The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-12-24
MRS. MORTENSEN TELLS
STORYOF HATEFUL NIGHT
Admits TO friends that Her Husband Vas AWau from Home
Nearly an Hour When lie Accompanied His SiSter-in-
Law Home on the Evening of the Murder of
James R. Hay--SUSpect Formally
Charged With the Crime

pended upon by the prosecuting attorneys and officials
to convict Mortensen That period of nearly an hour
Is what has not been explained away.
AT the same time it was learned that Mrs Morten-
sen and her relatives were IN possession of facts PROV
ing cOncusvey that Mortensen did not and could not
have had $500 together last Monday night
OFFICIALS IN CONFERENCE.
Hours were spent by officials last night in confer
ence looking over Mortensens affairs Nothing could
be found that would warrant any other belief than
that MOrensen had Intentionally and studously given
out the impression that he had made liberal collections
where he did not actually have the money. When he
collected from John c. Sharp $500 Monday, he re-
marked that all that needed complete the
amount due the Pacific Lumber company.
Yet Mortensen, it Is learned went at s o'clock
Monday night to a nelghbor within a few blocks and
collected $3.50 due him. From standpoint 1t may
be regarded showing that he gathered up everything
sight IN order to show that he was prepared to meet
the debt; from another standpoint it is in no way
against him, as he may have had that bill In mind
when he made his remark to Sharp.
MRS. MoRTENsEN's BROTHERS THERE.
MTs. MoFten8en's brothers, R. O. and G. F. Wat
kns of Provo, present at the conference of Of
feias held last night The latter came to town with
the two sherifs-the former came in on the morning
train to turn to the police the sheriff the keys
to the Mortensen home, that no man might say they
had placed aught IN the wa of thorough investiga
ton.
The conference referred to was in progress in
Sheriff MAYORS home, while the latter and County
Attorney Christensen were engaged in effort to gain
from the accused confession. Chief Hilton and GER
tain of his detectives, representatives of the sheris
staff, Assistant County Attorneys Loofbourow and
Bter and others who have been prominent in the effort
to clear the Hay murder mystery were present Tn
il nearly midnight the conference lasted evidence as
yet unknown to anyone the confCcees being ex-
hiblted. When 1t concluded County Attorney
Christensen and Sheriff Naylor came forward with
brief statement. It as follows:
STATEMENT OF OFFICERS.
eve are in possession of evidence of such char
acter that disclose It with Justice to the
prosecution. The evidence came from Provo. We
know-mark you, know positively-that 1lortensen is
the gu ty Our information includes a lead
which, when followed, will be productive of evidence
sufficient to convict We do not want a confession.
We want facts We in position to dig them
out Mortensen Is as cold as ever He has been told
that to talk Is to hang and he viii not talk The case
Is in such shape that do not need anything from
him.
Two Of Mrs. Mortensen'5 brothers were present,
X. {. and {. L. Watkins of Provo. They occupy
unique position, and here to learn for themselves
whether MOrtensen Is guilty They are anxious
learn just that While they are not yet convinced
of Mortensens guilt by any means they are fast weak
ening in their confidence in him. The Messrs Wat
kns made the following statement, which was corrob-
GRATED by Sheriff Storrs
NO CONFESSION FROM THE WIFE
"Any assertion that Mrs Mortensen has made
confession Is only absolutely without foundation
but Is malicious and calculated to misrepresent one
who is IN a world of trouble nOw and who could not
make a confession, she knows nothing to confess
Mrs MOrtensen not yesterday by either Sher
if NaylOr Sheriff StOrrs They respected her grief
and the public should do much. We are here merely
to learn the truth and the whole truth.
IF we are satisfied that Peter Mortenson Is limo
cent, stand ready to sacrifice homes and all we
have in the world to defend him. If we become sat
ished of his guilt, viii step of the case Then
are neither prosecutors defenders-we viii not
advance a dollar to aid him.
Con the other hand we viii not take an active
part in the prosecution, for do not want to live to-
see our sisters children accuse US of aiding in the
conviction of their father. We want to do right bv
ALL To tell the whole truth we have not the same en-
thusias faith in Peters ability prove that he had
that money Monday night, or in his innocence that
had a few days ago"