The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1902-01-04
Our Celebrated Case.

CELDOM do the local pages of the
ID Intermountain Catholic mention
events united to crime transpiring
in this city or neghborhood. 1t would
be exceedingly bad taste for a relig-
ious and family newspaper to do so.
But for once we digress, and for n pur-
pose. A homicide occurred not long
ago SO diabolical in conception, vet so
difficult in disclosing the identity Of
the murderer, that it is passing into
the records of crime as another cele-
| DRAFTED case-something akin to the
Cronin murder in Chicago, although
the motives were entirely different.
James r. Hay is the victim. Peter
Mortensen is in Jail accused of the
crime The former was bookkeeper in
the employ of the Pacific Lumber com
pany: the latter is a building con-
tractor having business relations with
the company named. On or about the
18th of last month, Mortensen called at
the office of the company and made
arrangements to pay "a bill owed the
company. close to $4,000. Mortensen
told the manager he had the money
at his home in Forest Dale, a suburb
of this city. 1t being late in the day.
or after usual business hours. Hav was
instructed by the manager to make
out a receipt for the money. which
was to be paid in the morning at Nor
tensen's home, for the sake of con-
venience and to satisfy the expressed
desire of Mortensen. Hay did SO, and
placed it in his pocket. Hay and Nor
Jensen left the office of the company
together, boarding the same street car
for Forest Dale, where Hay also lived.
1t now appears that Hay. disregarding
the instructions of Mr.. Romney. the
manager of the lumber company. did
not wait for the following morning to
make his collection, but saw Mortensen
at his home that same evening. 1t is
said Hay was persuaded to this action
by Mortensen while on the street car
on its way to Forest Dale, but of this
there is no absolute proof.
The two men were alone together in
the parlor of Mortensen's house, other
members Of the family being in an ad-
joining apartment Mortensen claims
that he paid over to Hay. in gold coin,
the amount of the bill for which Hay
held the receipt. and the bookkeeper
thereupon handed Mortensen the re-
ceipt prepared in the office. Both men
then left the house together, and in a |
short time Mortensen returned and |
to escort his sister-in-law to |
her home, a little more than a. block !
distant. 1t is claimed that he covered |
more than the usual time in this pro- |
eeeding, but that is a matter we shall |
not discuss Upon reaching his own
house, Mortensen summoned his house
lold for family prayers, and his invo-
cations that night, it is said, were
fervent.
Hay did not appear at his own home
hat night, and his wife was plunged in
he deepest distress. Hay did not ap-
,ear at the office OF the lumber com
amy on the following morning, but it
ppears that Mortensen did, and exhih-
ted the receipt for the money alleged
o be paid over to Hay. 1t looked bad
or the bookkeeper. The news leaked
ut, and the daily press, always ready
D jump at conclusions, made out a case
f default, and the police were on The
lert to apprehend the defaulter. On
he third day following the first event,
he murdered body of Hay was found
n hurriedly constructed grave, some
istance from Mortensen's house. and
OF in direction he would naturally
blow, were he going TO his own house
rom Mortensen's home.
This is brief review of celebrated