The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1908-11-05
Evidence So Far Deduced by
Prosecution Much Against
the Defendant.
DUSAN BOBT IS STAR
WITNESS FOR THE STATE
Tells on Stand of killing OF
Mike Popich by Steve
MaerOvich.

Tbar tne murder of Mike Popich by
Steve Maerovich at Bingham the at1er-
noon OF July IL, last, was coid-blooded
and the indirect result OF the rehglouS
fined existing between the Greek CaIh'
oljc faction OF the Austrians, to wnicn
the dead man belonged, and the Roman
Catholic faction, of which the alleged
murderer is a member, was the tesu-
nony of Dusau Bobt. n Greek Cathollc,
ibe frat witness called by the state at
the resumption of the case before Judge
George G.. Armstrong Of the lhlrd dls"
trict court, Wednesday morning
Bobt will probably be the state 9 star
witness. 1t is claimed that he is iamll-
lar with every detail OF the shooting
He testified Wednesday that fopiGh
was shot down as he was Leaving tne
Greek Catholic. and business. r1vai OF
Maerovich, TO 20 on shift at the High
land Boy plant.
As Popich passed Maerovich g house,
Bobt testified, Maerovich, who was
standing outside, stepped up from be
hind aud fred one shot at him, when
took effect, Popich falling to the ground
Maerovich, carrying a revolver ln elLner
hand, fred four shots more, after wnicn
ne IOSS6u LlC IeNDlNUl u' HN'S
left hand to Popich g side and He'd
Bobt said that Popich was unarmed; at
least be had no weapon In siRht In
his right hand he carried his dinner pan
and his left hand was engaged II hold
ing his pipe to his mouth
Swenson on Stand
County Surveyor Joseph 3. Swcnsor
was placed upon the stand first to ex
plain diagrams and photographs OF the
scene of the shooting that the juror:
NAV better be able to follow the drifi
of the testimony. Preceding this, Dis
trict Attorney Fred G. Loofbourow out
lined the state S case briefly, saylni
that the State expects to show that the
shooting resulted from the bitter Teli
gious fued existing between the two fac
tions of Austriaus The state also eX
poets to show that Maerovich had pre-
viously threatened Popich' 3 life. The
defense will be that Popich not only
had threatened Maerovich 8 life. bu
that he had despoiled Maerovich's wife
Three interpreters are employed, opt
sent the defense, and the third TO do The
actual translating. The state and de
fense each employ an interpreter TO SCI
that nothing is changed In tho transla
tion to the detriment of their side ol
the case.
Joe Melich, negro, who lays CLAIM
to the ability to speak twenty sever
languages, is employed by the state, ana
John Wackstine by the defense, whili
Charles Schmaltz is the actual trans
lator Nick Butkovich, leader Of tht
Roman Catholic colony OF Austrian
here, and George Belieh, prominen
umsng the Greek Catholics, are als'
watching the translations, the forme
for the defense and the latter for thu
state.
The Austrian witnesses are required
to take a terrible oath before going OF
! the stand. The oath. which is as fol
lows, provides a fearful penalty IL th,
witness shall falsify his testimony;
GLOW true l am testifying Goo
should Judge and help me accordingly
If should lie, let God accordingly pu
the curse upon me and everybody be
longing TO me. upon land and sea, to th'
ninth generation. Amon.'
On account of the slow progress tn,
case Will consume week at least.