Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-02-25
pctendant Denies Each and Ev-
ery Damaging Statement
Made Against Him.
NEVER GOT DISHONEST CENT.
Saws He Regarded Bell as Out
slider Trying to Square Matters
And Console the Sucker
nils Is How He Explains Why No Ar
rests Were Made After Nc
Whirter Robbery.

III. star witness of the defense In
u .ho sheets bribery case, George A.
N oneets the defendant, himself, was
a r,acod ON the stand for the first time
II mic morning. He denied every dam
Il aginc statement made against or about
Il hin, as was expected. He was just
s foirlv started with his cross-examina-
q 10, when the noon recess was TAX
n CROWD PRESENT.
Judge Thurman had charge of the ex-
animation and County Attorney Han
4 son the cross-examinauon. The former
was well built up and the cross-eXafnl-
nation promises to be as well conducted.
The news that Sheets would probably
20 on the stand today brought o large
crowd and some stir was created when
Sheets was called to be sworn.
is INTERESTING.
To questions implying something I'M
pleasant the defendant witness has an
emphatic answer; at other times he
leans back in the witness chair and
answers smilingly or sneeringly as
the occasion seems to him, to demand.
When on points which are vital to
the final outcome of the case. the tall
defendants witness leans forward and
rolls handkerchief between his
palms thoughtfully. AT all times
sheets appears confident and certain
and answers without hesitation in a
majority of instances.
As he neared the end of his examina-
ton he said angrily, Il never got b
dishonest cent and no one will say so
except a thief testifying against me for
immunity"
HIS EXPLANATION.
He explained why he didn't arrest
Bell when that individual came into
his office with Alexander McWhirter
in substance as follows: 81 regarded
Bell as an outsider trying to square
things There is usually some one who
had nothing to do with the game who
tries TO console the sucker and that's
what / thought about Bell. 1 asked
MeWhirter If he wanted Bell arrested:
he said, NO" all he wanted was his
money. He did say that Bell was Sin
directly one of the gang"
Sheets cross examination will prob
ably consume the greater portion of
the afternoon.
SHEETS STORY.
George A. Sheets. defendant. took the
witness chair at 10: 40. He said he was
horn and reared in Salt Lake; appoint
ed chief of police in January, 1906,
hut had been connected with the police
department. long time previous. Other
well known details were bought out in
the preliminary questioning. Judge
Thurman had charge of the examina-
ton.
Speaking of the affairs Sept. 10. 1906.
Sheets said: "Serg. Hempel brought In
William McWhirter, explaining that
the fellow had b"en buncoed. McWhir-
Ter started to tell me about the game
when Serg. Hempel told him knew all
about such business. i told Hempel to
&c out with the stranger and try to get
the men. The two left. Hemrel did not
come back to speak to me and there
was no conversation which everyone
In my office could not hear. After the
Two left remained about the station.
AS was coming out of the desk SER
eeants office to go into mine later /
saw Two strangers standing In front OF
my door One of them-whom know
now to be Bell (the other was Alexan-
der McW.lliter)-asked me if | was the
ehlet Moulding, went into my office
ana they followed. Bell said, Here's n
leilow who's been gambling and lost
'=OVO' McWhirter asked:
DECIDEDLY NOT"
is this man a policeman Decided
ly not | answered.
Both talked, Bell asking Mcwhlrter,
Dld | take your money!?
snail ] arrest this man?' asked
ana McWhirter said No, want my
money ''
When Bell continued. asking Nc
Nhlrter II he had taken any of the
money, McWhirter said. Indirectly Won
are one of them Mcwhirter got ON
me couch with his face in his hands.
ne raised his head and asked me IL a
ie,low had left $4,000 there for him. |
'u,a MN no one had"
song back to Williams visit In an
sMer TO a question from Judge Thur
ian me defendant-w witness said the
younger scotchman said nothing about
MS brother being out around town Win
some OF the parties.
l., told Alex McWhlrter that they
lay better stay as 1t would be a hard
nrStSer 10 catch the fellows II he didn't.
"ey Il take to cover ana II They've
81. money they'll plant it,, told him.
aHllet supper ] came back TO my ofrlce
t',u the McWhirters came to my office
q, oneeth denied that he asked Hempel
p4ys knew about II. He de-
m,u whispered conference with Hom-
psl al any time In the MoWhirter'
p pr ! did send Hempel out to
st n d woman; this was something hav-
case '' '"S ~ W Hii'e'
lne MeWhirters sat In my office for
p,,i1 hours. They were waiting for
i, 10 return; Looks like that fellow
coming back" / said.
NET NOBODY.
81, During that time received no telo.
pn, message from Donaldson. / did
H. meet the O'Brlens. Bell Parent ar
tyaluson or any of them near tho
H. thauulniord or anywhere else. knew
ane pbriens and Donaldson bui never
aw bell until ! saw him In my offlce
"u fhrrent In Judge Whittaker,s
M room at my preliminary hearing.
bilens were pointed ont ia me-
pe,ecliNe Chase and | ordered Jaols
men out of town as a cont man /"
m n'n refertlng 10 the visit Of tiu
,nia MsX McWhirter again shents
g sotu o. Ben suggesting thar he ynigh1
~ some Of the money back. This
,n,, agreeable 10 McWhirter' Moth
Win ~" SAID about am officer going
CLASSIC ENGLISH.