible tragedy.
The little group OF excited men near
the Rio Grande Western track, ever
Increasing ia size as the news spread,
was clustered about a grave-a long,
narrow aperture, sixteen inches in
depth. a scant twelve in width. and
nearly six feet lcng-into which g man
had been thrust As their feet dis
turbed the condition Of the loose clOds
upon which they stood, grest masses
Of blood were revealed, which, coagu-
iating in the snow. had formed humps
of partially sOlidifed Zee.
To the south a beaten path led to
the railroad fence, across the ditch and
TO the tracks above, another group dis
cussed the initial evidences of the trag-
edy. the blood that gushed from Hay
as he fell shot from behind. From this
point to the grave the progress Of the
crime could be readily traced, the
story being told in three installments,
each marked by the life blood Of the
victim.
Searching parties scoHred the track
from Seventh East, the course Hay
must have taken if he walked to the
spot and the course that his murderer
must have Travelled had he attempted
30 carry the body there. Not a drop
u bfiOd was TO be found, nor a single
evidence of anything mere unusual
than two men pursuing that lonely
tb in the dead of night. All other
l,s % reaehiug the spot were inves-
f-eateti i<cne feasible. but all possible.
Nothing Was found, so here at the
south rail- within $50 feet of the grave
the detectives began their quest The
cOpi0us manner in which Hay had bled
precluded all possibility of his having
been bought TO the spot otherwise
tlian alive.
Here. then, the victim had fallen, his,
head striking the rail- The second
chapter WIS found in a huge pool of
blood where he had been thrown over
the high fence. There We're some clots
on the wires. whether rust or blood it
Was impossible to tell. but inside where
che body had fallen there was no mis-
taking the evidence. From there on
the course to the grave was well de-
fined
close beside the hole the body had
rested Tshile the aperture was carved
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-12-19

fence and took a kick at the mound.
The earth was slightly frozen and re-
sisted my effort 10 remove it
Then determined to 20 east 10
the store and borrow tools. I noticed
two sets o. footprints reading 10 the
railroad track and blood at three places
in considerable amounts, particularly
where the body was afterward found
20 have been thrown over the fence.
~ addition there were marks Of some
tnlng being dragged through the mud
and snow. The tracks might have been
made by one person making two round
trips, or two persons coming from the
track once and returning The foot
marks coming toward the grave were
rather Ear apart. Those pointing The
other way were close together and
confused. { had not noticed those be-
.5re as I entered the field a few Yards
away and did not then pay much at
tentiOn TO them, as I had no idea what
the grave contained.
I proceeded to the Forest Dale mar
ket and grocery. Huron Free. A NJ
Christensen. James Hendry. Mr.. Ia
cobs0n and possibly one or two Others
were about I said I had found some
thing down the track and wanted a
pick 20 dig IL out Mr. Jacobson said
there was no pick around. but Huron
Free went out and got one. / then
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-12-19
M0T0RMAN TELLS STORY THAT
STRANGELY AFFECTS M0RTENSEN

The man turned his back until the
car had passed. The motOrman looked
sharply at the man, and declares that
he strongly resembles Mortensen. The
light was not the best, however. and
ne did not want to swear q mans life
away without stronger evidence, so ne
could not completely identify Mortensen
as the man he saw.
When MoTtenson was Informed Of the
circumstance he betrayed the first signs
of emotion.
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-12-19


parently inside his Clothes somewhere,
and left through the south door.
He said he was going to take the
money to Mr.. Romney, and l suggest
ed that it was rather a dangerous trip
ct that time of night with so much
money, and wanted to go with him. but
he declined to let me. l stood at the
door and saw him walk to the gate
and then closed the door and saw moth
ing more of him.
On being questioned, Mortensen said
that there was no one at his house
when Hay was there except his wife,
his sister-in-law and the four little
children. He had paid the money to
Hay, he said. in the middle room, and
his wife and sister-in-law were in the
back room at the time. They did not
see the money, he said, and did not
know about its having been paid. On
being questioned as to whether he had
left the house after Hay left, Morten-
sen said TO an officer:
Il went home with my sister n-law,
who lives a short distance away,
while after Hay left, and returned di-
rectly to my house. The first intima
ton that 1 had that something was
wrong was at O'Clock the next morn
ing when Mrs. Hay came over and in
quired about her husband. 1 told her
the circumstances. of his leaving the
house and she went back home think
ing, I suppose, that he had missed the
last car and was staying all night with
Romney"
MOrtensen declared that he hadn't
the slightest idea Of what had become
of Hay until his body was found in
the grave yesterday morning. He said
he could not imagine how he had come
to his death, and had no theories about
il.