Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-11-01
INSIST on ALIBI
Harpcrs Claim They Were not In Utah
At Time of Murder.

The finding OF skeletons. supposed Co
he the remains OF Ezra ana George
Penny. who disappeared so mysterious
lv from Willard county, nearly nine
years ago ls creating considerable me
terest fn Colorado, as Wen as ln bldii
Denver chances 90 be- at least ihe tenn
porary home of the persons believed 10
know why the Pennys were never seen
alive by their friend, after they started
ou a prospecting Grip Son Che fall or
1895. They are three in number two
men aud a woman George Harper,
John Harper and Sarah Armstrong.
There is some doubt as t1 whether me
last name of the men is really Harper,
as they are sometimes called hoI4et.
STORY REVIVED
The story OF the dis8upearanco of
Ezra Penny and his son has been told
and retod many times during the last
nine wears The occurrence was fast
becoming forgotten by all except Che
Immediate family and friends, when the
uncovering of two SETS Of bones and the
almost positive Identification of the
same as the remains of the missing
Kanosh men revived the story of the
event.
SHERIFF ~ DENVER.
one Of the Harpers had been in cus-
today once charged with the killing
of the Pennys but there was not suf-
hcient evidence 90 convict him. soon
aner the finding Of the skeletons
week or two ago in the san Francisco
mountains Beaver county Utah plans
were laid hy the officers Of Willard
county Tor tne apprehension OF the Har-
pcrs and Mrs. Arm strong. and the
three were arrested in Denver sheriff
Black OF Willard county 20 now ia the
Colorado city, and viii leave no stone
unturued 10 bring the murderers 90
justice, II IL can be shown that the per-
sens IN custody were iu any way con-
nected with. the affair
STAND or ACCUSED.
The following relative 60 the prisoners
and the stand they take as 90 the
charges against them appears In the
Denver Post OF oct 20.
Whether 10 was "a haudshakc or the
absence OF the usual penetrating stare
which those charged with the crime OF
murder are forced 20 undergo. whether
it was the fact that there was al least
one human being who took q genuine
Interest in him, or because OF ae sud
den awakening Of mind daz,d By an
awful accusation. George Harper. now
occupying a cell Do the county JAN and
charged with participating in the muir
der OF Ezra and George Penny lu Utah
nine years ago. made "a statement this
morning for the first time since his ar-
rest last sunday by the Fort Lupt0u
authorities
PARTIES ARRESTED.
Following the Disappearance OF Ezr,
Penny and his son, in October 1885. a
thorough search was made far their
bodies. but 10 proved Unsuccessful A
week ago some prospectors found two
skeletons iu the Frisco mountains. MIL
lard county Utah. Miss Emma Penny
daughter of Ezra Penny Identified one
as the skeleton Of her father by the
gold bridge BOO his teeth Harper aud
his brother, John Harper aud Sarah
Armstrong. were suspected ana sheriff
Nisbet of Denver was notified He
secured George Harper at Fort Lupton
John Harper al Arapahoc Crossing.
and sarah Armstrong at 1900 Central
street, Denver
CLAIMS ALIBL
"lt seems that George Harper huI
once been boz the service Hf his Coun-
tu. for almost the first words of Hnr-
per as Doe began DIS statement. were
TO the effect that Dee was Iu the em-
ploy of thc government at the time the
murder is supposed 90 hate been com-
mitted
"Erom July n, 1895. until the month
of April 1899, I WAS member of Trolo I
H. Seventh Uustei Stltes regular cave
airy said Harper "aul re-euiisted "a
few weeks after my discharge with thc
Thirty-uinth regiment Of volunteers Tn
September 1899. / was sent 10 Fost
crook Nch.. bat was there rejected Id
account of an injury 10 my foot. prom
the FIRST day of my enlistment until 1f-
tor thr date when the murder Is rnfd
90 have been committed. 4 was u,Ifb
mv regiment us me army records win
prove
"Hu. sou were in Utah a part OF the
Time
WAS not II UTAH
$50. = Was never Boz that state except
when my regiment stopped for "a fen
hours az ogden on our way 90 me
Philippines J have been boz Arizona.
Georgia. Cuba and Che Philippines. bud
never in the state where this man
qua h's son were KILLED"
John Harper alec said he could prove
an alibi
We're sou ever no Utah2r he was
arked
"Yes-that rs ! was Boz a corner ~
Utah bon 1893. You see I was in that
part n the country where Colombo.
Utuh New Mexico am Aroizna mi
come together Ho Z really can't be-
sure Between 1855 and 1898. though
was right hero ln Denver"
You ret Mrs Armstrong here.
didn't you~
"Yes" was the reply that was about
ln years aFo I guess
ONLY rs CORNER OBJ STATE