Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-08-27
Former Salt Laker Shot to
Death on His
Ranch.
MARRIED LAST JUNE, ONLY,
Bride of Two Months Hears Gums Re-
port and Then Discovers Her
Husband Dying.

4 shocking tragedy occurred at p.
M. Aug %, at the white Rocks, Uintah
county. ranch of Joseph Andrew Pet
tit. formerly of this city. in which Petit
was shot and instantly killed by j. j.
Cook, who had been working for him
on the ranch. Mrs. Petit was in the
house preparing supper, when she heard
two shots, and on hurrying out to see
what 1t meant, was Mortified to find
her husband whom she had married
only last June, lying on the GROUND
breathing his last Cook, the man
who did the execution, was walking
off. and with him was another man
who carried shotgun, while Cook was
armed with a rife.
A brief account sent to the news
from Vernal states the version of the
case as follows
COOK SuRRENDERS.
This morning j. j. Cook come into
vernal To give himself up to the shet-
III. 1t seems he aud a man by the
name of Petit were neighbors on
homesteads near White Rocks COON
was farming a part of Pettlts larh'
end vest arday morning, taking ms gun
along to kill rabbit II he could on
range about cutting some grain, rs
he came up to the house Petit sud
denly appeared around the corner OF
his house with a shotgun. lie I'M
meoiiately aimed and fired at COOK,
hut being so close Cook lodged, at
the same time he fired his gun
without raising 1t to his shoul-
der. and the charge struck ret
III In the forehead killing him
instantly. The sheriff and deputy
left for White Rocks on receipt OF
telephone news of the killing and
while they were going over the man
they wanted was coming to Verhal'
Cook is now waiting for their return
ANOTHER NARRATIVE.
According TO another account, there
had been bad blood between Cook and
Petit for some time, though Mrs. Pet
tit says she does not know just what 1t
vas, as she was newcomer in the
neighborhood. 1t Is stated that as Cook
and his companion approached the
house, Petit grabbed his shotgun and
went out to meet them, eXclaiming, IF
you gents are looking for trouble,
am ready to accommodate YOU" The
claim Is made that at that instant 1t
was merely a question as to who could
ger in the first shot, and Cook was Just
n tribe the quickest, sending a bullet
through Pettits eye and head, as the
latter, fell dead to the ground Cook
then gave himself up. Nothing was
done with the other man, as he had not
done anything.
MRS. PETIT FRUSTRATED.
An inquest was held by Corner
Merkley. the jury finding the deceased
came to his death from q gunshot
wound inflicted by Cook who is held to
await the action of the grand jury,
Mrs Petit was Frustrated by the UNI
fortunate occurance- She accom-
Mack on the ID. & r. c.. and then
brought 1t TO Salt Lake, The remains
were removed to the morgue of JOS
eph william Taylor. Mrs. Petit was
met by Mrs Wilkes of 219 l street,
sister of the deceased, and arrange
ments made for the funeral at 4
O'Clock this afternoon, with interment
in the City cemetery Mrs. Petit was
a Mrs. Phillips before marrying Petit
RAISED IN SALT LAKE.
The deceased was 40 years old, the
son of Andrew and Esther Petit of this
city, and was born and raised in Salt
Lake He took up some 300 acres a
year or so ago ON the reservation in
tending To make White Rocks his home.
and therefore took his bride there 10
live where there was every reason why
they should have done well. one or
two persons witnessed the deed, but
Mrs Petit could not say today Just
who they were; but her impression
seemed to be that they were so fright
ened at the time that they could not
give any clear idea Of what was done.