The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-11-16
WOMACK is ON TRIAL
Story of the Shooting of Joseph S.
Mathews Told in Court by the
Widow of Murdered Man.

The preliminary hearing Of Frank
Womack charged with the murder OF
Joseph s. Mathews, was called yester-
day before Judge c. r. Diehl. The
prosecution was conducted by Assistant
County Attorney Job Lyon. and Colonel
NJ. NJ. Kaighn represented the defend
ant,
Mrs. Bessie Mathews. The widow OF
the murdered man, was the first wit
ness examined. Several times during
the cross eXaminat ton Mrs. Mathews
wept bitterly as she told the story of
The tragedy.
My husband had been drinking that
night Mrs. Mathews said, and when
he came home at 1889 O'Clock he came
into my bedroom. He told me John
McHugh said Womack was trying 10
win my affections. lie was in an angry
matters that night. I begged him 10
go 20 bed and wait until the next day,
but he wouldn't listen 10 me-
lie has got gun and intends 10
Kill, for McHugh said So. my hus-
band said, and left the room.
Il heard Joe so 10 Womack's bed
room ana call 20 him. ] was afraid
there would be trouble and got up out
Of bed. l heard my husband tell him
with him. ] saw them go into the din
ing room, and Joe ordered him TO leave
the house. Womack replied that he
was paying me for the room and did
not intend 10 go. At that Joe struck
HIM and grabbed him by the hair. He
pulled him down on the floor and COM
menced beating him. ! grabbed up the
lamp and ran out of the room, leaving
them i'm the darkness.
Il heard Joe eXclaim. I'll kill you,
c. d. YOU.
II screamed and ran into the kitchen.
and Il moment later a shot was fired.
and two more followed i'm quick sue
cession, Mr.. Fisher and Miss Powell
came running out Of their rooms. Joe
had fallen ON the floor covered with
blood
In the crOss-eXamination the woman
was asked by Colonel Kaighn if her
husband ever threatened her with a
razor.
Yes, he did" she replied. but at first
she refused 10 answer the question.
Mrs. Mathews was also asked about
WOmacks conduct and why she al
lowed him To rent the room when her
husband objected.
1T was necessary for me to do it to
support my children" she said, and
broke down again. She sobbed for sew
eral minutes, and il was necessary to
postpone the crosse Examination until
she recovered. She answered several
other questions and was then excused.
The testimony of Police Officers Hen
~ Johnston and Thomas Miner was
also taken, but no new DEVELOPMENTS
We're brought out. They testified To
the telephone message which came to
police HEADQUARTERS from Womack and
concerning his arrest
DIR. +. W Whitney. county phys-
clan. who performed the autopsy upon
the body of Mathews, gave a lengthy
description of the wounds and the di-
rectiOn the bullets took.
Charles Fisher another roOmer at
Mrs. Mathews was also called by the
prosecution. and his testimony was en-
bodied i'm that Of Mrs. Mathews. At
"his point the prosecution rested its
case.
McHugh, who told Mathews, IL is al
legged, that WOmack was paying at
tentiOn TO Mrs. Mathews, has left the
state and his testimony is badly want
ed by the prosecution. Efforts were
made 10 locate him but so far they
have been unsuccessful.
At this DOinJ court adjourned and
today the defense WI offer its testi-
mOuy Several Witnesses have been
subroenaed and it is probable that the
hearing viii be concluded this after
noon.