The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-12-29

| LAIN by an unknown robber, Nephi
| y NJ. Sheets was found in a pool Of
his own blood in front of the home
of his brother-in-law, ]. D. H. McAIlis-
ter, SAL East Fifth South street, about
o'clock last night
| Death came from behind and proba-
| bly, without warning. Visible evidence
is to the effect that he was shot and
possibly that his skull was crushed by
blow from the revolver or some other
heavy weapon. Just above the base Of
the skull and about an inch to the right
of the meridian line is a ragged hole
through which three fingers may be
thrust. The skull is shattered in sew
eral directions and indications are that
life left the body in an instant.
A superficial examination of the body
last night failed to disclose the loca-
tior Of the bullet, but ii will undoubt-
edly be found at the post norton to
be conducted today. A distinct smell
of powder about the head and the fact
that residents in the neighborhood of
the killing heard a sound like a shot
make it practically certain that ball
was fired into the brain. The shattered
skull leads to a belief that a blow was
delivered in connection with the shot
although men familiar with the effects
OF gunshot wounds assert that the
skull might readily be fractured as in
this case by the discharge of a heavy
revolver held against the head.
Many Caught in Oragnet.
There is no evidence as yet to indi-
cate who fired the shot. The police
were informed of the killing soon after
it took place. but had little to work
upon. The "dragnet" process was in
voked, and every suspicious character
seen on the streets was taken into Gus
tody. The list included unemployed
gamblers, known crooks, '.buns" of all
descriptions and wandering strangers
who were unable TO give satisfactory
accounts Of themselves.
The shot was fired a few minutes be-
fore o'clock. Many persons of the
neighborhood heard it. among them
members OF the family of Mr.. McAllis-
ter. the brother-in-law but little atten-
ton was given to it until the body was
discovered by John Foote, who is en-
ployed at the City and County build.
ing. Mr. Foote at once gave the alarm
and small crowd gathered soon. In
response to a telephone message from
Mr.. Foote to the police station. Officer
John Corless and Patrol Driver Will
liam Armstrong hurried to the scene.
Detective George Chase, Sergeant John
Hempel and Fire Chief w. H Bywater
followed soon.
Killed at the Gate.
The body lay on its back diagonalIy
across the sidewalk almost directly in
front of the McAllister gate Mr.
Sheets had evidently been in the act of
entering into the gate to visit the fam
lily of his brother-in-laW when he was
killed. The head was close beside a
small stake driven I'm the earth to sup
port wire placed there to protect bit
Of lawn between the fence and the
sidewalk The feet lay to the south
west. The arms were extended and
relaxed indicating that there was no
struggle.
Blood surrounded the body. The
head lay in a mass of blood and brains
that had escaped through the gaping
wound. The trousers pockets were
turned inside out and were empty. A
handsome gold watch that was worn
always by Mr.. Sheets was missing.
The pockets in the upper garments had
not been disturbed apparently, as 70
cents was found in vest pocket. His
pipe lay in the snow beside him as If
il had fallen from his mouth or his
hand. The body was warm when the
officers arrived.
The body was removed to the under |
taking house OF Joseph E. Taylor, |
where a superficial examination was
made by County Physician e. W. |
Whitney. The hole was found TO ex-
tend upwards into the head While re- |
serving his decision until after a more
thorough examination, DR.. Whitney |
Joined with others in the belief that |
the wound was caused by a shot. al |
though he admitted the possibility that |
it had been accompanied by heavy |
blow Justice Dana T. Smith was sum /
money and he viii probably order an |
inquest today.
McAIlster Hears Shot.
Mr.. McAllister was in the act of re- |
firing when his children told him they /
had heard a sound like a shot" Some |
about "sandbaggers" was
made, half jestingly, but Mr. Meal |
lister paid little heed to il and contin- |
ued his preparations for bed. unaware /
that his sisters husband lay dead in /
front of the house
~ Jew minutes later, JOnn F'OOte, en- |
route 10 his home. 504 South Third East
street, from the city and county build /
ing, came by and encountered the BODY |
lying across the sidewalk Mr.. Foote |
believed he had found an intoxicated |
man and struck a match to observe
the form more closely. By the light OF |
The match he saw the pool of blood and
brains while the CLASSY stare of the
eyes told him the man was dead. He
hurried back to the city and county
building and telephoned to the police |
station. Returning toward his home.
ne met two young men, neither of |
whom he knew. They told him they
had seen the body and added that they
had observed a tuft of hair on the
stake near Mr.. Sheets head Later in
Vestigation failed to reveal hair on the
stake as described Mr. Foote contin-
led to his home. siekened by the ghast-