The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-01-20
FRANK WOMACK
FACES A JURY
Murder in the Second Degree Is
Charge Against Young
Man.
THREE WITNESSES FOR
PROSECUTION EXAMINED
Testimony Shows That Victim
Was Jealous of Attentions
to Wife.

Frank Womack. charged with murder
In tho second degree. for tho killing OF
Joseph Mathews at No, al West First
North street on the night OF October z
1896. was called for trial before Judge
Armstrong in the criminal division Of the
Third District court Thursday morning
District Attorney Lootbourow is prose-
cutting the case, while Col NJ NJ kaighn
appears Cor the defense.
Jury Is Secured
Some little time Was consumed In tho
selection of q jury which, when COM
pleted. stood as follows Herman Grother,
Byron ID. Blackmarr, George r. Cushing
Willard 3 Richards. Earnest NJ. Cum
mings Albert c SmooJ. John II. Hamlin
and Fred .. Dcrn,
Where Killing Occurred.
The Killing II will be recalled, occurred
at the home OF Mathews late at night
and was the result OF an alteration be-
tween Womack and Mathews. Mathews
being jealous OF attentions alleged by MN
10 have been paid to Mrs. Mathews by
Womack. Immediately after the killing
Womack called up the police department.
and gave himself up.
Main Witness Called.
John ]. McHugh, the main witness Tor
the prosecution, was cullcd to the STAND
by District Attorney koofoourow shortly
after o'clock yesterday afternoon and
told his story I'm direct, straightforward
manner, McHugn who had lived at the
Matthews home tor , some % tme Ie, prlOr iO ,bo So
same room with Womack and man
named Fisher
Called Womack From Room.
on the night Of the killing McHugh
said. he had taken Il walk with Mathews,
after IL o'clock al night and had re-
tired, Immediately after retiring he
heard Mathews quarrelinG with his VIE
and later Mathews came to the door ana
called Womack. saying Dress and come
1ni a
put his trousers on and went out Into an
adjoining room. After Womack left the
room, McHuCh suid. he heard Mathews
say: II wont YOU to leave tonight and
leave d quick" Womack replied that
he was paying his board TO Mrs.
Mathews and would let her settle the
Three Shots Fired.
scume then ensued and three shots
were fired McHugh nwoke Fisher and
told him that Something was doing
McHugh then hurried out OF the room
and found the body OF Mathews lying
in tho doorway between TWO adjoining
rooms. Mathews appeared TO DC dying
al the time, and the revolver with which
the shooting was done was lying on n
table. The witness heard Mathews say,
MY God. / am shot" just before he en-
tered the room
Prepared for Mathews.
McHuGh, in reply to questions put by
the District Attorney, said that Womack
had owned a gun for some time before
the shooting. and about two weeks prior
20 that time had sadsto the witness that
Mathews. At another time, the witness
added. Womack said he would like To fix
the --. referring TO Mathews.
on cross-cNaminati tion. McHugh testified
that Mathews was OF a quarrclSome dis
position and was always causing trouble
about the house. On the morning of the
shooting, McEugh said. Mathews asked
him TO take a walk with him. but the
witness refused He didn't want TO talk
TO Mathews. he said. because Mathews
was always talking about his troubles
and McHugh didn't want to get mixed up
In the. matter
Knew Nothing Was Wrong.
He kept away from Mathews all day,
but at night took walk with him. Dur
ing this time Mathews asked him If he
knew of anything wrong between Wo-
mack and Mrs. Mathews. McHugh re-
piled that he didn't know anything about
IT, but added that he didn't believe there
was anything wrong Mathews then said
that Womnck would have 10 get out OF
the house and that If he did not get out
he would be Kicked out. While out to-
gcthcr. McIiugh said. he and Mathews
took a couple OF drinks.
Condemned Action of Mathews
Continuing. McHugh said that he had
always condemned the action OF Mathews
In Quarrelng with his wife and causing
trouble, in, the house Coming down
heard Mathews quarrcling with his wife
and that he was using vile language. He
was SO accustomed TO this. he added, that
he paid but little attention to it Imme-
diatcly after. however Mathews came to
the door and called Womack. The scuf-
fie then ensued. three shots were fired.
and McHugh rushed Into the adjoining
room TO find Mathews dying on the
floor.
Woman Hears the Quarrel
Miss Pearl Powell the next witness.
testified that she heard the alteration
between Mathewe and Womack just be-
fore the shooting. She said that Mathews
said to Womack: II have had enough OF
this and you viii have TO go" Womack
replied that he would so II Mrs Mathews
said 50 and added that he paving
his board TO hcr. This angercd Mathews,
the witness continued, and Mathews said
in substance; u Will knock your block off
and Kill you while | have you here"
Miss Powell testified further that 4
quantity OF Womack's hair was pulled
out during the scu!ilc.
The hearing VIII be resumed ut 10
o'clock this morning.