The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-12-12
WALKERS STORY
OF BEERS DEATH
TOLD TO JURY
Attorney Hutchinson in Leng-
thy Address Relates Facts
Leading to Tragedy.
DEAD MAN ADMITTED
GUILT TO ACCUSED
THIS, 1T is ASSERTED, AROUSED
WALKER TO START THE
FATAL FIGHT.

Ogden, Dec. n.-With all the dra-
matte effect at his command and
with a decided effort at bring
ing out the pathetic side of the case.
Attorney W. r. Hutchinson of Salt Lake,
chief counsel for the defense in the Beers
murder trial, delivered his first shot for
the defendant this afternoon. in
making his opening statement before the
twelve men who will eventually pass
judgment as to the guilt or innocence of
the man now on trial - went over
what he asserted to be the facts Of the
case as he intended to prove them. For
the first time in the history of the case
it was made public along what lines the
defense would be conducted and for The
first time the story of the crime virtually
as told by Walker was repeated
During the time this statement was
being rendered Walker gave evidence OF
being much affected. AT times his eyes
filled with tears and he had difficulty III
restraining himself.
Mr.. Hutchinson told of the facts that
led up to the commission of the crime,
beginning with the time the dead man
and the accused became acquainted. He
told Of the social intimacy that sprang
up between their families and then OF
the gradual estrangement of the two
men from the time that the prisoner first
learned of the influence which his sup
posed friend held over his wife. He then
carried the jury up to the moment when
he learned of the defilement of the WO-
man from the lips of the man with. whose
murder he is now charged. ne told of
the passion which seized him and de
clared that the injuries which caused the
death of Dr. Beers were sustained in
fight between man and man He said:
Walkers Story of Tragedy.
The evidence will show that Walker
is a married man. being married eight
years ago in Salt Lake Tt will show
that he courted his wife, as a girl. seven
or cfrhf u~r
that the result Of that marriage was one
child. We will show that the defendant
started in as poor boy, supporting his
widowed mother working IN Motel as
a bell boy. and that ne worked his way
UP step by sten until he became man
ager of the Salt Lake Electric Fixture q
Supply company He held that position
up to the time of the occurrence. His
social and home life was honorable and
free from criticism. he was devoted
father and husband. He lived with his
widowed mother and he helped 20 sup
port her until his marriage and after
that BY reputable witnesses we VIII
show that he has been reputable and
peaceful citizen. His wife was good Wo-
man. and with her he lived at the Len
noX hotel in Salt Lake. he closed his
home and went to live there that his
wife might be relieved from the duties OF
keeping house While there they met DIT,
Beers and his wife They associated to-
gether as friends During this association
DR.. Beers exercised his professional and
social qualities and otherwise to take
this woman from this man. He sue
ceeded.
''On Sept. g. 1907 Walker thinking his
wife was going to visit with the Beers
family in ogden, telephoned up here and
learned that she was not visiting with
them He became uneasy and began To
investigate He found that she had heen
at the Healy hotel. He telephoned 10
his wife and found that she had been
at the Hermitage. while Beers was there.
in company with another woman lie
told her to come home, and she
came That night there was a confer
influence which DR.. Beers had over her.
She insisted that Walker interview Beers
and tell him that she never wished TO see
him again. At that time Walker did not
know that Beers went to Salt Lake on
the same train that she went on. While
Walker was absent from home Beers went
there He took hold Of the woman and
she rushed into another room to go to
the telephone and call her husband. At
that instant Walker happened TO come
into the room. Addressing his wife, he
said:
What does this mean. JOsie2
Beers then promised that they should
both go their ways, he his way and they
theirs
Effort TO Save His Wife.
DIR. Beers was doing business here then
as The Boy Phenomenal He continued
to telephone Mrs. Walker. eXeTting his
influence. He continued to write to her.
Walker sent his wife and mother to Los
Angeles on Sept. 10 10 get her out OF
Continued on Page 3.