The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-12-24
WILL RAILROAD
OWEN TO PRISON
Shivering Wretch Says He Will
Plead Guilty to Rob-
- berry Charge.
LIMIT is TWENTY YEARS
BELcHER ADMITS RECEIVING
STOLEN PROPERTY.

john owen, nlgnWdylndn, SICK WIN Iedt
at the thought that he might be charged
with participating in the murder of Po-
liceman Ford, has agreed TO plead guilty
10 a charge of robbery. The complaint
against him was filed yesterday after
noon by County Attorney Hanson. owen
will be railrOaded to the state peniten-
tiary as fast as the wheels of jusuce~can
revolve i'm carrying him there. when
sentenced he will probably be given the
limit for the offense, twenty years,
1t was not because owen was willing
TO plead guilty that County Attorney
Hanson decided to have the man drrdlgn-
ed upon the robbery charge. After care
full investigation it was found that II
would have been difficult to tasten the
crime of murder upon owen. Men VINO
We're in the Albany saloon at Fttth'West
and Second South streets at the time OF
the hOlduD. which ended IN the kllulS u
Policeman Ford. were taken to see owen
after his arrest, and stated that he dld
not resemble either of the robbers VINO
had entered the saloon. his garments
were entirely different from those worn
by the murderous highwaymen, ana as
Owen was captured within an hour OF lhe
robbery, as he was fleeing, GREATNESS
and covered with mud. from the scene OIL
the crime. it was clear that he had not
had time in which to change his ATTIRE
Owen Tells His Story.
Owen. after he was locked in the city
Jail, made several confessions, getuIS
nearer and nearer to the truth III each
statement. At first, when still persPirlng
and mud stained he insisted that ne was
on his way out of town, having been CIV
en- time 10 leave Salt Lake on the morn
ing before the crime. Then, as the rear
of facing the hangman or the flVe MASK
ed riflemen gTipped at his heart ne tOtd
the story of having gone to the Albany
ezfOon with Joe Sullivan and Joe Garcia,
the two eX-cOnVictS, alleging that ne mao
protested against the robbery and had
virtuously turned away as his two COM
paniOns entered the bar room. lie was
near enough five minutes later TO near
the shots which heralded the police
mans death and, frantic with terror had
made a wild dash toward the northern
part of the city in the hope OF getting
away. But at last he gave the true story
of the nights proving OF the three
criminals. With Sullivan and Garcia he
said he had attempted to enter resi-
dence, but not being able TO raise the
windows, had followed ms companions
who had made up their minds TO hold up
1t is believed that Owen was stationed
as lookout in front of the Albany saloon
but on seeing Policeman Ford approach
patrolIing his beat, had been unable 20
signal the robbers inside the place and
had attempted to creep away.
His confession will save the expense
of a long trial. AS he is now Sc years
old he will be an old man when he
energies from the state prison, If ne IS
given the limit of the law for his Of
Trouble for Beleher.
As in the Owen case. the filing of
charges against George Belcher, known
as Tip the bartender in the Jubilee sa-
loon, in Commercial street. was delayed
i'm the expectation of the capture OF Sui
livan and Garcia, which might have
brought out more information concern
ing the operations of the gang OF crooks
i'm Salt Lake. As the two robbers seem
to have reached some hiding place and
NAV be able TO elude capture for some
time. County Attorney Hanson decided tC
act yesterday and filed two complaints
against BelCher, charging him IN eacf
with having received stolen property.
These charges are based upon Belcher' 5
confessions II was in Belcher's room al
$50 North Main street, that Garcia th'
porch climber, found hiding place dur
ing the months of his operations IN sail
Lake Garcia would Turk there in the
day and prowl at night.
Relcher admitted having received two
watches from Garcia on the understand
ing that they had been stolen in Denver
and could be safely pawned IN salt Lake
When the police recovered the watShes
il was discovered that one had been ia
ken from the h0me of Mrs. l.. A. Evans
daughter of Mayor Bransford, or lSs a
street, by porch climber Inc othel
watch belonged TO Vernon Peterscs,
chauffeur for Duncan McVichie, of 10.
East South Temple street
Garcia a Hishwayman.
Peterson was held up by a highwaymar
2 more than two months ago, as he was
returning from a visit to mis- father :
house in the northern part Of the city
e This robbery committed by Garcia,
showed tnat the half-breed was not only
a sneaking porch climber, but a knight
of the road whenever opportunity afford
ed. 1t indicated that Garcia was holder
and more daring than the information OF
the police department has so FAR shown
AS Belcher has admitted having re-
ceived the watches from Garcia and, in
addition has unguardedly admitted that
he knew they were stolen, IT Is expected
that short work will be made of sending
him to the penitentiary.
But Belcher has friends IN the city who
have already engaged a lawyer to de
fend him He will make fight to es-
cape prison.
The first move of Belcher's lawyer was
made yesterday, when application was
filed for a writ of habeas corpus in be-
half of Mrs. Belcher, who was taken in
10 custody at the time the Belcher apart
rnents in North Main street were raided
Mrs Belcher was detained until yesteT-
nav morning when she was released. She
Was walking away from police headquar-
fers when the lawyer began the habeaS
rorpus proceedings. Her release was or
dered after a conference between County
ATTORNEY Hanson and the police. While
she undoubtedly knew, that Garcia was
allowed to hide in her rooms IL would bt
difficult to prove that she was aware
of the criminal operations or shared II
the spoils-
Beicher. who formerly worked in Den
yer. is believed to have known Garcia il
that city.