The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1903-11-27
MET DEATH BRAyELY
PETER MoRrENsEN EXECUTED
FOR MURDER or JAMES r. HAY.
Protested HE Innocence 20 the Last
and Maintained His Wonderful
selfcontroi 10 the Last Moment.

Peter Mortensen. the convicted muir.
! derer Of his noIghbor James r Hay.
was executed at the Utah state prison
Friday morning. about 100 persons bo.
ing present at the execution. Morton
sen was shot TO death meeting his
end while seated in o chair In a cor
nor Of tho prison yard -Four bullets
entered his body two piercing his
heart and two passing directly under
IT, Ills NE was snurod out instantly,
and physicians say his death was alb
solutoly painless.
Mortonsen died game and protested
his Innocence 10 tho last In n state
ment he prepared for presentation TO
the public through the press. no said.
among other things;
ITO tho world want to say and
swear by tho heavens above, by tho
earth beneath. and by all things hold
dear on this earth. am not guilty OF
that cowardly murder Of my dearest
friend! ask. therefore no mans
pardon for aught that may have
dono In life"
The condemned mans last night on
earth was spent in calm and peaceful
sleep. and he ate a hearty breakfast
on tho morning Of the execution.
Mortonsen did not ask for nor re-
ceive tho services Of a clergyman on
the day OF tho execution. From his
attitude the day previous Il was ex-
pected thdt he would desire spiritual
comfort during his last hours on earth,
but not once did he oven speak OF such
n thing
Peter Mortohsen. who was execut.
ed for the murder Of Jamos II. Hay,
was horn IN Richneld. Utah. thirty
eight years ago. His early years were
,spopt there and when a young man
,hc removed 70 Provo. lt.was while
living at that place that he married n
Miss w6tldni who is tho mother OF
Ave children. co.. 'd'
Mortonron lived for time in OF,
don: and while thore engugod in tho
lumber bEmess' He owned q sawmIlli
ndar there at one time. which after
wanr was destroyed by FIRE. II has
been claimed since that no burned the
mill himself
Since moving to Salt Lake City Nor
Jensen has resided most OF the time
in Forest Dale. and prior TO his arrest
Tor the murder OF Hay wasl considered
an upright and honorable citizen. He
IS said TO have been a man with n
great determination and a strong will.
and would generally succeedain what.
ever no undertook.
When he was arrested for murder
on December 49, 1908, his wifo left
him and went to ogden to reside with
her relatives Mortensen never saw
her since that time.
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.
The murder OF James h. Hay. was
committed on tho night OF December
1G. 1901, and Mortonson was convict.
ed on June IA. 1902. Hay had gone to
. - q
money which Mortonsen owed the Pa
oilc Lumber company, for whom Hay
was employed. Mortensen and Hay
loft tho formers home together, and
the latter was never again seen alive.
His body was discovered later, II hay
ing been buried In pasture. The
man had been shot In the back Of the
! head. Mortenson was charged with
the crime. and after hard legal fight.
has paid the penalty with his life.