Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-10-12
4 BUTLER 4SUSPICIOUS.


first saw him Thursday last. At that
time he entered the store with the rifle
| and box Of cartridges, offering both
for sale. Mr.. Butler inquired Of him
first II the gun was his own, his age
and other questions usually asked by
second hand store men,. The young
man said he was John Wolf OF Plain
City, und satisfied Mr.. Butler as to the
ownership of the gun Then he sold 1t
to Butler. At that time he appeared
to be rational One remark only i'm
pressed Mr.. Butler as being at all PEI
culiar and that was his statement that
the gun would shoot mile and kill
the youths manner being more striking
than his words.
On Saturday he returned to the store
and said that he wanted the gun
again. This was In the afternoon and
after learning the price put on /.
by Mr.. Butler, he said he would return
for it In the evening.
ACTED IN ODD MANNER.
He failed to show up Saturday
evening, but appeared at the store this
morning, He said he had been on a
big drunk" Saturday night and that
was why he did not come in for the
rife. Then he dlckered with Mr..
Butler in an odd manner, asking to
look the gun over, then loading 1t, but
not paying for 1t.
L y w,
he told Mr.. Butler.
well, now, see here. young man,
are you going to buy it or borrow it?'''
inquired Mr.. Butler.
We'll those papers will prove that
this is still your gun" the youth said.
The papers" referred to were moth
ing more than tablet OF paper on
which statement was written. This
caused Mr.. Butler some alarm, but be-
fore he could reply to the boy, he was
out on the sidewalk and had started
to shoot at random In che street, three
shots south and two north. Mr.. Butler
made a rush from the store to the
sidewalk and pinioned the youth
after Seals seized him at the same time
calling for help. He disarmed him
just as the colored man stepped up
in front of him, and then tried to calm
him. At that time Mr., Butler believed
him crazy and tried to talk with him
+ to get his mind in another channel.
Before he entered the store Thursday,
Mr.. Butler says he never saw the hoy
and that he does not know him at all,
further than as a chance visitor to his
place of business.
T. In a very rambling manner. Wolf
talked while in the store of ST. Joseph,
ST. George and st. Andrew. but not in
Il way to indicate his particular train
of thought. Several times he loudly
walled that THE Americans have done
me out Of 10 years. Such disconnected
sentences came from him and alarmed
AR. Butler Wolf. though. was in front
OF the counterawith a loaded gun and
Mr.. Butter. though wishing TO do so,
could see no way to disarm him at the
time
From, Plain City this morning It was
learned that Wolf had worked there
I'VE weeks as a farmer for Abraham
Nav Mr. Nav says that he was a
good farm hand. but that he appeared
to be somewhat demented While he was
working for him. He arrived in Plain
city from Pocatello just before Mr..
Nav put him to work On Sept. IL
Mr. Nav took Wolf to Plain City and
paid him of. Shortly after that Vol
went Ia Atty. Johnson of Ogden and
asked him to help him. He told the at
storney that spies of the Union Pacific
wer. after him. Then he disappeared
from ogden and Mr.. Johnson received "A
telephone MESA ge from Wolf at Span
ish Fork saying that the spies were 4
still after him. Since that time he
dropped out Of sight until he appeared
in this city Thursday offering his rife
for sale,