The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-01-24

nETEB N0RTENsEN has had some
u irving ordeals to undergo since
i the commencement of his prelim-
ir.,,c hearing ON the charge of murder
i,g r.me- r. Hay, but probably none
If them has been the severe strain
noon his IRON nerve as the one he was
subiactei 60 yesterday when James
sharp the father-in-law Of the muir
Jarpi man, related the conversations
in which he had accused Mortensen of
teinr responsible for the disappearance
NJ his son-in-law, and declared upon
the witness stand that ne kI eW Nor
Jensen had murdered the young man
because God had revealed it to him.
Mr. Sharp, with tear-bedimmed eyes
and emotion-shaken voice, told with
elaboration and fervOr that was strik-
inr the happenings just following the
traged- i'm which MOrtensen as been
a orominent figure. and the thrOng that
flied the court room to overlooking
listened with breathless excitement,
their eyes rivetted upon the prisoner,
watching for some sign ;hat didn't
come
Excitement in Court Room.
The excitement was so intense at
times that those in the crowd leaned
over each other, their attention di-
rpcted at the priscner. as if they ex
Dected him to break down and cry out
IN agony. The prisoner, with the out
ward e-idences OF an inward struggle
plainly visible upon his face, sat with
dOWnCast COuntenance and aVertec
eyes. refusing t. look the witness in
the eve. A pereeptible flush covered
the face Of the prisoner when Mr.
Sharp told of his actions, but no other
signs betrayed the inward battle that
must have been going on within his
bosom. whether innocent of guilty.
At p. m. the prosecution closed its
case and the defense was granted until
this morning to decide whether they
would make a motion of dismissal or
introduce testimony for the defense.
Mr.. Skarp's Testimony.
The feature of the days proceedings
was the testimony of James Sharp.
through whom the prosecution wished
20 show the motive for the crimes-the
possession of the receipt Tor the $4,000
and the $3.50 note. Mr.. Sharp took the
stand before noon yesterday morning
and remained there until the court adj
i0urned at 4 o'clock in the afternoon
Mr. Sharp wss visibly affected and it
was often necessary for him to pause
10 gain control of his emotions, but he
told his story with but little question:
ing and reiterated it upon crOsS-eXam-
nation without q waver.
When Mr.. Sharp took the stand III
related the circumstances Of learning
of Hays disappearance the morning
after the murder the conversation be
tween himself and MOrtensen about thu
alleged payment of the money to Hay
and the visit to MOrtensen's house
were Mrs Mortensen produced the re
ceipt for the $500 and the uncancellet
n,te. The note in question was pre-
sented to him and he id -ntitieG 1t a
the one received from Mrs. Mortensen
Sharp Accuses Mortensen.
Mr.. Sharp then told Of Mortensen'
claim that he had gotten the none,
from the wall in the cellar, counted
out to Hay on the settee and that Ha.
had put it in a sack in his pocket an
went ont of the house through tn
south door:
4 While was at Mortensen's (
= house the day after the disap- Z
= pearance of my son" said Mr..
= Sharp. Il asked the prisoner TO (
= show ME Just where he last saw
= Mr.. Hay. at first he said he didn't Z
X know Just where. but at last he
. stepped down to place about ten
. Ieet from the porch and, placing
= his foot upon spot, said, there
"I said Peter MOrtensen, If you
= can't show me where he went fur
, Their than this. this is where my
2 SON was killed. and I hold you re-
= spoushIe for him Mortensen said
= nothing We went to the spot
= second time and ] said to MoTten-
4 sen.
Peter. this is where my boy
= was killed. He asked me how l
= knew ne was killed. and L said,
The proof is that his dead body
viii be duy up from field with
, IN one mile from this spot within
. twentv-four hours He did not
= deny it,"
This last was objected to and I'll
witness changed his statement TO-
said nothing"
Crowd Stops Proceedings.
At this juncture the crowd becan
SD excited and struggled so to get
glimpse Of the prisoner that the coui
had 20 stop and call the room to ordS
before proceeding After some oth'