Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-03-05

leased at the time OF the fire.
employed jennings TO have the place
burned. Cotter was 10 pay Jennings
$500 for the job and Hoffman, who did
the work for Jennings. was to receive
one-half OF the amount. HOLMAN
claims, however, that Jennings did not
pay him. HOLMAN was boarding at
Snyder's, and as he can neither read
nor write, Mrs, Snyder wrote his letter
and read letters received by him. lie
was In correspondence with Jennings
on many matters, and In a letter which
Mrs. Snyder has retained--it was the
custom OF HOLMAN TO destroy the let
ters as soon as read, but this letter Mrs,
Snyder kept out and gave HOLMAN the
envelope TO destroy HOLMAN Is told
by Jennings, 70 II Is stated here, 10 go
TO Cotter and Cotter would give him
some money
After Hollimans arrest he confessed
setting fire TO the Highland Boy board
ing house In connection with Wilson.
and says they were 70 have $3.50 for the
work. Jennings, 80 HOLMAN says,
threatened to kill HOLMAN II he did
not fire the place after he (Jennings)
had told him that he (Jennings had
caused the burning OF several other
MISUNDERSTANDING some In Park
city and Sappete county for which
Jennings had been paid, Jennings also
threatened Holiman's life II he dis.
closed Jennings secret, and Hoffman
is very much afraid Of Jennings now
carrying out his threat
Hoffman later admitted that he and
Wilson fired the creamery also under
the direction Of Jennings He says that
the reason he did not at first admit that
he set fire TO the creamery was because
Cotter had befriended him ana he did
not want to make trouble for CotteE
Hoffman also tells that Jennings act
ed as a matrimonial agent, and that he
offered Hoffman $3.50 to marry a girl in
Sanpete, whom a railroad man was anx-
ious to see settled in life, but this en-
terprise fell through because the girl
did not feel matrimonlally inclined to.
wards HOLMAN, Hoffman lived In
Pleasant View ward. near Provo, sew
eral years. He came here from the
south about 10 years ago and while
here had domestic troubles Mrs. Hol-
Imam finally obtained divorce and
HOLMAN was married 10 girl In Too.
ele few days before his arrest He is
between IS and 40 years of age, and Ia
not particularly deep mentally, and Is
said to have violent temper.
Alex Jennings has quite a reputation
as practical joker, to put II mildly.
some ten years ago he shot his hand
so that 1t had to be amputated. He
carried an accident insurance policy nj
the time and the agent who sold the
policy was discharged by the company.
ana II Is claimed that Jennings did not
receive much OF the insurance, the COM
pany not believing that the shooting
was accidental. although the extent OF
Inc injury Is not believed to have been
intended, About year ago jennings
was employed by the city marshal of
Spfingville 10 obtain evidence against
Illicit liquor sellers and bought large
quantity Of bottled beer" from drug
gist to be used as evidence by the city
In cases to be brought against the
druggist on the trial the bottles were
found TO contain water, and II is i'm.
possible to make City Marshal Hall
believe that Jennings and the druggist
did not enter into conspiracy 10 have
some fun at his expense.
About ten years ago jennings was
before the district court here, charged,
In connection with others, with selling
"salted" mine to Alvin Robson OF
Fillmore for $4,000. Jennings was not
convicted, but his co.defendants we're,
and served time In the Willard coun-
ty Jail for the offense.
Jennings was brought to Provo today
by Sheriff Harmon He denies all the
charges made against him by Hoffman
and Wilson. Wilson has not yet con-
fessed TO the Lehi creamery fire, but
the officers think he will do so.
Mr. Cotter expressed surprise while
here, that any one should think he
would burn the creamery for the lnsur-
ance, as he only owned $3.50 worth OF
stock In the concern, and, Of course, II
seems impossible. The officers, how
ever, think they have strong case, and
Sheriff Harmon and his deputies have
worked hard TO get at the facts,
When HOLMAN was told that Cotter
would not confess, he appeared sur
prlsed, saying that now he was arrest
ed he ought to tell the truth, and Hol-
liman's faith In human nature seems
TO have received a shock, as In further
commenting on the case he said with
considerable show OF disappointment, II
thought he (Cotter) was an honest
man
CELEBRATE GOLDEN WEDDING.
Mr.. and Mrs. John O. Davies, OF the
Second ward, celebrated their Golden
wedding on Feb, 90. Five Of their chill
dren, with their families gathered at
the family residence, and delightful
family reunion was enjoyed, the only
regret being the absence OF a son In
South Africa Mr.. Davies was born in