The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-11-21

then 7 looked him in the face and
said: Peter Mortensen. there is where
you killed James Il. Hay. Mortensen
spoke up. How do you know he's
deadT NJ asked. And I said TO him:
The proof win be that his dead body
viii be dug up within twenty-foUr
hours. within a mile Of here, in one OF
these fields "
Mortensen made no response to these
and other accusations.
When Body Was Dug Up.
The events epf Wednesday, the day
Hays body was found. were then
probed into by the district attorney
while Mr.. Sharp was on the witness
stand He told of standing over the
remains Of his dead sOn-in-law on the
wagon at Hendry's store, while Nor
Jensen stood near by, aaG expressing
his FEELINGS
7 saw his face" said Mr.. sharp.
covered with streaks Of blood, and
exclaimed:
That's my dead boy I addressed
him IS 'Jimmy my poor Jimmy Then
I said:
You never ran away. He muir
dered YOU for a receipt on your body
representing $500. You never ran
away. He never gave you a dol
lar"
While Mr.. Sharp was uttering those
words Mortensen hung his head look
ing at the ground.
on examination when asked
how he knew that Hays body would
be found the next day in a field, Mr.
Sharp said.
Message From God.
God revealed it to me-"
"WheD2"
There in that yard" meaning at
the time when Mortenseu pointed out
to him from his doorstep where ne
had last seen Hay the night before he
disappeared.
How did he reveal it to your"
by telling me"
How did he tell # TO your"
He told me by the utterances of
my mouth"
In what manner did he tell your"
He told me, as proof TO Peter Nor
Jensen. he had killed my son. he was
the man that killed him. his dead body
would be dug up within twenty-four
hours, within a mile of that place, bur
led in one OF these fields"
When asked how God appeared to
him, whether it was in person, Mr..
Sharp said he appeared to him by the
power Of his spirit. He said he did
not see the Holy Ghost, but felt his
presence by his spirit. When asked if
that was the only reason he had for
saying that NOrtensen killed his son,
Mr.. Sharp said;
Vision Of Trail Of Blood.
The words came out OF my mouth.
sir, and / could not stop them. And
7 M
words, neither here nor anywhere else.
L will not deny them when 1 meet God
I in the next world
When asked if ne had had any other
manifestations in the case, Mr.. Sharp
said;
~On Tuesday, at noon. I saw in a
vision the trail Of blood leading across
the track to the grave"
The remainder OF Mr.. Sharps testi-
mony had more or less bearing upon
revelations, but not directly affecting
the case on trial.
On June "A, 1902, the jury brought
in verdict of guilty Of murder in
the first degree. Five days later a
motion for new trial was filed. which
was overuled on Aug. p. On Sept. .
Mortensen was sentenced to be shot
on Oct. i. 1902. on the following dav.
Sept .. he was taken to the state pris
VA w await JuNAe7 llltAAL u the state SUI
preme court on appeal. On Aug. 13,
Z 1908, the judgment of the lower court
was affirmed, and Oct. Is his petition
for rehearing was denied. On Oct.
3 he was resentenced to be executed on
Nov. 20.
Communication Is Denied.
Nov. IA the state board Of pardous
met in special session to consider the
application for a communication of SEN
I tence to life imprisonment. which was
denied. Then followed a petition to
the state supreme court asking for a
rehearing upon the second appeal.
which was denied Nov. 10 The same
day Mortensen filed with the governor
a request to be permitted to appear
! the board this morning before the hour
set for the execution and make state
ment as to where he got the $500 which
he said he gave Hay.
The governor refused to call the
/ board together again, but he visited
the condemned man in his cell and
listened to his explanation. He could
see no reason for granting a respite.
and refused the condemned mans re-
quest.