The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-12-26

\ county jail yesterday to add to
Sheriff MAYORS troubles by pro-
testing against the terrible ordeal to
which Peter NIortensen had been sub
jected the night before, when a raving
maniac occupied the cell below his,
making night hideous by his incanta-
tons on the subject of murder. In
some way the impression had bee ne
prevalent that the sheriff could have
spared the prisoner the night Of terror
through which he passed, and that he
should have done so IN view of the
treatment accorded him at police head
quarters, when for days he vas sub
jected to the sweating process and
was exhibited like a wild animal 10 the
morbidly curious.
The continuous, relentless effort of
Chief Hilton ara his men to disturb,
torture mentally and crush the accused
and wiring from him the evidence upon
which they expect to convict him, in
stead of Obt2iuins, it by the exercise If
their detective instinct and police pow
ers, caused a revulsiOn of feeling that
reacted upon the sheriff who had just
assumed charge of the suspect.
Neighbors and passers-by had heard
the terrible cries that emanated from
the jail building Christmas eve, others
had heard Of It. and the result was
that scores of the religiOusly inclined,
sympathetic and sentimental persons
fiOcked to the building to protest.
Somewhere a rumOc had been put in
circulation that the police methods
were about to be continued on a
grander scale, and that MOrtenseu's
terrible experience was the result of a
scheme to break him down.
So general did the opinion become
that an effort was made tC induce Gov
ernor HeGer NJ. Wells to request the
district Judge to call a special grand
jury to Investigate the situation.
George A. Lowe of the state board of
pardons, was credited with taking the
Initiative, ard soon full-fedged pri-
mary investigation was in progress.
Sheriff Naylor GuiltIess.
one glance at Sheriff Nayior himself,
a Cursory Wow Of the jail building an6
a question o. two presented TO NOR
Jensen, satisfied all that the rUm0rs
were grOundless, that the incident
seemed to be simply an inexplicable act
Of Providence, and that the sheriff and
his family, the other prisoners, the
guards and attaches and neighbOrs had
suffered nearly as much as MOrtensen.
None could think Of sleep.
Sheriff NaylOr arose early, pale, worn
and haggard. For a week he had sac
rificed sleep to his zeal in trying to
clear up the murder mystery. aad on
Christmas eve. when he expected to
enjoy a night Of repose, the unexpected
frenzy of the mad man had made it a
season Of nocturnal terror. He could
not turn the maniac out. Neither could
he take AOrtensen to a hotel TO sleep.
HIS last act before seeking his own bed
to stretch his weary limbs, if not o
slep, had been to visit AIOrtensen and
ask him if hC could do anything for
him The latter had replied in the mega
tive.
Explains the Situation.
To one and all who presented them
selves insisting that a revival Of the
inquisitiOn had been instituted and
should cease, the sheriff showed the
surroundings and Neils YOungsdeIi. the
unfortunate who was responsible for
the dramatic situation To those in au-
thOrity he permitted q visit to AIOrten-
sens cell. For a brief spell the mad
man renewed his cries. Frequent doses
OF soothing pOuUns quoted him. but not
before he had struck friend who came
10 visit him. AT the head of the latter
he hurled a heavy cup filled with medi-
cine diluted with water. The friends
clothes were sOiled. but he warded off
the blow.
Despite the liberal soothing potions
given 10 YOungsde1, his fits of raving
returned during the night At inter
mittent periods he broke forth with
cries similar to those that Kept the
jail in q state of terror during the pre-
ediGg night While less continuous
; than the disturbance of Christmas eve,
it was not less narrowing, and Nor
tensens dreams were disturbed by
distressing references to murder and
blood, together with appeals to the
Almighty.
Today YoungsdeU viii be sxa mined.
and in probability committed to an
asylum hat course would have been
taken terday, but no court of com
petent risdiCtiOn could be assembled
on a lezal holiday.
Was the Hand of Fate.
The universal verdict was that the
hand of fate had manifested itself in
the uncanny coincidence that brought
the mad man 10 the Jail Tuesday night
and turned mis- diseased mind to the
CHASTITY subject on which he raved. Tt
was OBVIOUS ltlaA Efiltt IA Mayor tGllQ
not have altered the situation. and that
he himself. with the members Of his
family. shared the terror of the situa-
ton that viii long cause the eighteen
inmates OF the jail TO remember Christ
mas eve.
Il 90 not care whether Aortensen
couf4sses or noe Naylor declared 10
all saQuirers. IF II would relieve his
mind I am o. hand to receive any
statement that ne cares to make. Direct
as well as circumstantial evidence is
plentiful against him, and IL the hands
Of County ATTORNEY Christensen who
considers it sufficient 20 convict. He
believes that religious motives and e
desire to save the wreck of his estate
for Eis family by doing away with a
costly trial. may prompt him 10 tell all
ne knows. He IS not anxious for a con-
efession. OF course. M the face of that
N1pini0n ] am not 7 believe it can be
secured but not by pressure OF resort
ing 10 cruelty.
10 More Sweating.
"From the moment Peter Nortenssn
entered thi8 jail have maintained that
kindness ana coaXing only would move
him. Circumstance over which no man
had the least control subjected him 10
the ordeal Of last night Had he broken
down under ID no act Of mine would
have been responsible. and it would
have leen my simple duty to take his
statement ha6 he desired To make one.
His demearcr throughout zhe exc