The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-05-07
DONALDSON WAS
PRIVATE SLEUTH
Says He Went to the AntIer
Ro0mlng House as a De-
tective.
HIS CASE is CONTINUED
AFFiDAVITS FILED SHOWING
LINE OF DEFENSE.

In an a1fidaY1t by which continuance
in the Donaldson case was secured until
June "a Or" James Donaldson for the
first time gives out signed statement
of what actually transpired at the Nc
Whittier robbery in the Antler rooming
house from his standpoint. Donaldson
sets forth that he did not go to the Ant
Ter rooming house to participate in any
swindling game, but as sort of private
sleuth to discover whether or not gamb-
ling was being carried on and if so in
what way it was being done.
This statement is significant in connec-
tioni with Donaldsons previous interviews
in which he said that he had been sent to
this place for the purpose of entrapping
the gamblers and conveying what infor-
nation he secured to certain American
party officials-presumably Councilman
Martin E. Mulvey In the original docu-
ment the statement gave as one of Dom
aldson's purposes in going to the Antler
rooming house his determination to find
out whether or not this gambling was
being conducted with the knowledge of
the officers of the law, but this was
scratched out with pen.
Played the "Honest" Game.
Donaldson SAYS he engaged in a game of
stud poker with the two O'Briens and
Alexander McWhirter and that ne won
SzOOO in the game which was played hon
with the robbery of $500 from the Nc
Whirters by Parent and Bell and that
he had no acquaintance whatever with
these two men.
As grounds for the continuance Donald
son says that he wishes Larry and Jack
OBrien, w w. Bell and Frank Peck here
10 testify in the case. The O'Briens and
Bell, he AYERS, If here would testify that
the gambling game in which the
5000 was won was played without
any deception and that Donald
son had nothing to do with the other rob-
Dery- Peck, he says, knew that Donald
son was in Salt Lake at the time, but
not engaged in any gambling games or
enterprises and will so testify.
Praises the Sheriff.
Several pages of the affidavit are taken
up in praise of the work of the sheriffs
department in searching for the OBriens
and Bell and several times Donaldson
states that with his cooperation these
three men will be brought to Salt Lake
and will appear as witnesses If more
time is granted in which to search for
them.
In addition to the affidavit of Donald
son, Attorney Samuel King for the de-
Tense appends another affidavit in which
he states that he has important business
in Nevada that he must necessarily at
tend to at once. He also gives as a reason
why the case should be obntinued the i'll
ness of Judge Thurman, who is also one
of the counsel for the defense.
The motion filed by the defense asked
for continuance until the September
term of court, but Judge Armstrong in
sisted that the case be taken up at once
or affidavits filed showing good reasons
why a continuance should be granted. At
his request the affidavitS were filed. Dis
trict Attorney Fred {. LoufborroW OPP
posed the granting of a continuance, but
the court finally continued the case to
June "a
Donaidson's account of his connection
with the McWhirter robbery as given in
the affidavit is as follows:
Peck's Testimony.
This affiant is informed and verify be-
lieves that the said Charles Peck is now
within the state of Nevada and near
the tom CT Hazen in said state. That
the said Peck can and will. as this af
fiant is informed, testify if he is present
in court, that at the time the alleged
robbery and alleged larceny, set forth
in the information. is alleged to have
been committed that this affiaAt was
then IN Salt Lake City, and that he was
not connected in any manner in any bust
ness arrangements or in the operation or
conduct of any gambling establishment
or rooms in Salt Lake City with the
O'Briens named herein, or with the said
William Bell or with one W. H. Par
rent and that he had not prior thereto
been in any manner connected with them
and was not associated in any gambling
game or business or in the running of
gambling rooms establishment with
TENDER, 1905 the date that said alleged
robbery and said alleged larceny is
claimed to hav5 been committed, that
this affiant was not in any manner con-
nected with either of the said o. Briens
or Bell or with w. H Parent, but this
affiant had merely called at the Ant
Ter rooming house in Salt Lake City,
Utah. for the purpose of discovering
whether or not any gambling games
were being conducted there and if so
by whom.