The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-07-12
FATAL SHOOTING
RESULTING FROM
RELIGIOUS ROW
Mike Popovich Killed as He
Was Going Home From
Work in Bingham.
MIERS ASSAILS VICTIM
AFTER DENYING HATE
AUTHORITIES WARNED THAT
VICTIM WAS IN DANGER, BUT
FAILED TO PREVENT CRIME.
Especial to The Herald.)

blngham, July 11-One Austrian. Mike
Popovich, dead as result of an old
religious feud; Steve Miers in the town
lookup As his assailant and probable
murderer, and the entire upper town of
Little Austria up in arms over the
shooting, which may result in a general
affray, is the condition which presents It
self tonight to the county officers
Mike Popovich who is dead from a
bullet wound which tore open his right
ear and lodged in the base OF the brain.
while going to work this evening at $50.
was shot by Miers as he passed the lat
ter's cabin near the portal Of No. tun-
mel of the Highland Boy mine.
Fired Five Shots.
Miers fired five shots. the first ons
entering Popovich's head just below the
ear and which caused his death: two en-
tering his right leg below the knee, and
the last two shots striking the dinner
pail which he was carrying. He was
Immediately attended to by Dr. F. f.
Straup. who pronounced the wound in the
head as being fatal. and stated that there
was no possible chance for the injured
man, as it was impossible to probe for
the bullet which was lodged in the base
of the skull. Within ten minutes after
the shooting Deputy Sheriff J. L. Forbes
had captured the assailant and placed
hIa; in til" city bastile.
The-n were also taken TO the jail Mike
Blockovich- and Mike Treckovich, who
were IcDOrled to have been IN M.ers'
house and were witnesses to the probable
cold-blooded murder.
QuarreIed Over Religion.
From what can be CLEANED during the
excitement at the Highland Boy tonight.
ii is evident that there has been bitter
controversy of long standing between
Popovich and Mers over the matter of
reneiOn. Last night Miers. who has been
drinking rather heavily of late. threatened
the nfe of his ultimate victim and de-
81 "a he
vich, who was one of the best-known and
well-liked Austrians in camp. came To
town this morning and had a conference
/ with Justice Lee. in which he related
what Miers had said and desired To get
out a warrant for his arrest. There
seemed TO be such slight ground for
the man Miers was probably drinking and
did not know what he was saying.
Miers Denied Threats.
AS a precautionary measure. however.
! Deputy Sheriff Forbes went to Little
Austria this afternoon and had inter
view with Miers. The man disclaimed
any knowledge of having made threat
! and spoke very lightly of IT.
AS was his wont. POpovich. who was
working night shift at the Highland Boy.
clad In his mining toys and carrying his
dinner pail. started for the entrance of
| No. tunnel Satisfied that Miers would
do him no harm. he passed the cabin,
and he did so Miers came out and b,
\ gan firing IL is said the first bullet on
| teieI his brain; the other four shots were
! tired at random and did not result Sc
/ rioTsly.
Murderer Surrounded.
A crowd quickly gathered as Popovi n
| fell 10 the ground and the peace officers.
| were at once notified. Miers was at once
| surrounded. but he made no attempt 20
| escape Witnesses to the affair en-
| reavoT ed to get away, but were prevented
| from coing so by the Offices.
POpovich. who has a large following.
was removed TO the home of Miers after
4 the latter lad been taken into custody
and was gwen medical attention. Later
| he was removed to the home OF Mike
! BOgden. where he died
! Popovich was about % years Of age
/ Miers has been one of the leaders fa
| the disturbing element for the past few
wears. He has figured prominently I'm all
| the alterations which have taken place
| in the uDper town. but so far has not
| been dealt with very vigorously. In the
shooting last February he was the leading
| sDirit. the trouble starting over the fact
that he stated that some one had struck
| his wife.
! He Will be taken to Salt Lake tomor-
| row by the county officers and in the
| meantime the officers are endeavOring to
suppress any trouble which may arise as
! the result of Popovich's death.