davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-11-21
BAD MAN IN MURRAY.
Created Some Excitement Until he
Ran Against Officer.


There's one man less in Salt Lake.
got him, all right-shOt him iu the proper
shape and the coDs didn't set me,
eitr err
This declaration. made by q rough-ap-
peaIing stranger in a bar-room at Murray
and caused Deputy Sheriff John Graham
a strenu US half hour. At the end of that
time he officers became convinced tho
stranger was either a prevaricator or a.
luna instead of an assassin. and
dropped the incident
The man who declared that ne had been
shoe t-g up Salt Lake wandered into the
Murray saloon about $50 last night and
began ordering drinks He sCraped aC-
QuairtanCe with 81 Veral of the habitues
OF the place, and to them COnfided that
he was a bad man with a weakness for
Gagged IN ShO- ting scrape In salt Lake
City the night before, and reduced the
population by one. That he had failed 60
get others he said was due entirely 10
the fact that he had run out Of ammUni-
to-.
sober to know what he was talking about,
and sew raj of the crowd Of auditors
were incl ned to believe at least portion
OF his story one Of them quietly left the
group ard went In search Of the deputy
sheriff. who at once telephOned to Salt
tale Of the strar ger. He was informed
that so far as the local officers knew.
here had been no such affair az that de-
scri ed by the unknown Graham then
cCrnered the iOQuaciOus one and put him
through a course of examination.
attributed TO him. and wound up by de-
claIlng that he was one OF Peter Nor
tensCn's ex-cuIoners- Then Graham
locked him UP.
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-11-21

who had tried MOrtensen had made an
expression before they were placed on
the jury as to his guilt or innocence.
When the matter was placed before the
court Judge Morse declined to permit
the afidaVits being fled or to consider
them on the ground that the case was
not before him. He ruled that there
was no case on the docket When seen
after the incident, Attorney 3. c. Stew
art said he would not give the afidavits
out for publication.
The case is ended" he added, and
nothing beneficial would result from
our making the afIidavits public prop
erty. 1t was my intention to file them
with the court if I were given the OPP
pOrtUnity: but as I was not, I decline
at this time to give them TO the news
papers. II any good would result from
so doing, I assure you you could have
them. but as the case is closed, there
would be nothing to gain.
The ahidavits set forth that two of
the jurors had made expressions as to
the guilt or Innocence Of ATortensen be
fore they were accepted as jurors
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-11-21
HEART RENDlNG SCENE WHEN CONDEMNED
MAN PARTED WITH HIS RELATIVES

Following out the usual custom in
such cases. Sheriff Emery read the
death warrant TO Mortensen about 9
O'Clock yesterday morning. NortenseD
was not visibly affected by the reading
OF the warrant, and listened calmly and
attentively. AT the close he remarked.
u am innocent
shortly afterward Attorneys r. Il.
and G.. b. Stewart visited Mortensen to
say farewell. He appeared to be great
" affected and could scarcely restrain
his emotions. In a husky voice he
thanked the attorneys for the efforts
they have made TO save him, and said
you boys have ably defended me and
I cannot thank you enough"
AS soon as the Stewards had gone the
condemned man was visited by his IA
ther and brother David, and Mrs. Hen
~ Mortensen and her son. To them
AIortensen again declared his innocence.
Mortensen's father and Mrs. Henry
M0rtenSen were already weeping under
the strain. and when the time came for
them TO speak the last goodbye, they
were scarcely able 20 talk. In a feeble
voice. choked with sobs the father bade
his son a sad farewell and. turning
away. tottercd toward the outside.
Mortensen was unable TO speak, but
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-11-21
M0RTENSENS LAST NIGHT ON EARTH
SPENT IN CALM AND PEACEFUL SLEEP

'eter MOrtenSen spent his last night
on earth in a deep sleep, and not once
C1d he awake or appear at all restless
Al hOugh he well knew that his life
W limited to but a few hours. he
S pt peacefully after retiring until he
VS. awakened by the death watch at
$50 yesterday morning.
Just as he aWoke the TRUSTEES were
Unlocking the cells Of the third grade
mon, and AIOrteusen's first words were,
IS Re heard the iron bolts drop back
into their sockets:
well they're at it again
when his breakfast was brought to
him a short time later ne ate with
apparent relish the viands spread be-
fore him.
owing TO BIortersen's lengthy. session
with Governor Heller NJ. Wells Thurs
day night and the visit Of his brothers,
fl was late before be retired. 1t was
almost II O'Clock before he finished his
COME nee with the governor. and not
far from midnight when his brothers
said goodnight For two hor~s after
wards ne sat up and chatted with
Guard w. q. "A. SmoJt, jr., vino was on
the death watch.
II was Mt this time that Mortensen
first admitted that he had no chance
left and said that all hope had fled.
IT'S all Off with me now" said ne,
shortly after his brothers and AttOr-
ney Bernard J. Stewart had gone. L
guess ! go over the river tomorrow
They made good fight for me-
though, a" he added a moment later
Until nearly a. m he remained
awake. C0nversing with the death
watch, ana then. saying shan he was
tired. undressed and went 30 bed.
do you think you'll be warm
enough ?'' asked the guard.
Yes. I'll sleep fine" replied Nor
Jensen as ne rolled over 10 keep the
light from his eyes. and shortly after
wards fell asleep.
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-11-21

From o'clock until $50 a. m. he
slept sOundly. according to Guard
Naylor. and hardly moved. For four
long hours during the night the death
watch kept mis- lonely vigil over the
condemned man. guarding him care
fully so that he might not take his own
life and thus cheat the law Of its dues.
Promptly at $3.50 a. m. the TRUSTEES
entered the cell house and threw back
the levers that unlock the cells.
Come, Pete, it's time to get up
called the guard, and a moment later
MOrtensen turned over and prepared to
arise. Hearing the sound of the heavy
doors swinging on their hinges and the
clank OF the bolts as they were re-
leased, he paused to catch the sound
We'll, they're at it again." he said,
and CraWled slowly from bis cot.
As soon as he had dressed, his break
fast was brought to his cell. The bill
Of fare consisted Of fried bacon, corn
bread. potatoes and biscuit, and Nor
Jensen partOOk literally Of each. The
guard who was present declares that
MOrtensen's appetite was not at all
affected by the predicament he was in.
After breakfast he and the death
watch were alone for about an hour
before any visitors arrived. During
that time the condemned man discussed
the coming execution as calmly as
though he was to be a spectator in
stead Of the person whose life was to
be taken.
II wonder how I viii act?" he unused.
II want to keep my nerve and die like
man, but it's hard to tell what you'll
do in a fix of this kind"
At s o'clock his brother David ar
rived at the penitentiaTy and was fol-
lowed a few minutes later by Morten-
sens father and Henry Mortensen's
wife and little boy. They asked to see
the condemned man, and, accompanied
by Guard IRE, entered the prison to
say good bye for the last time
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-11-21

managed to hold back the tears as he
wrung his fathers hapd for the last
time
Mrs. Henry MOrtensen threw her
arms around the Condemned mans
neck and kissed him repeatedly, while
the tears fairly streamed down her
cheeks. With one last moan Of an
guish she broke away and followed
after the father. Hen son, aged about
II. shook MOrtensen's hand and with
his big blue eyes dimmed with tears
sobbed, Goodbye, Uncle Pete
When David MOrtensen stepped up to
say goodbye he tried to control him
self. and as he advanced simply prof
fered his hand. Peter reached out to
grasp it when, with a cry Of anguish,
his brother threw both arms about hik
neck, and resting his head on Peters
shoulder. sObbed piteously. This was
more than even the steady nerves Of tho
condemned man could stand, and he
too. broke down and wept like a child
Thus they stood for almost a minute
clasped in each others arms and both
sobbing sorrOwfully. At last David
Mortensen fairly pushed himself away
and, whispering to his brother. BE a
man, Pete walked slowly away. Nor
Jensen threw himself upon his cot and
buried his face in his pillow.
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-11-21
HOME TESTING.
\ Sure and Easy Test on Coffee.


To decide the ali important question
Of coffee, whether or not il is really the
hidden cause Of your physical ais and
approaching fixed disease, one should
make test of ten days by leaving or
coffee entirely and using well made
Postum Coffee.
If relief follows you may know to a
certainty that coffee has been your
vicious and killing enemy. of course
you can take it back TO your heart
again if you like 10 keep sick.
a lady says Il had suffered with
stomach trouble. nervousness and ter-
TiDle sick headaches ever since was.
little child, for my people were all
ways great coffee drinkers and let US
children have all we wanted. I got so
7 thought I could not live without COT
fee and would not acknowledge that
1t was causing my suffering.
Then / read so many articles about
Postum that I decided TO give fl a fair
trial I had not used it two weeks i'm
place Of coffee until I began TO feel
like q different person. The headaches
and nervousness disappeared. and
where I used to be sick two or three
days out of a week while drinking cof-
fee, am now well and strong and
sturdy seven days a week, thanks to
Postum
Il had been using Postum three
months ana naQ never been sick a day
when I thought T would experiment
and see If il really was coffee that
caused the trouble so I began to drink
coffee again, and inside Of a week
had an awful sick spell I was so IN
was soon convinced that coffee was
the cause Of all my misery, and went
back to Postum again in a hurry. with
the result that I was soon again well
and strong and determined TO use Pos
n nd fn f-qrrr
coffee alone i'm the future" Name Civ
en- by Postum company. Battle Creek.
Mich.
Look in each package for a copy OF
the famous little book, "The Road to
MELVILLE"
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-11-21
DESERTED IN HOUR
OF TROUBLE BY WIFE

During all the time Peter Mortensen
was confined in the penitentiary un-
der sentence of death. his wife. Mrs.
Ruth Mortensen, never went to see him.
She never bade him farewell
The reason assigned by her broth
ers for her failure to visit him near
the end of his life is that she would
not have been able to stand the strain.
and, moreover, could not leave her sick
baby, born July 30, 1902, while Nor
Jensen was in prison. This child the
father never saw. although ne kept
the pictures Of all his five Children con-
stantly in view on the walls of his
cell.
The refusal Of Mrs. Mortensen to
have anything more to do with her
husband has had a great influence on
public sentiment. The general belief
is that she took this step because she
was convinced of his guilt. It was a
great grief to MOrUensen that, even if
she thought him guilty, she did not
come to see him, for it was to pro-
teCt from foreclosure the home which
sheltered her and the children that
Mortensen murdered James R. Hay.
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-11-21
WAS A HARD FOUGHT
CASE TN THE COURTS

The Mortensen case goes down in
history as one Of the most holly con-
tested ones in the criminal annals of
Utah. Every honorable legal techni-
cality was used by Stewart & Stewart
to save their client from an execution
er's death. Time and again, after con-
victiOn, efforts were made in the dis
trict court to secure "a new trial. and
when the case was taken to the su-
preme court several times, the same
unCeasing energy was manifested.
Even the board of pardOns was re
sorted to twice TO save MOrtensen's
life, and while the eXecutiOners were
getting req " to carry out the courts
orders, the mans attorneys were IN
court fighting for a new trial.
At the same time the interes-s Of the
state We're as zealOusly looked after
by District Attorney Dennis c. Eich-
nor who prosecuted the man. To his
credit it must be said that he did not
take undue advantage of the defense
at any stage of the legal battle. Even
during the trial the district attorney
RETAINED from putting the defendants
little daughter upon the stand to testify
against her father.
IF cannot convict AIortensen with
out the aid of the testimony Of his
daughter" said the district attorney,
Il will never convict him. She is too
young to appreciate what she would
be doing, and / am not going to take
advantage Of her innocence"
Evidence was collected thread at a
time by the best detective ability in
the city. The corps was headed by
Detective George Sheets, who worked
night and day upon the case until the
final thread had been wound around
the man. He was assisted by Sheriff
Naylor County Attorney Farley P.
Christensen, Assistant County AttOr-
ney Fred G. LoOfbourow. PatrOlman
Sperry, PatrOlman Davies and John
Brown, besides other officers of the
law. They did not all work together.
but gathered up evidence along speci-
fed lines, all combining together to
form a net which caused the legal exc
cution of the murderer yesterday
morning at fO-31 o'clock
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-11-21
VISITORS PRESENT TO
SEE THE EXECUTION

Between seventy-hve and 100 wit
messed the execution. The crowd was
composed chiefly Of peace officers from
this and surrounding counties, city and
county officials. physicians and the rep
resentatives Of the press. Each person
present held a card from Sheriff Frank
Emery, who was in charge Of the ex-
ecution, and none but persons bearing
such permits was allowed to go inside
With the exception OF those directly
engaged in the execution, no one was
allowed to approach closer than about
100 feet from where 01Ortensen sat when
he was shot.
Those assisting Sheriff Emery were
Deputies Smith, COwan, Irvine and sew
erai Of the penitentiary guards
The physicians present were Drs.
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-11-21
ONCE ADMITTED He
BURNED BLOODY SHIRT

MOrtensen made some admissions to
Bishop A. G. briggs, one of the mem
bers Of his death watch, a short time
ago, which tended to confirm the be-
lief in his guilt.
He admitted to me that he burned
his bloody shirt in the stove shortly
after the murder" said Bishop briggs.
4 caught him in this admission with
a sudden question. and he gave a start
and asked me not 10 say anything
about it.
He was a queer man. I have stud
led him great deal and L confess I
cannot understand him. am convinced
he was guilty and yet L was anxious
10 see him have every chance for his
life, for it is a pretty serious thing to
put man to death. I knew him
somewhat before ne got into his
trouble. He was bright in many ways,
but / always felt there was something
wrong about him-that there was a
screw loose somewhere"
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-11-21
TWO BULLETS PIERCED
HEART, TWO MISSED

After the execution the body of the
dead man was removed to the prison
morgue and Drs. Young, Mayo and Beer
made superficial examination of the
wounds inflicted by the four bullets. 1t
was found that two of them entered the
heart and two struck just a tride below.
and death is said to have been practi-
cally instantaneous.
Any one Of the four wounds wouII
have been fatal, according to the state
ment made yesterday by one of the
physicians present. The bullets Dav-
forated the body and buried themselves
in the plank back OF the chair One
OF the bullets went squarely through
the yertebrae, almost severing tbs
spinal column
The bullets were subsequently re-
moved from the plank after the execu-
ton by Guard Hilton and viii be kept
as souvenirs.
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-11-21


on the piece Of white paper with a
black spot that stood out distinctly
against the darker background Of Nor
tensen's breast.
The spectators could not hear the
low words of command being given
inside the blacksmith shop TO the ex-
pert marksmen who aimed those rifles.
They were obliged 70 wait a full min
ute. silent and breathless, watching for
the climax
His Life Is Forfeited.
Suddenly a sharp report rang out.
followed so quickly by another that
the TWO were scarcely disunguishable.
The hands that had been resting on
the curved arm of the seat flew up as
far as the bonds would permit, and
twitched for a moment only. The en-
tire figure stimened for an instant
Then the bandaged head dropped for
ward and the entire body hung limp,
sustained by the straps which bound
shoulders, wrists and ankles to the
chair.
This was at 1921 o'clock. The rifles
We're withdrawn.
For a few seconds the spectators
gazed in silence at the solitary seated
figure. The sky had been dark. AS
they watched, the sun came out and
its streaming rays threw the outlines,
even though in the shadow of the gray
wall, into sharper relief.
Is Pronounced Dead.
The physicians moved forward. led
by DIS Young and Mayo. They felt
about the bound wrists for the pulse
but found none. With their fingers
they pressed against the bosom under
meath the target but found that the
heart had ceased to beat.
He is dead" they said
They moved his head, and it fell
back with the dead, staring eyes
turned toward the sky.
One minute before q man had been
seated in the chair. Now it was a
mere lifeless corpse, in sitting pos
ture, held mp by straps, on which the
witnesses gazed.
Deputy sheriGs and blue coated pris-
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-11-21
TWO BABIES TAKEN IN.
Infants Home Nursery Starts Out
Under Auspicious Conditions.


Under Auspicious Conditions.
Although the Infants Home and Day
Nursery at IS I street has only been open
since Wednesday afternoon, there are two
mites Ga humanity occupying two Tiny
beds, and applications are on file for the
reception OF other babies.
The nursery was thrown open 10 the
public Wednesday afternoon. There are
many callers, who are cordially received
by Mesdames Bamberger, Park and Nc
Mahon, the committee which has charge
Of the nursery part of the work of the
association Light refreshments We're
served.
Last Friday afternoon a social club met
at the Home and sewed for the babies. as
did the p T. O. society the following
day. Many chaTitably inclined women
have made donations to the Home, as
follows:
Mrs J. E. Dooley, large order Of flannel
and cambria suitable for infants wear:
Mrs. Booth. a bundle of Infants clothes;
Mrs. Frank Knox, the same, Mrs. G. w.
Watson. a child's comforter: Mrs. G.. L.
Nye, a laundry outfit; Mrs. Palmer,
bureau, stove, OtlclOth and dishes; Mrs.
Meyer, a table lamp and dishes; Mrs. II.
Park, an easy chair; Mrs Walker and
Miss Reese, money; Mr.. d. A. Callahan.
five books for boys; Mr.. Eckhard gave
for one day the services Of himself and
team. and Albert KeiJhler and Joe Car
son gave their work for the day gratis.
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-11-21

On officials stepped forward Some be-
gan TO loosen the bonds. Others pulled
out from its place along the wall a
stretcher. In the sunlight they began
to unrOl the canvas from the heavy
poles. The white cloth shone bril-
lianly in the direct rays.
Some Of the spectators started over
the wire, followed by others who broke
it down, and headed for the death chair
and the little surrounding group.
Rush Of Spectators.
Come back" came a sharp com
mand from the wall Don't you go
over there"
The crowd, looking upward, saw a
blue-coated guard, holding a repeating
rifle. The order was Obeyed and the
dead line" marked by the wire was
observed.
The straps released, men seized an
kles and wrists Of the limp body i'm
the chair and lifted il over 10 the can
vas stretcheF that was spread to re-
ceive IT, Guards briggs and Ure lifted
the front end Of the support and
Clerk Stowe and Guard Peterson
the rear end. The canvas sagged be-
heath the weight, so that from a short
distance away ali parts of the body
except the slippers were Obscured-
Slowly the four men started with
their burden toward the corner Of the
blacksmith shop that Mortensen had
turned, alive. only a few minutes be-
fore. A little following group Of pris-
on officials and deputies made up the
funeral procession.
Body Taken to Morgue.
Shortly, the little cOrtege disappeared
around the building and through a
door which led to the prison morgue.
The line of men on the wall filed SOL
EMMY along toward the exit. The
cluster along the wire melted away.
and soon the scene was deserted save
by the guard on the wall. who looked
down at the box, the empty chair and
the holes in the blue denim.
Outside, Henry and David MOrtensen
had heard the sharp report that told
of their brothers death Father, sis
ter-in-law and nephew had left the vi
entity a short time before. Miles
away, in Ogden. four children. none
over II years Of age, played happily
ignorant of the fact that as they in
dulged in their innocent pleasures,
stern law was taking away from them
a father A grief-stricken mother. who
was being made a widow by the exc
cutioners' rifles, lowered over the bed
side Of her III 16-months-old daugh-
ter. born while the father occupied a
cell in the penitentiary under sentence
of death and on whose face he never
gazed.
And, though this father cruelty muir
dered for money his friend and neigh
Dor, he went to death with a prayer
on his lips that his own end I'm ig-
nOminy should not blight the lives of
these innocent ones.
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-11-21

covered doorway behind which stood
the men who were to do the shooting,
and the various other points Of inter
est. Occasionally some one would re-
mark upon the close proximity of the
guns TO the chair where MOrtensen was
/ to sit, but except for a whispered re-
mark now and then the crowd was 81
/ lent
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-11-21

A thoroughly trained football team
is to be pitted against an aggregation
of eastern university players with less
training, but of greater weight and
perhaps superior individual skill The
game ought to be a great exhibition.
Five Of the Alumni team. GatehOuse.
c. +. Christensen. DOxey. Robbins and
p. p. Christensen, will weigh in the ag-
gregate POI pounds. and the rest Of
the line. Bennion, Hedger, Anderson,
Riser, Johnson, DOUgau and others are
good heavy men. This game to be
played at 3 o'clock at the university
campus, today, will certainly be the
best game ever witnessed. We invite
everybody to see it. Admission tickets
are only % cents.
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-11-21
RIOT IN FRANCE.

st. Quentin, France, Nov. "a serious
riot has followed the abOrtive. conference
between a big firm of weavers and their
employees on strike. Troops were obliged
to charge the rioters, and one sergeant
was badly wounded. Further trouble is
feared.
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-11-21

All members Of Salt Lake camp SO,
WoOdmen of the World, and visiting
neighbors are requested to meet at our
hall in Odd Fellows temple, Sunday
afternoon, Nov. p, at 1870 sharp, to at
tend the funeral Of Neighbor George
Ward.
w A. DUVALL, Con. Com,
A. MKELLAR, Clerk.
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-11-21
PAID THE
PENALTY OF
Ills CRIME

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