The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-02-17
Fair OF Foul Play.

The cause of his death has been public.
~ announced that while In tho act OF
End saloon, near the Highland Boy smeit-
er, on Friday evening, Guthrie slipped
and fell. sustaining Il fracture Of the
skull from which he subsequently, died.
Report, unofficial IL Is true, says that
Guthrie had an alteration with another
man. that words led to blows, that his
opponent was the stronger and more pow
erful OF the two, that he dealt Guthrie
blow which sent him to the floor, and
that in tho fall he sustained the fatal
fracture Another story has IL that after
the fracas an attempt was made 10 steer
Guthrie TO the street, believing that In
some way he would be able to find his
way home, which Is mile distant. and
that he did fall as ne was thrust from the
saloon. because he was virtually uncon-
scious and seeing his helpless condition.
some men bore him back into the liquor
house and laid him on the floor.
Lay Dying in Saloon.
Certain 1t is that Guthrie lay on that
hard, filthy floor throughout the entire
night, with a sack of sawduSt for his pill
low and with no hand to aid succor
him. 'Ete was drunk the frequcnters
OF the place said. He Will sleep 1t off"
and they continued their round OF plea
sure The glasses cllnked, the jokes and
stories were banded from lip TO lip. all
was merry and no man had concern OF
the morrow. But In that dark corner OF
the gin shop soul was struggling with
In It's mortal confines for freedom. an
other man was being hurried to the great
bCrderland to meet his Maker John w
Guthrie was asleep all the trials and trib-
ulations OF this world were at an end for
him. 1t was the sleep that knows no
waking.
Beyond Human Agency.
Tho cold, gray dawn OF Saturday morn
Ing broke and Guthrie still slept. II then
occurred 10 William Tripp, the saloon
keeper that Guthrie's slumbers were pro-
tracted and unnatural and IL was decided
10 procure him some medical attention.
surgeon was summoned, report has IT,
that happened TO be passing the place at
the time. The medical man at once re-
allied the seriousness OF Guthrie's con-
sistnncc and ordered his removal to his
home. This was done. The surgeon called
there and gave him all the attention and
aid In his power, but 1t was of no avail
Guthrie was beyond the power OF hu-
man agency. he died early in the after
noon. And all through that night as his
erstwhile friends made merry. poor Guth-
Tlo lay, all unconscious of his surround
lngs. for the light for him had gone out
for ever. his life slowly but surely ebbine.
pulsating away.
Investigation Should Be Held.
And on Monday he was buried There
was no inquest. Whatever Investigation
was made was of the most perfunctory
character. Surely tho circumstances were
suhicient TO warrant n most rigid cxamI-
nation; Even though ho met his death
r.
cumstanccs surrounding II were such as
TO call for condemnation Mans inhu-
manity to man Is accountable for much
And II he had quarrel II ne had made
AN enemy but n few hours before his
death and that enemy had threatened him
that circumstance warrants investigation
AEd II Is not yet too late. The matter
should be probed To the bottom II no
crime has been committed then no ono
Will be injured and the tongue OF rurnor |
Will be silenccd. II a man has been fouIIy |
done TO death then Justice demands that |
the criminal be brought to the bar and
answer for his crime. N
Leaves Widow and Six Children.
Guthrie leaves a widow and six chill |
dreH. the youngest about two months old |
He was In the army OF the Confcdcroc,. |
and native of Georgia. When he 6Ist !
came Utah he located AT BountIful heinz
a convert TO tho Mormon faith, and from
there he went 10 Murray n little over a
year ago He was employed at the HIGH
land Boy smelter. Ills general reputation
was that be was not habitually a drink
ing man nor was he quarrclsoIne Like
Others, he took an occasional drink, and
deeply deplored. 20