The Butte inter mountain., 1903-11-20

paper men, for whom he sent just before
he was led to his death. | am innocent
of this crime. And neither here nor i'll
the hereafter will forgive those who have
sent me to my DEATH
Mortensen refused to see the ministers,
either of his own belief or the Mormons,
or of any other denomination and also re-
fused stmulants, saying he needed neither.
Peter Mortensen was shot to death for
the murder of James X. Hay on the night
of December 10, 1901. The day following
report was circulated that Hay, who
was secretary OF the Pacific Lumber COM
pany, had absconded. taking with him
$500 collected from Martensen on a bill
due the company. Mortenscn was in
debted to the company for material used
in his contracting business and had not re-
turned to make payment. December 10
he called at the Office of the company,
said he had the money in gold concealed
in his cellar and asked Hay to come
around that night and get it. The men
were neighbors. Hay left his house short
ly after dinner that evening, stating he
was going to Martensen's to collect some
money That was the last seen OF him
alive.
buried in shallow grave In the middle
of a pasture not far from Martensen's
home. A bullet hole through the head
showed the manner Of death. Mortensen
was Immediately arrested. Soon afterward
Mrs. Mortensen left Salt Lake with her
children without calling on her husband
TO say goodbye. The laws OF Utah do not
permit a wife to testify against her hus-
band, but Il was learned that Mrs. Morten-
sen considered him guilty of the murder
because Of the fact that he had gone out
with Hay that night and remained over
an hour.
When he returned he was ghastly pale
and cautioned his wife not TO tell anyone
he had left the house. strong chain of
circumstantial evidence was woven around
Mortensen at the trial and he was pro-
nounced guilty on the first ballot. The
most sensational incident OF the trial was
the testimony of James Sharp, Hays
fatherin-law who stated that he knew on
the night before the body was discovered
that Hay had been murdered by Marten-
sen because God Lad revealed il to him"
This so-called revelation" testimony was
made the basis OF an appeal to the SUI
preme court, which. however. was denied,
the jurors stating that this had not innu-
enced their decision in any way.
The choice Of death by shooting or
hanging is given condemned persons in
Utah and Martensen chose to meet his
death by the bullets OF the prison guards.
This morning a tent was pitched in the
north end OF the prisoners recreation yard
at the penitentiary, midway between the
cast and west walls. In this tent were
stationed the six men selected to do the
shooting. They were masked and wore
long linen busters, SO that their identity
was not disclosed, and they entered III
tent to remain there until after the last
man has left the yard. Mortcnscn could
die standing or sitting down, as he pleased,
but strong stake was driven into the
ground 20 PAGES in front Of the tent. To
this was secured chair in which the
murderer was placed.
When everything was ready Mortensen
was taken from his cell and turned over TO
Sheriff Emery by Warden Dow. He was
then taken to the spot OF execution and
given an opportunity to make statement.
He was allowed a minute or two with a
clergyman, after which the county ply
sician pinned a target on his breast inn
mediately over the heart, at which the
cxecutioners shot. -
When everything was in readiness
signal was given to the six men in the
tent. They fred together. No one will know
who fired the fatal shot for one of the six
guns was loaded with a blank cartridge.
This was the first legal execution in
Utah in seven years.