The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-05-04
PFTER MORTENSEN SAID TO
HAVE MADE A CONFESSION
mid to CeIImate in County Jail How and Why He
Murdered James R. Hay
rs5 That He Tnec 10 uuu5e Fellow Prisoner to Secure and
Make Away With Missing Pistol

AMONG the county officers over a I
] Confession said 20 have been made /
a. Peter yo-;ensen TO a cellmate. The
5..,rs arc now iu the possession OF
y. r-esaeuti5n. The accused murderer
=, lanes r.. Hay is alleged to have
~,5s clean breast OF the whole az
an ~ his companion, admitting that
/. murdered his ueighbor but declar-
4, he had not intended to commit the
~f~s until he was forced TO do so by
ss turn Of circumstances.
Further than this q diagram claimed
phave been made by Mortensen's own
and and showing the exact spot where
= missing revolver Is said 30 be hid
IN Is .u the hands Of the officers
rrtersen. lt is claimed. made the con
f.s.0r and gave his Celimate the dla-
-m for tbe purpose OF having MIN
enrse of the revolver
m. details of the alleged confess IN
ed Tie original of the diagram have
81 laid before District Attorney
r-fr1-. and the sensation among the
scouting officials over the unexpect-
af.rr'aumants in the case just at this
t-a when the prisoner Us ready 70
al The jury on final trial is easily un-
f-foOd. Mr. EiChnOr is proceeding
r-I1ueIv t0 guard against any trick
ri and has not yet decided whether
?. new developments viii be brought
tr. the court. but every investiEa-
r- j. being made, and 1t is belle ed
f-t more than has been learned is
nrn by the recipient Of the alleged
c-fss.7D.
F.r Alleged Confession Was Made.
The alleged confession was made, it
Is claimed. to- James Kelly. who for
sre time was kept in Mortensen's cell
1a stool pigeon. Kelly. who is
s-irE time for larceny. Is is said be-
cane quite friendly with the accused
murderer BE was then removed from
Oh. csli and. 90 is said. declared to the
oF.ers that he learned nothing from
G1ensen about the murder. he con-
f.d though. &c is claimed, in Sam
GIe q Jail chum. who is serving tim
.w stealing harness, and 10 Is said told
him he whole story. and showed hin
r1a diagram.
Grca divulged the information 20 q
private officer who has been working or
Ole case and secured Cor him the orig
i1a' diagram. said TO have been drawn
by MorteUsen. When the Information
was secured by the officers, it was tn,
cause of no little COmmOtiOn and
numerous consultations were held witt
Kelly He at first declined to say any
thing about The matter but. finally.
Sc said. diyuIged the story of the con
tsss.1n- which 90 is claimed MOrtenseI
made 90 him.
While considerable information wa.
secured from him. the officers do no
believe be- has told all he knows yet
and that he could throw still furthe
light on the MYSTERY If he chose. Il
fact they believe he told Grice NOR
than he has them. and more than the.
have secured
Said to Have Admitted Murder.
The story Of the alleged confession
as secured from Kelly. is that Morteu
sen admitted ne murdered his neigh
h.i. but had not intended 10 do it unit
Unforeseen circumstances develOpe
making it necessary to protect him
seL As N0rteusen went nome on tn
"a. the night OF the murder. as tn
story of tho alleged confession goel
AoTenssn told Hay he was going ava
me following day and asked him {
come over that night to get the none
Tor The BILL When Hay came owe
AoT,e1sC1 is said TO have informe
Dim that DE had changed his min
ABOUT going away. and 90 would not Z
Necessary to disturb the money unit
The next morning
Ray went out the door and was 10
lowed 90 the gate by Mortensen. The
lHfT parted and Hay started HON,
ward while Nurtensen returned tOwal
h's own house.
But as M1rteusen is alleged to ha1
mess5d. DE followed Hay to q dan
Iaee near the corner Of his fence ar
struck him over the head with "a clu
intending Co rob him and get the r.
.-.Hl and mortgage note that were
valuable TO- him.
To Get the Receipt.
To was Noytensen's purpose 20 tai
.'a receipt for the $1,000 from Hay. d
'.toF The 0r1ulssory note secured
mortgage Oh his home. then swe
'.al Dee bad paid the amount TO II,
.-.' me latter had been robbed OF
.". presence of The receipt in his pc
.la would have strengthened
cam, and the absence Of any promi
...s note would have Cancelled t
mortgage on the home.
Do Hay had declared he received
pay from N0rteusen The latter cor
.'e sworn. it is said. that Hay e
G Story to protect himself for goi
..,-l the money when he had be
'.--.2ned not TO- do so by his employ
.7 purported confession continJ
.... Nortenseu was searching II
-h the latter recovered his sens
'.- recognized his assailant.
n1n want 20 Kin him." Morte
p. rs alleged 90 have said. "but
.-@ I1at he had recognized me a
oa1 nave 90 do 10 to protect n
f'0r boy, J hated 20 have to
men according TO the informant
r.m Kelly Mortansen egain reudel
.aE unconscious and carried q
"n The railroad track TO the 81
s The blood was found and tn
.l him by shooting him throu
mead. Then the body was bur
me lonely grave where &c VI
.-nl and. as Ncrteusen is alleged
ale ~a.d that was his mistake. bu
ing tas body.
Hid the Pistol.
.t.'T'ensen then. IL is claimed. {
.E that he had hidden his pistol
MaTsHy spring Just below Nj
-e. and Twelfth South streets. on
A'hg after the shooting. He Z
l.hei. and piece Of paper and di
.S7am showing just where
a's1 was and the course he VI
p. .n going 90 hide the gun.
N-Iy is t0 be released Friday
N claimed that M0rtensen as
Ut. . 20 take the diagram and get
.Le. So be might carry e away (
.e might De no chance Of the odiC
Dns hold OF it. The diagram 81
- .oeation of Mortensen's house.
llslllon Of the Park CITY railroad.