The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-05-27

Gives Information of Desert Crime
Committed Years Ago.
GUILTY MAN IN CUSTODY
BODIES DUG UP FROM SAND By
AUTHORITIES.

OR a double murder committed
seven years ago near Las Vegas,
New. the mystery OF which was
lifted only through the confession OF
the assassin's paramOur. J. NJ Hancock
is TO be extradited from California as
soon as he finishes his term at san
Quentin June 1. and wiz be taken 10
Lincoln county. Nevada. for trial
one of the men whom Hancock as
the man was known in Utah, IS charged
with killing. was DIT john hsnSeihe, @
los Angeles veterinary surgeon, the
other John Edmiston of Ogden, Utah
FngeIke's parents were residents o.
this state The double murder occurred
in the summer Of 1888, both men beng
slain while sleeping.
Sheriff Jacob Johnson of Lincoln
county. who has been interested in the
story of Hancocks abandoned para
mour from the start. left salt Lake yes
terday afternoon for san Quentin I'm
company with Judge .. W Powers
The latter has been retained as special
attorney for the prosecution.
Hunting Lost Mine.
Dr.. EngeIke. accompanied by Edmi--
ton. set out across the Nevada desert
on a prospecting trip seven years ago
Each was supplied with plenty OF funds
They were in search Of a lost desert
mine. Near PahrumD ranch west OF
Las Vegas, they fell in with Hancock.
who at that time was travelling under
q different name. With Hancock was r.
woman. apparently his wife The four
kept company that day and night
on the second night. while DIT. FL
e-eIke ard FdmistOH were rolled IN their
blankets the woman says. Hancock
shot each through the head with rife
over their bodiSs was placed the wagon
and this was set on fire, forming
funeral pyre
The man and woman then crossed
Nevada and came TO salt Lake. They
spent a year or TWO in Utah and then
Hancock fell out with the woman For
years she was bound to secrecy con
corning the tragedy by his threats o.
murder.
About 1900. however. Hancock under
another name. was convicted of bur
glary and sentenced for term of years
to San Quentin.
Woman Wrote Officers
Not until the man had been placed
behind bars did the woman have COur-
age enough to reveal her secret. About
six months ago she wrote TO the au-
thOrities of Phoebe. New, telling them
that if they would dig in a certain spot
near the PahTump ranch they would
find the bodies Of two men who mad
been murdered The ground was dug
up First the ChaTTed embeTs of a
| camp wagon and outfit were found.
/ The bodies of the two men were there
also.
Hancock. in san Quentin. is not
aware of the fate that IS awaiting him
/ for the fact of his former paramOur 8
/ confession has been kept from him
| The woman in the case say the au-
| thorities. viii be produced in good time
and viii give testimony which VIII
/ bring her former lover to the EallOws.
Says Hancock viii Swing.
/ Hancock will swing sure II he IS
! ever tried in Lincoln county" said F
J. Harrington. manager Of the Quar-
t tette mine at SeaTChlight. New Nj
/ Harrington is familiar with the his
! tory of the case He said yesterday
/ at the Wilson
+ "One thing. no matter how desperate
{ Hancock is. he'll find he has met his
match in Jake Johnson Johnson VIII
/ deliver him to the authorities of Lin
I coin county dead or alive There IS no
/ nervier sheriff in the southwest than
/ the sheriff Of Lincoln county, Nevada
/ According to Nr. Harrington. feeling
! against Hancock Is high i'm Lincoln
/ county. The woman who witnessed
I the murder can be secured at the right
/ time by the prosecution Mr. Harriug-
/ ton is lavish i'm his praise Of Sheriff
JOhnsOns ability. The peace officer has
his gun notched already in his pursuit
/ Of Iaw-brea kerS-
It Is expected he viii pass thrOuer
I here with his prisoner in the course 0t
/ d week.