The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1908-11-07
MORE TESTIMONY
IN MURDER CASE
John ZarOran, Friend of Victim,
Is OH the Stand All
Day.
GIVES HIS VERSION
OF SHOOTING AFFAIR
His Direct Testimony, However,
Is Shaken Oh Cross
Examination.

Religious differences between the two
Greek Catholic and the Roman Catholic,
were injected into tho murder case of
Steve Maerovich before Judge Arm
strong in the Third district court, for
the first time Thursday afternoon.
The witness, John Zaroran, was not
allowed TO go into the subtle difference
for the reason that the attempt to
bring out this point was made by the
defense, on the cross examination or
Zaroran, and as the state had not eX-
testimony was rejected as being incom-
petent. District Attorney Loofbourow
said, however. that Zaroran may be re-
called to testify as to the differences
of the religion Of the two factions.
Zaroran in large measure corrobo'
rated Dusan Dobt s testimony of We'd
nesday as TO tho shooting of Popich, He
Popich several PAGES behind, were on
their way from Mike Rogdan 8 board
ing house to their work at the Highland
Boy when the shooting occurred. AS
they passed Meerovich g house, Zaroran
said, he saw Maerovich standing In his
own doorway with revolver IN either
hand. He looked around and saw Poplcb
walking along behind them, carrying his
dinner pail In his right hand and hold
ing his pipe in his mouth with his left
hand.
Saw Popich Fall.
When several steps beyond Maero-
vicb S house, Zaroran testified, be heard
g shot, and, turning around, saw Popich
fall. BE cried, "Popich is killed. -
Then, after, three, moro shots IN rapid
succession, he and his three comrades,
depositing their dinner pals upon the
ground, went back to Popich and.
picking him up, carried him TO the Bog
dan boarding house. There were two
wounds on Popich. Zaroran said, one in
the left leg above the knee and the
other in tho head. Blood was Howing
in his left hand to Popich s side. Maero-
vich, Zaroran said, ded into his house.
The defense cross-examined Zaroran
at great length and shook his direct
testimony badly in several particulars.
Zaroran said on direct examination that
he and his. comrades were only few
PAGES from Popich when he fell. but on
on cross-examination he admitted that
their dinner pals were picked up at
the mouth of No. 6 tunnel, around the
bend in the road. which would prevent
them from seeing either Popich or Maer
ovich. Popich s dinner pail, instead of
being upside down, as might have been
expected, was sitting rigbtsido up,
Zaroran said. The revolver that Maero.
vich is alleged to have tossed from his
left hand to Popich 8 side was lying
about twenty inches away.
To show that Iarornn 8 testimony was
likely to be colored against Maerovich.
the defense brought out that Zaroran
had known Popich for three years. be-
Pneblo; that he had worked and roomed
with him for three months, and that
they both belonged to the same religion.
Zaroran said be has known Popich s
mother all his life.
Belonged to Same Church.
Iaroran said be belongs to the Ser
vian church, the same as Popich. and
that Maerovicb is q Roman Catholic,
but was not allowed to explain the diff.
ference. The head Of the Servian
church is the Greek pope, he said. He
has been religious trouble between the
two factions.
Zarorap was still on the stand at the
close of court Thursday afternoon. On
account of the difficulty in correctly
trans ating the witness g testimony, the
case is necessarily being lengthened.
The defense, it is said, will attempt to
show that Popich had assaulted Maeroy
vlch two or three davs before the shoot
ing, and that Popicb drew revolver
on Maerovich Just before the shooting
occurred, but that Maerovich was too
quick for him. The revolver living by
Popich s. side. it is said will be shown
by the defense to have belonged to
Popich, and that Maerovich bad nothing
70 do with its getting there
Zaroran created a sensation in court
Thursday morning when. while three in
terpreters were wrestling with ono OF
the. questions, eXplosively answered in
easily understood English
John Wackstine is the negro interpre
ter who claims 10 know tweutv.seyep
languages, and not Joe Melich, IS was
reported Wednesday. Wackstine saws
ne Is an Arabian sheik
Maerovlch IS wife, with the other wit
nesses not vet examined, is not allowed
in the court room, and she presents a
pitiful appearance as she PAGES ND and
down the outside corridors, anxious to
be at ber husbands side.
GOOD MAKES ROW