The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-03-03
SLEW HIS FATHER,
JURY JUSTIF|ES IT
Joseph A. Checketts Is Exon
Grated for Shooting His
Father.
INQUEST REVEALED
SHOCKING BRUTALITY
FiendiSh Husband Abused and
Beat Frail Wife Twenty
Five Years.
SnNcIal 10 Tho Trfhune.

Special TO Tho Tribune
OGDEN, March 2-"Wo find that 10.
seph A. Chcckctts came TO his death by
a gunshot wound IN the loft temple, said
gun being in tho hand Of his son. Franz,
Chccketts, In defense OF his mothers life
hence Justif1able. in our opinion. We also
recommend his release from custody and
mis- acquittal"
The above was the verdict returned by
a jury of three representative business
men after the taking OF the testimony In
the CoronerS inquest on the matter Of
the killing OF Joseph A. Checketts by his
eighteen ycar-o son early Wednesday
morning, when the boy shot and killed
his father to save his mothers life.
Witnesses Charged Brutality.
The Inquiry, which began this morning
and lasted Into the afternoon, was one
OF the most distressing that ever ap
pcared In such an inquiry. The wife OF
Checketts, though still n comparatively
young woman, looks aged and feeble as
II result OF the brutal treatment she was
subjected TO. She was one OF the wilt
nesses. and gave damnlng testimony
against her late husband. His two daugh-
ters did the same and his father, his sis
Ter, his brother, his brother-ln-law and
Two sisteTs-in-law, each In detail. testi-
fed 10 his continuous brutality.
Abused Wife for Years,
The jury was composed OF S. II,
Browne, J. II, Thomas and James Har-
Top After they and the witnesses were
sworn, they went to the morgue and
Viewed the remains, They saw the body
Of big powerful, muscular man, who
was physically fitted 10 enter the prize
ring, and when later they saw the little.
frail woman he had abused for twenty"
nve years. they were like ether human
people They concluded that his killing
was justihable, however deplorable the
circumstances
County Attorney Hulanlski represented
the State and Attorney NJ. u. Lessenger
represented the defendant boy charged
with murder.
Woman's Distress Pitiable.
After witnesses had proven the death
and the cause, and related the details,
Mrs. Chccketts. the widow OF the dead
man and the mother of the boy who shot
his father In her defense. was called to
,he stand. Her grief and distress were
pitIablc, and the sleepless nights and
mental distress from the attacks OF the
dead brute affected the entire court. the
jury and the spectators. She was aided
10 the witness chair BY her son, Joseph
Checkctts. now an engineer in Salt Lake.
Detailed Her Life.
She detailed her life with Checkctts
and told In detail OF his brutal treatment
Of herself and children, but in the begin
ming OF her narrative was overcome by
her emotions and her physical weakness
lilco' ~ HO Adu otth NH1 DphN OE Knew
Checketts in life felt the full Importance
and the brutality OF that fine physical
specimen of the genus homo assaultlng
the little woman.
Choked to Unconsciousness
When she regained her composure she |
told OF how. on the morning OF the kill |
ing. me was choking her To death and |
to XIII the whole family |
That she was unconscious and her last !
thought was that she was being muir |
dered and her children would meet n |
SIMILAR Fate and then pistol shot awoke |
her. The details OF the treatment she |
had been subjected to were revolving but |
she knew nothing OF the Incidents OF the |
shooting.
She was followed by a friend OF the |
family, Mrs. Alice Collins. who had fire. |
quently aided the girls when their father |
tried 10 abuse them. Mrs Collins was |
the hrst to arrive on the scene OF the |
and related the advent OF the |
aged father after the killing. She was |
asked TO state what the elder MI Check |
etts had TO say.
Thank God; He's Dead"
When he came into the room he asked.
How Is Joe2' i replied that Joe was |
dend, and the old man said Thank God,
he's dead "
Mrs. Collins further testified that the |
language OF Checketts. deceased and his |
general conduct WAS the worst that |
could be said OF man"
Nellie Checkett the twenty-two-year- |
old daughter OF the dead man. WAS the |
next witness The girl was exhausted |