The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-01-25
May Be Another Mistake.
ANOTHER THEORY ADVANCED.
If Mortensen Killed Hay 1t Was IN
the Heat of Passion.

Was Jar-ss + Hay betrayed and slain
nv trusted friend, who plotted his de-
struct.ou for q jar of gold. or vas ne
killed in the heat of passion? Back OF
this cdery, ema1ating from one close 70
Nortsnsen's family. is suggestion WhlCh,
while pointing to she prisoner as the
guiltv man. places him in a far different
and more favOra Bile light than ne Is geu-
orally regarded at present by those WHO
believe him guilty.
M0rtenSeE'S own kinSmen. VINO 10
only awaited an explanation from his hps
On En To- his rescue to the extent or theH
an regard him. il is said. with something
more than suspicion. This does not IN
clu5e his father or brother Henry. Those
VINO entertain this feeling of his gullt
have sought 10 escape public attention
and from saving aught that might lnJure
him The reason is found in the iaet' IL
is now declared, that they sympd thlle
with him as Il hopeless victim OF feleil-
less fate. hot headed. impUlslNv IeiioW;
who struck down Hay I'M frenzy ana
0r5iuC that ne had done what he collo
NOT undo. took advantage OF the Sllud-
tr.. HorrifNiug as is their belief 10 theIl
10 brings relief 10 think that their uTlol
i"ta relative is not the plotting -iSlu
Eo has been pictured.
Support of Theory.
Their theory is supported. they claim
0r numerous circumstances OF which the
a.thrriueS have taken no cOgnizance.
IHs fact that il II entertained by those
who. of an the world save the actual
slayer of Hay. know most concerning sne
..-.lmstauCeS Immediately preceding the
tragedy, gives it stamp OF autheuOcllS
that cannot be ignored.
Peter Morteusen was in financial straits
Tar more difficult 70 master than Is ap-
parent to those who are trying TO con-
N.t him. His friends say he did not
have the money he promised 10 pay 70
Ernest Romney through James X. HAY
r" that he misrepresented with the one
Thought of gaining time. a matter o!
hours. or few days at most. would nave
u"ei him over his difficulties.
Peter NOrtenseu was contemplating
N-0krUptCy proceedings with view OF
saving something from the wreck OF ne
estate foe the benefit Of his family. no
such desperate alternative as murder was
necessary TO prevent his creditors from
-aa.lE all.
Did Not Have Money.
According 20 his c.Osest friends he lied
when he said he had &. Sai concealed in
MS cellar-He6 with the object of report
ing himself robbed of the amount, thus
gaining sympathy and an extension oi
,...a from the creditors who were torcLne
nm hardest. The plan was OLD. older
,'an The hills, but il looked excellent until
mes Hay appeared upon the scene
Ine1 faith in the niausibnity OF tns
S..FN melted away before the coei. cal
ni.atuE gaze of the visitor. ACCORDING
% the theory an inspiration came IN tht
'a'Hsht a. a cache, and the two friends
started off on a trip down the Rio Grandt
ta.Iruad- tracks 20 dig FOR the money thai
existed onlv fin the imagination Of one
The Imaginary Cache.
Two small excavations along the banl
q THE ditch within hundred feet of th6
,a,ou of the grave were noticed TheT
,iH body of James Hay was eNhumed
Wy little attention was paid 20 tnem
-el are St.u visible despite the presenc'
hundreds who have tramped over th'
eir These two holes ere pointed on
having heea dug In an effort 10 locate
Hasiuarr cGc1e. Then came che dis
lt'lHJment ST discovery that the cseh'
80 been JnGed with aud rifleu- Ihi
WV Mas too Oh ton tNansn.rcnt-- III.