The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-03-16
BELIEVE OWENS
LIFE IN DANGER
what Ultimate Fate of Inform
er Is to Be Is Pulling
Problem.
c0NvICTS' HATRED BITTER
WOULD NOT HESITATE TO
PLUNGE KNIFE INTO HIM.

What is to become Of John Owen, the
convict ihforlner at the end of the
trial of Joe suliivanu. the alleged high
wayman, who is charged with the
murder of Policeman Ford? 1t is the
opinion of guards at the penitentiary
and others who are in positions 10 I'M
derstand the case that Owen will be
killed by fellow convicts if kept in the
penitentiary any length of time after
the close of the Sullivan trial. whether
II ends in conviction or acquittal. But
II is believed that Owens end will be
especially swift if Sullivan is found
guilty and executed, mainly on the tes-
tlmony OF his former associate in
crime.
I'm the state penitentiary are many
desperate and malignant men. These
criminals have made a sort of hero of
sullivan. At the same time, they are
bitter i'm their hatred of Owen. It is
lie opinion of many that if given OPP
portunity there are men among the
cOnVicts who would not hesitate to
steaithily snuff out the life of the in
former. The watchfulness of the
guards has prevented any attempt at
violence so far, but ii will be impos-
sible during the months and years of
the future to watch over owen as jeal-
ously as at the present.
Life in Danger.
Sooner or later. according TO those
who gathered at the Sullivan trial Sat
urday, Owen will find himself in a po-
sition in which he can be swiftly and
silently attacked by one of the despe-
rate criminals who are said TO seek his
life, and then the end will come.
owens present position is described
as similar to that of a man under SEN
tence of death, who does not know
when or how his life will be taken
IL has been urged that because of his
assistance to the authorities in clear
ing the mystery of the Ford murder
his sentence should be reduced. A par
don has also been suggested.
One man yesterday suggested that
his term Of Imprisonment be made five.
instead of twenty years.
Five years.? replied a deputy
sheriff. who is familiar with the char
acter of the convicts now in the penf-
Tertiary. owen would never live FIVE
years in the penitentiary'
Has he some disease?' inquired the
first speaker.
Fierce Hatred for Owen.
His danger is not from disease. but
the knife" replied the deputy sheriff
- tiA9NN hAoA - htbA III the DtDilell-
tiary after the Sullivan trial he will
surely be killed. There is no doubt of
IT. Those convictS have a way of get
ting knives despite the utmost vigil
ance, and they are ready to use them
They hate Owen with the ferOcitv of
wild animals. The man has been pro-
tected so far by the vigilance of the
guards and the precautions that are at
present being taken to insure his safe
" Rur the time he
viii have to mingle with the other
convicts. A guard cannot he at his
side all of the time. He will pass into
some shadowy place. and when he is
found stretched upon the ground there
VIII be no man among the convicts
who Will dare TO tell which desperate
among them crept upon him
The recent attack upon the warden
az the penitentiary at Deer Lodge
shows that the cOnvicts can secure
knives"
Convicts Are Crafty.
Recent incidents at the Utah state
penttentiary also prove that the con-
Victs. carefully as they are watched
are able TO arm themselves. A prison.
er, carrying a bucket from his cell
through a shadowy corridor was as
sailed and stabbed by a convict enc
my, who left him. believing that he
was dead The would-b murderer
SUNK stealthiy away and mingled
with the other COnvicts. When the
wounded man was picked up an inves-
ugation was made, but none of the
convicts was willing TO tell the name
OF the man who had made the attack
The wounded convict stated that his
assailant was hiding behind a door in
a darkened place. iHe WIS not able to
see mis- enemys face
AT another time a convict sentenced
70 Imprisonment for life from Ogden
Tor wife murder was able TO make
himself knife from material found i'm
the blacksmith shop and. i'm a fit of
despondency. attempt suicide
what Is to be done with Owen. il is