The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-03-09
CONVICTED MURDERER
MAKES A LAST PLEA
Henry E. Clay, Alleged Assassin
of Laramie MiSer, Appeals
to Supreme Court.
Special TO Tho Tribune.

Special to Tho Tribune.
LARAMIE, Wyo.. March S.-Arguments
will be heard in the Supreme court at
Cheyenne tomorrow In the murder case
OF Henry +. Clay, on petition for a new
hearing Clay is under eentence OF death
for the murder OF George Gerber, n small
merchant OF this city, on the night OF
January 10. 1905.
There were three men In the party
Clay, a negro known as 'Dtcey" Brnic
and an unknown white man. 'Dioey"
was the first arrested and gave the otii-
GERS tip as TO Clay, who VAS arrested
at Cheyenne and brought back here. At
tcrward the negro made confession ana
when he pleaded guilty to murder In the
second degree wac sentenced TO ten years
In the penilcntiary.
the District court last year found guilty
OF murder in the first degree and sem
fenced to be hanged May %.
The bill OF exceptions VIII set out
number of grounds for asking a new
trial alleging prejudice on the part OF
the people OF the county. the untruthful-
ness OF Birnie's alleged confession and
other matters.
Gerber was Il small merchant on the
southern end of FIRST street He was
somewhat OF miser and was believed
to have had considerable money about
him The three men. all OF whom were
strangers In the city. are alleged TO nave
gone to his store between and 10 O'Clock
ut night surprised him by entering from
with a large bar OF iron. aiterward cut
ting his throat with u knife and leaving
the knife in the wound 1t WAS not un-
ri noon the next day that the murder
was discovered The men went east and
Blrnie was followed to Fort Collins.
where he was arrested. Clay was taken
in custody at Cheyenne, but the third
man made bis escape.
A somewhat peculiar condition prevails
In the bids for couple or star Route
mall contracts radiatinS from TINS city:
..atf. hot VOC r1T
Walden Colo. and the other between
Laramie and Centennial. Wyo. thirty
miles west OF here, The lowest bidder
added a proViso To his bid which the de-
partmcnt is trying To eliminate.
The bidder wants inserctsd In tho con-
tract q clause releasing him from his con-
tract in the case OF the building of a rail-
road either to Centennial or Walden.
The Centennial line extends into the
mountains fourteen OF fifteen miles. and
should that part OF the Star Route be-
lgEed and the contract awarded to the
railroad company, the contractor Will be
required TO prorntc the remainder of the
route which presents difficulties almost
iusurmOuntable.
The fifteen miles OF the mountain route
sometimes is blocked except for carriers
freight and passengers which makes tho
handling OF the mails profitable
Capt. Ben Towner the Cooper Hill min
ing man left for his home today, after
"a short visit to the city. on Monday he
hired a horse here TO ride TO the Strong
mine in the Black HIS east OF the city
and while crossing the range, i'm a blind
Ing anowstorm, lost his way and wandered
nbc ut for several hours, expecting TO have
to spend the night in the hills alone. Just
ne he had given up hope and was prepnr-
ing To build fire he found a trial that
led TO a farm house, where he was cared
for.
the strong mine vein Of nine feet of Is
per cent copper has been encountered.
which also carries 81 I'm gold. and that
ihc miners have not less than $4,000 In
sight a reduction plant Will be erected
at this mine In the spring