The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-04-22

NJ ONTICELIO, Utah April IL
MI Charged with two murders. Charles
Bottia az his preliminary exami-
nation today pleaded not guilty to the
charge Of having murdered his wife, but
when he was asked to plead to the &C
cusation Of having shot "Bilr' Tibbetts,
The supposed paramount of his wife, Bottia
promptly pleaded guilty The two homi-
cides were committed at the same place
and time and there is little doubt II any
ones mind that BOttla shot them botn
The tragedy took place in q small cabin
on Lasalle creek, thirty-hve miles nofth
0f~this place and near the Colorado state
line. So sparseiy settled is the district
that it was some time before the news
was generally known.
After the preliminary hearing today
Bottia was told TO prepare for a journey
TO Salt Lake City. as there is so strong
Jail in san Juan county and the court has
directed he should be confined at the
penitentiary until his trial comes up.
There was al first some little talk OF
lynching, but since IL became known the
probable cause Pottia had for his al
legged act all this has died away. The
sheriff with his prisoner VIII start from
here tomorrow morning for Salt Lake
Tells of the Crime
From the testimony that Bottia gave
on klle HlLileEE SLdEGr SLUBltlltBAtH ~
an interview, the following summary IS
given:
Bottia was born on New Years day
and in consequence calls himseI the
Lucky Child He was Is years old last
New Years. He was born IN Germany
of weil-to-do and respectable parentage.
All his relatives are there except two
uncles at Muskegon. Mich, who are SAID
to be rich.
He came 10 this country nine years ago
next September. After spending some
time in Syracuse and other places in
New York state and in Detroit the min
ing fever struck him and he came west
and worked IN many OF the mining dis
I triCts. At Ouray in 1900 ne met MISS
Mary Priest, then but a years OF age.
When her family moved he vent TO Lead
vile to see his sweetheart and there on
Jan. 10. 1901, married her, when she was
but D. years Of age. The two lived there
q month and moved 20 Paradox, where
another month OF the honeymoon was
spent after which they moved TO ilttle
ranch on Spring creek in Montrose coun-
tv. Colorado. near the Titan line, where,
rs Charlie nuts it, we started q happy
home and we're two Of the happiest low
ers in the world.
He talks with a German accent. He
s7id- .T hadn't much furniture. but few
comforts in the house and but little cash.
but was willing 70 work and had good
prospects III r1lninE properly, ana tne
making of good ranch sTlo=slle = =
la ppN and interested uiltll size went "
the Tibbetts ranch and saw his comforts
and listened to his batteries.
she was a child and easily persuaded,
I thought ne was a friend to me, put
now see that il was 70 blind me to his
scheming that he treated me SO well,
and he stole my wifes affections from
me. He was forty years her senior and
had had two wives whom he had so IL
treated that they were compelled to leave
him. and he was now living alone on a
Z live at his
house and once caught them n com
promising position. A big row followed,
but I was won over and made to believe
I had Judged them hastily and wrong
fully. We went back TO the old home,
but It was no longer the happy home II
once had been; she was unhappy and ols-
coufented and wanted to 90 back to lib
betts' was consumed with two con-
tending fires. a love for my wife and her
honor, coupled with deterIhllatioh 20
Az Tor her and comfort her and get her
\ good home away from those surround
inEs battling against my fierce Jealousy.