The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-01-23
DAMAGING TESTIMONY
AGAINST M0RTENSEN

Authoritive information leaked out
yesterday that the evidence presented
a. the preliminary hearing of Peter
Aortensen, now in progress, does not
cover one-half Of what viii be turned
over to District Attorney Eichnor for
use at the trial proper. One Of the
features reserved for use al that time
and on which the authorities are quiet
" working embraces no less striking
a TACT than the destruction of Havs'
soft felt hat in MOrtensen's cook stove
IN me presence Of witnesses on the
night of the murder. Also that after
performing absOlutions, stains resem-
ping blood remained on Mortensen's
hands, and were seen as late as t5a
moment he was engaged in prayer be
fore his sister-in-law departed for her
home.
When Peter Mortensen returned home
from the long absence that followed
MS departure with James r. Hay he
spent few minutes fussing in a room
where he could not be seen either bv
MS wife or his brothers wife.
Dropped Them in Stove.
He then went to the stove and after
hIting the cover dropped in Two cloth
OBJECTS, one dark the other a white
piece OF cotton or linnen. Both were
crumpled up, and it could not be seen
whether the white cloth was siu,n11
a rag, large handkerchief or a shirt
Both objects were consumed and what
ever dread tale they might bear mure
witness Of viii never be known from
that source.
Mortensen's hands were clean and
freshly washed when he knelt at pray
ers, but across his wrists were dry
stains that had been overlooked. The
stains were red
vague rumors of such stories eman-
atlng from MOrtensen's own home have
been rife for weeks, but not until the
present have they been given official
recognition by the authorities. Now ~
Is known that these circumstance. have
been investigated the authorship Of
me reports traced and their accuracy
attested- Considerable work remains
10 be done to get the proof in such
shape that it may be introduced Under
the rules of evidence, yet those who
have accomplished what has been done
toward clearing up the mystery or
Hay death, cOnfdentiaHy expect 70
present it at the trial
His Financial Affairs.
Another circumstance unmentiOned at
the nearing as yet. but which viii come
with terrible force at the trial. is the
result Of the investigat ton Of Norten-
sens financial affairs. The authorities
nave accounted for every dollar col
lected by MOrtensen for the ostensibIe
purpose of meeting the obligation Of
$500 due the Pacific Lumber companv.
The amount spent TO meet other press
ing obligations almost TALES with the
sum collected.
The balance is now accounted for.
Those in possession Of the facts refuse
TO reveal them lest il might infure
the case. but it is strongly limited that
II IS S4oe. given Mrs Nortensen subse-
quent to his arrest and all in $50 gold
pieces.
These are some of the bits Of evil
dence the defense hoped to force the
state TO submit at this time that the
full hand Of the prosecution might be
shown, enabling Mortensen's counsel
10 prepare TO meet and disprove il at
the trial proper. There is other evi-
dence-masses OF iJ-but little beyond
what has already been presented win
come to light during the present pro
ceedings.