The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-06-15
M0RTENSEN FLINCHES WHEN HANDOUTS
ARE PLACED UPON HIS WRISTS BY SHERIFF

For the first time since his arrest,
Peter Mortensen wore handouts yes
terday after the jury returned its YER
dict. The chains. were kept upon him
from the time he left the court room
until he was lodged in his cell at the
Jail. He showed mis- shame at having
10 wear them. but despite this and the
terrible import OF the verdict, ne
laughed and joked while on the way
both 20 and from the court room.
After the case was handed to the
jury, Mortensen, as he walked down TO
the sheriff's Office. remarked to the Of
hcer that the jury would have a lot
of evidence to wade through and they
would be out some time before any
verdict would be brought in At the
jail he sat in his cell and calmly
smoked a cigar, waiting with apparent
indifference for the word TO come that
the jury vas ready 60 report.
lt was the first cigar he has ever
smoked. it is said, and his action tn
smoking il is the only thing that could
be taken as an indication that he was
worried about the outcome OF the case.
40 was $50 when the word came that
the jury was ready to report. Al
though the officers were surprised at
the quick time. Mortensen exhibited no
surprise or excitement. but, walking
into the office. pulled out his watch and
rennrEed that. SLOWING for the time
NE jury was out 10 eat they had had
the case under consideration about an
hour and a half. His face wore a
smile and he seemed 90 be confident
that the verdict would be in his favor.
With a laugh. he remarked to a deputy
nrrHH ne.-s
the cigar he bet that the jury wouldn't
be a hung jury.
Accompanied by Sheriff Naylor, Dep
uty Raleigh and two police officers,
MOrtensen walked 90 the patrol wagon
and rode up through town to the court
room. He laughed and talked freely
on the way. as IL nothing unusual were
going on.
After the verdict had been rendered
and the defendant was ordered re-
turned TO Jail. Sheriff Naylor drew
pair OF handouts from his pocket and,
walking Up 10 the prisoner, told him 10
pat out his hands. MOrtensen turned
pale and then his face flushed, but ne
0beyed and the cuffs were placed upon
him for the first time since his arrest
He was accompanied 20 the patrol
wagon again by the sheriff and a dep
AAN anu ulAhEAA aaANn AZ NA-N 49,
the way he talked and laughed. but
refrained from mentioning his case or
The verdict Of the jury.
AOrtensen talked more freely 10
Sheriff Naylor and Deputy Raleigh on
Friday afternoon than he has ever
talked 10 anyone since being arrested.
After being taken from the court room
Friday afternoon he remarked 10 Sher-
in Naylor that the jury could do only
one OF two things. that was 70 md
him guilty Of murder in the first de-
gree or acuuit him. and he didn't see
how they could find him guilty He
declared. though. that even should the
verdict be guilty" he would not finch
at whatever came.
He declared to Deputy Raleigh,
though. that 81 things came TO the
worst and he was forced 20 DO II. ne
could and would produce evidence IN
black and white that would convince
the public OF his innocence. For the
first time since his arrest he made a
straightforward declaration OF inno-
csnce TO the deputy and spoke bitterly
~ his relatives who had testified
acaiust him lie declared 70 the sheriit
that 81 he were condemned 10 hang and
the Watkins brothers were ln the
-rowd when ne walked onto the scaftold
- would not look al them
He declared that Watkins had testi-
led incorrectly in regard 70 the $1,000
Fhich figured in the case. He said that