The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-12-24

A T O'CLOCK last night Sheriff Naylor and
n County Attorney Christensen confronted Peter
\ Mortensen, and, by every vile known to the
detective, sought to wiring from him confession. 1t
was eacy one week after the commission of the crime
when they entered the cell in the county Jail occupied
by the accused and detailed to him the information
tLey had secured concerning the atroeious crime.
Morensen. cold, hardened protected by a coat of mail
stronger than any ever forged IN medieval days,
listened to their story and shook his head He had
nothing to say.
The latest effort to tear from the suspected and
accused man the story of what occurred on Monday
night of last week was based peculiar combina-
ton of circumstances. On Sunday a close friend of
the family, a confidential friend of Mrs MOrtensen,
to Sheriff Storrs at Provo and impaired to him
all of Mrs. Mortensens fears and doubts. He detailed
10 the officers Mrs Mortenseus story Of her husband
movements that night.
The most striking fact was that it required be-
tween threequarters of hour and hour for Nor
Jensen to take his sister-in-law, Mrs Henry Moren-
to her house, only short block away, and return
tC MS home.
Mrs Mortensen hal asked of him why he had been
long, and he told her that he had been to man
concerning contract.
Who was this man? Mortensen has been unable
to answer.
EoRTENsEN OFFERS PRAYERS.
Mortensen that night spent an unusual amount
of time his prayers 1t is credbly reported awaken
ing members of his family that they might join him
IN his devOtions
Mrs Mortensen's story, the officers now claim, was
such that it would appear from it that he had been
given ample time to prepare for what followed before
returning to ms parlor after stepping out into the
yard with Hay.
Then, according to what Mrs. Nortensen told her
friend Mcrtensen came back into the house and hur-
ried his sister-in-law home lie made the trip with
her. spending only few minutes 1T close upon
IN hour later when he returned In explanation of his
delay, he explained that he had been to some one
about contract.
While Mrs. 1lortensen's faith in her husbands in
nocence began to lessen. she would never do that
which would make her party to the possible convc-
ton of the father of her children. The friend was
constrained by such thought, and with supreme
confidence IN Sheriff Storrs told him all.
The latter official made hurried trip to Salt Lake
City. He spent busy half nour IN conference with
the chief of police, and yesterday morning left for
Provo IN company with Sheriff Naylor.
Mrs Nortensen was in such condition that she
could not the officers of the law, but the details of
her story oil aimed from those to whom she had
confded it.
MRS. MoRTENsEN's GRIEF.
Not only was ample time given Mortensen for the
commission of the crime but it learned that Mrs.
MOrtensens grief was occasioned by the doubts she
entertained. Sheriff Storrs and Sheriff Naylor spent
the day in corroboratng the story but they consider
atey avoided increasing Mrs Nortensens embauass-
ment and suffering by intending unnecessarily upon
her. The hearJbroken, grief-stricken woman's sui
Ierngs were respected Neither attempted to her.
satisfactory coFtooCralon OF the story beng gwen by
those who, friends of the family consulted Sheriff
Storrs a friend and one in whom confidence could
be rcpOsed-
Mrs. Mortcnsen's attitude was chat of one com
pletely crushedone from whom all the pleasures of
life, all confidence IN humanity had been eliminated
The poor woman, torn by doubt and despair had
broken down entirely. Her duties as a wife and mother
ere uppermost In her mind Her duty as good citi-
zen not forgotten. That which she knew was of
nature, perhaps to almost hang the man Of all the
world she had chosen the husband of her bosom.
SHERIFF IS INFORMED.
Mrs Mortensens friends did not stop 10 question.
They knew her spirit too well to consider what the re-
suit would be- but told all Shelf Storrs with an eye
TO absolute justice and justice only, hurried to Salt
Lake City. When he returned it was with Sheriff
Naylor. Mortelaen could not-w9uld not-teI whom
1t he sought ont after $50 last Monday night to
consult concerning q contract
That circumstance, and that alone, Is what Is de-