Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-09-02
PRISONER IN HIS CELL.
Talks OF His Poetry and Says He
Has O Long Time to Live


Peter Mortensen, the condemned mur-
derer. has commenced to write poetry
1t is perhaps not exactly OF the same
calibre as that Of the magazine arti-
Gle, but Mortensen calls II poetry, all
the same
He was busily engaged at the task Of
outlining the third stanza when a
News reporter appeared at the graf
ing of the death cell and requested an
interview
/, what can | say?" he ventured In
reply. II have got nothing to say and
IL would not do me any good II did,
No; do not want to talk
well, Peter, you are not dead yet,
anyhow" said the reporter by way OF
changing the conversation.
At this remark the condemned man
laid aside his drawing board and pen
and came to the grating. He seemed
very much disposed to talk. Dead"
he calculated with an uneasy laugh. Il
should say not. ! have got long time
to live yet
Then by degrees the conversation
drifted around to poetry. Mortensen
stated that he was writing some verses
for a friend and II the News would
promise not to publish them he would
read what he had written.
Then in the sing-song voice Of re-
otter In the kindergarten he read what
he had written. The piece bore the IL
tie. THE Hour OF Midnight" The first
line ran, do not speak against me
kind stranger" and went on to state
that although the clouds were dark and
he was deserted, nevertheless he put
his trust In the Savior OF mankind and
would finally emerge walking upon the
sea OF black despair into the blessed
sunlight OF freedom.
Had Mortensen red the lines with the
feeling that he protested to have, the
whole performance would have been be-
reft OF the pitiful features. There was
a hopelessness in his voice, however.
that made patent TO the listeners that
the lines We're not the sentiment Of the
heart.
Mortensen flushed with pride as he
was informed that there was lots worse
poetry than that published and that
there were many editors who would
be glad to reproduce II. From then on
he was as talkative as the man at a
club.
CONTEMPT FOR LAW.
Coming down TO his trial Mortensen
said with extreme disgust: Don't talk
to me about the law. II Is farce The
Judge asked me the question this morn.
ing whether ] had anything 10 say why
sentence should not be passed on me.
/ never heard such childish question.
What could | say TO alter things, no.
body would believe me. But. the. II
the people are satisfied. we'll. am.
That's all ! have to say. oh. these
things will all be changed some day. |
cannot for the life OF me see. IL there
is such thing as law. how that jury
found me guilty. They did not prove
anything. They say that they did not
take into account the testimony Of
Sharp or Allen, at least so was told"
NOT LOSING SLEEP.
In answer to vehement question
rs to why everyone was against him
apparently, the interviewer suggested
that the fact that he tMortensen) did
not go on the witness stand and tes,i-
fy at the trial might have carried
some weiAht
"Why shculd have done so? Why
should ] have gone 10 answer n lot Of
stupid foolish questions. did not
have 10 prove that I was innocent: It
was for the law 10 prove me guilty.
Circumstantial evidence. so-caied. il
no evidence. say right here that the
day viii come when II will not figure
In court. But IL the people OF Utah can
stand such law as was administered In
my case. why can. l am not LOSING
any sleep over Il"
EXPECTS NEW TRIAL.
Continuing he said that he expected
10 have new trial when he would be
vindicated and then the peopM OF Utah
would be very sorry for all they had
done 20 him.
Mortensen further expressed himself
In very forcibe terms against that rot
and stun testified 10 by John Sharp and
Motorman Allen" and said that II
Prosecuting Atty Elchnor were the
man he thought him TO be formerly, he
ought to have had the two witnesses
arrested for black perjury.
Then Mortensen intimated that he
would show them he was innocent. at
the same time he ignored the remark
that he had already had his chance to
do all OF that when the trial was no.
Il will come out all right" he said but
OF course It would not do TO say just
what we intend 70 do at the new trial.
All that Is in the hands Of. Mr.. Stewart"
The condemned man sab that he was
not worrying or losing any sleep. lie
eaid that he was very comfortable and