The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-06-13

so they started westward, but soon
turned, and circuiting around Lewis
ton overlook Magruder on the Nez
Percc trail the third day, He greeted
them cordially and invited them to fall
in with his train, which they at once
did. Upon arriving at Bannock City,
Bob Zachary and the three other min
ers secured employment and remained
there, but the rest Of the party went
on with Magrauder to Virginia City.
"When that destination had been
reached, tent was pitched and brisk
trading began. Howard and Lowry as
sisted Magruder in the store. Romane
did the cooking, and Page looked after
with The tram having quit and gone
into the diggings.
"'Bcfore the middle OF October the
entire stock of goods had been disposed
Of, about 100000 being realized from
the sale, Magruder then offered How.
ard, Lowry, Romaine and Page 5000 and
n new suit of clothes each 10 return
with him TO Lewiston. The first three
pretended reluctance at the start, but
finally consented, profcssedly on the
score Of friendship.
"Meanwhile four other men had
made arrangements TO accompany Ma
gruder-Charles Allen, trader like
himself; William Phillips, an old per
sonaI friend, and two brothers, young
Missourians-aIl Of whom would carry
with them more or less money and gold
dust.
''Thus organized, the return train
a week reached Bannock City, where
it was to rest day or two. Just as
il arrived there another party was leav-
ing for Lewiston. and Magruder availed
himself Of the opportunity to send a
letter TO his wife. With the double
purpose, probably, Of relieving her
from anxiety in case he should by any
chance be delayed and OF deceiving any
road agents who might be on the look
out for his return. he wrote her that
he would leave Bannock City with a
strong crowd in twelve days from that
date.
Gas a matter Of fact, he and his
party left Baunock City the very next
day, and the eighth night thereafter
encampcd on the summit of the Bitter
Root mountains, 100 miles from any
settlement. Howard. Lowry and Ro-
maine had prcconcerted to perpetrate
their crime at that spot. The old trap
per, Page, was ignorant of any Grim
inal design on their part, but lust be
fore making camp, Howard took him
to kin Magruder. Allen, Phillips and
the two Missourians that night. Moth
ing that he could do, he was Informed.
could thwart their purpose; but they
needed him for n guide, and If he
would keep out of the camp and stay
with the stock he should have an equal
share Of the booty; otherwise he would
be killed with the rest. The old man
appears 10 have been completely para
lvled or tcrrorizcd by Howard, for he
obcycd him implicitly, making no at
tempt TO warn the doomed men.
"Camp was made earlier than usual
that night. a binding snowstorm hay-
ing set in during the afternoon. BY 9
o clock all had retired except Magruder
and Lowry, who were on guard until
midnight They were sitting by fire
"a little distance from the main camp
which had been pitched a few hundred
feet from the crest of the mountain,
The party had scattered about. to avail
of the shelter of different
clumps of trees The two MIssourians
were sleeping together, in ono spot; Ro-
maine shared blankets with Phillips, in
another: Howard was by himself, lit
tie to the rear; Allen occupied small
tent, TO the front, while Page was sta
toned at the point where the stock was
corrallcd, near by,
"'Thc murdcrers had arranged TO
perform their awful deed ut lG O'Clock.
At the appointed time Lowry took up
IN axe and went into the underground,
as if in search of fuel, but really to
meet Howard, who had crcpt to the
edge Of tho thicket. Magruder was sit
ting by the fire, smoking his pipe, the
Henry rifle lying across his knees. Page
was standing in the corral, half crazcd,
his owes TO witness the horri-
BILE crime ho knew was about to be
Presently Lowry returned
and threw down a few sticks of wood.
As Magruder stopped to repleuish the
fire with them, Lowry SWUNG his AK
and dclt him fatal blow on the head;
wboreupon Howard sprang from his
place of conccalment and, with an Ak
ne carried. struck the PROSTATE man
another blow, rs if to make doubly
sure Of his death. Then the assassns
went rapidly TO where the Missourians
were sleeping and split open their
heads. At thc same time Romans dis
patched Phillips with n hatchet. A
groan or cry from one Of the brothers
had awakened Allen, but before he
could make use of his revolver Howard
blew his brains out with a shotgun.
HTheir deadly work being finished,
Inc nOlOpIeJS SHulHlOHcu aye w aSelSL
them, and the rest of the night was
spent in removing all evidence of the
deed. This was done by taking the
bodies and such camp belongings as
would not be required and throwing
them over n cliff. All the mules and
horses not needed were led into near
hv CANYON and killed. BY the next
morning, owing to these precautions
and the snow which was still falling,
not sign of the crime was detectablc
anywhere about the camp or along
the trail,
"Having divided the money and gold
dust equally-Pagc being given a quar-
ter share, as agreed-thc party broke
camp and resumed the trip westward,
II had been decided that when within
a day or twu's travel from Lewiston
they should cross the river and push
for Puget Sound, But there now oc-
CURED another of the unusual happen
ings which seem to have been probes
tined TO bring TO light their atrocious
crime. The snowstorm turned into
warm rain, which caused such food
that they found it impossible TO cross
the river al any point, and in couse-
gucnce they were compelled to keep on
TO Lewiston. They then determined to
hide themselves Just outside of tho