Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-02-01


and, after the promise had been made
that he would be protected, Munzy re-
lated the whole story, which appears
elsewhere In these columns. Accord
ingiy two complaints were issued
against Rice and Hunter today by
Assistant County Attorney Whitaker
charging them with the murder OF
Beutler. The complaints were signed
by Sheriff Emery and were filed with
Judge Diehl this afternoon.
STORY OF THE CRIME.
The story Of the crime, which was
committed seven years ago on the 25th
of this month, Is as follows:
On the night of the above date at
about o'clock, Beutler who was 90
years Of age, and lived alone In an
adobe cabin OF l4S West South Temple
street, was summoned 10 the door OF his
house by knock Upon opening the
door he was confronted by two men and
he Immediately cried Murder" The
men grabbed and choked him into In
lnsensibillty and then stuffed an old rag
down his throat. thus causing him to
strange to death. The motive for the
crime was robbery, as It was supposed
that the old man had about $1,000 each.
ed in his cabin, The men were scared
away evidently without securing any
money, for when Beutler's body was
searched there was about Sl2 in his
pocket,
HEARD CRY OF MURDER.
Joseph Morris, who lived next door
TO Beutler, said that he heard the
knock on Beutlers door and heard him
yell murder" and also heard the scuf-
le. He said that he then got out
through his back window and went TO
the corner OF West and South Temple
streets where he met a Mr.. Holt and
told him that he thought Beutler and
his wife, who had separated from each
other some time previous to the afair'
were quarrelng A telephone message
was sent TO police headquarters aud
Captain Esllnger and officer shannon
fastened to the scene. Upon arriving
there about Sl5 o'clock, they found
I,eutler lying on the floor dead. They
picked him IN and placed him on the
bed and removed the rags from his
mouth but could not revive him, They
then called an undertaken to take
charge Of the remains, after which a
thorough search of the vicinity was
made to find traces Of the murderers.
DEAD MANS WIFE SUSPECTED.
Unsuccessful In their attempt the
officers returned TO headquarters and
later decided to so to Murray ANA inter-
view Mrs. Bcutler. They knew that
9eutler and his wife had had trouble
and had separated, and they were Of the
opinion that she knew something OF the
crime. She was arrested at the home OF
her daughter and taken TO police head
quarters She denied knowing anything
about the crime, but told the officers
that Jack Rice had been to see her to
inluire where Mr.. neuter lived.
RICE UNDER ARREST.
The officers accordingly went to Rlce's
home and arrested him that night. At
the Inquest evidence was brought out
which implicated Rice, Mrs. Beutler
md Alvin Mitchell, Mrs. Beutler's SON
n.law and upon the strength Of the
verdict OF the Coroner's jury, complaints
were issued against the three above
named parties on March l, iSS7.
CASES DISMISSED.
The preliminary hearing was held be-
fore Police Judge Wcnger, and. on Sat.
urday, March c. Rice was bound over
10 the district court TO answer to the
charge of numbering Beutler, but the
other rNo parties were discharged be-
cause Of lack Of evidence to hold them
on the charge. The case against Rice was
pending in the district court for some
time but II finally became necessary to
dismiss It on account OF lack Of evil
dence to convict. Rice was discharged
from custody and Immediately left the
city and went to herdIng sheep In
Tooele county. Later he married and
now has several children. Munzy and
Hunter remained in the city and were
NEVER SUSPECTED
OF completely in the crime until several
months ago when Sheriff Emery OBJ
tanned Information which led him to
believe that Munzy knew something
about 1t. From that time on he has
been working hard on the case and I'm.
ally his efforts were crowned with sue
cess and he has now secured a complete
confession from Munzy and has the
partes who committed the crime safe
in jail,
HUNTER AND RICE SILENT.
Hunter ap1 Rice refuse to say any,
thing about the affair and all the
sweating to which they have been
subjected has failed to bring out any
discriminating statements from them
Both men are well known In local po-
lice circles as being tough characters
and they have been mixed up In several
crimes previous TO and after the Kill
ing of Beutler. With the confession OF
Munzy and other corroboratve evil
dence now In the hands OF Sheriff
Emery, Il is believed that It VIII be no
trouble to convict Rice and Hunter
There viii be no complaint issued
against Munzy. but he will be held In
Jail and used as witness for the state
SHERIFF EMERY's GOOD WORK.
- H.. A. A..