The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-08-03

less pain than at any time since =
the tragedy, but the prospect =
. Of his recovery is vague. =
.4++A44AA+@A&A%<++
RIuLET- RIDDLED brain con-
\ ouered the tremendous vitality of
y Joseph W. McCaslin. and, at
MS a. m. yesterday, ended strug-
20 with death that had been hopeless
rom the first. The surviving victim of
friday nights terrible tragedy, Max
Peters. is stin in a critical condi-
ton with chance. but only a "fght-
ing chance" for his life.
Il was the act Of d mind diseased
by LIQUOR Everything points to that.
NcCaslin had no grievance. imaginary
or real, against any of the victims.
but being crazed by the whisky he
had poured into his system for three
solid weeks, he took the mad course
that ended the lives of Miss LOttie
Russell and himself, and. as the future
may prove. the life of Peters.
whenever McCaslin was drinking.
he was seized by a homicidal impulse.
When sober. he was a gentleman.
When drunk, he had a murderer's
heart"
This is the charitable and indisputa-
bic view shared by those who knew the
man. including his wife and bosom
friends.
Miss Lottie Russell. the first of Nc
Caslin's victims. was not connected
with the lunch counter at the Salt
Palace, as at first stated. but was the
daughter Of Victor II. Russell of New
York, a prominent politician and turf
man. Years ago the husband and wife
separated. The girl. Lottie, was then
years Of age She went TO live with
her mother, against her fathers
wishes, and for the past four years not
o word has passed between child and
father or mother and husband.
Miss Russell Stranger Here.
Mrs. Russell was broken down in
health after their cruel separation and
on that account has Travelled as much
as possible always accompanied by
her mother and the daughter. About
the lst Of April they came to Salt
Lake from San Francisco and this eli
mate being agreea BILE to the invalid
mother. Il was decided to remain here
Indefinitely. They found a home with
1Ir and Mrs. Horace Heath, and Miss
Russell and Mrs. Heath became fast
friends. So intimate were they, in
fact, that Miss Russell put in most
Of her time at the lunch stand owned
by Mrs. Heath. and often assisted hei
behind the counter, from which fact
the impression was derived that she
f1A To-. Ill
Miss Russell was a beautiful young
woman of Ihe golden blonde type, ..
years OF ag< and highly accomplished
she was given an excellent education
as a child, spoke several languag es
vas a great literary student-in fact
was raised in all the refinement tina
money could purchase.
A SAD blow was her death. To tn
mother lying PROSTATE at Mrs
heath's home, the news was not brok
en- until yesterday noon, her physical
forbidding il. lest the shock might xii
her. Even now il is impossible for tn
POOR woman to realize what has hap
pened. She declares that she does no
believe her daughter has gone. an
The aged grandmother and the friend
are content to let the hopeful impress
SION remain in the mothers mind
No Word From Father.
A telegram was sent to New Yor
70 Victor II. Russell. the father. yes
ierday, informing him of the murde
oi the child. No answer came. Tn
family ties. il would seem. have bee
completely severed The friends OF tn
family then took the matter in hand
ana have set the funeral for o'cloc
Monday afternoon at the Heath home
Us West Sixth South street.
McCaSlin's history of late Indicate
more clearly than any other set
circumstances his motive. or lack {
motive for the horrible crime. SIEVE
years ago he was a heavy drinker, bu
ny friends was induced to take IN
heeley cure. For nearly FIVE veal
after that he abstained from the us
OF liquor. but eventually, a couple {
years ago the old habit again toe
control of him and he went on spree
Periodically. They always resulted
complete break down. he carried
10 such an excess. Time and again
was a sufferer from deIirium tremen
az which times his wife nursed hi
through. and after recovering he wou
heep away from alcohol for while.
McCaslin a Hard Drinker.
HIS last spree and the spree whi'
eliminated i'm one of the most horrio
crimes ever perpetTated in this cit
began just three weeks ago. As usuS
u was accompanied with the desire
hlL on Tuesday. July %. he went
ms home AZ 40 East Third South. wi
ne intention of numbering his vii
SiSler-in-law and baby. He stagger
N through the front door and intimd
ca his purpose by telling his intend
victims that they had better say goo
Uye To each other. He then called I
clean suit of underwear. and, goll
INTO his bed room. put it on. VIII
ne came out he was attired in M
PACK suit having actually prepar
himself for burial.
McCaslin walked into the parl
which is next to the sleeping roo
and laid a pistol and handful
cartridges on a book case Mrs ca
IN was in the room at the time
III take your sister first. he s.
70 his wife, and I'll take the /
mere too" referring to his 2-year-'
sLl, sleeping in a cradle.
ne treuzied wife began 10 plead w
nm and used every effort to get him
Snother part of the room, her intent
oeing to grab the gun from the DO
80 and run TO "A neighhorinS no'
win It. McCaslin surmised her n
use. and stood within a few feet
-.