The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-05-14
Former Postmaster Spent Three
Hours on the Witness
Stand Friday.
MAKES GENERAL DENIAL
OF CHARGES AGAINST HIM
Brother Tells Story Charging
Another Man With Commit
ting the Crime.

tricl court Friday, half the time being
occupied by testifyIng in response to his
counsel Judge Thomas MarioneauN, IN
his own defense, and the other half be-
ing devoted 20 defending his direct testi-
,uony against the examination OF
District Attorney Booth. In the first IN
stance. Hanson had smooth sailing ana
an easy task, but under cross-examina-
zion he was evasivc.
Hanson is charged with setting on fire
the postofflcc at Fillmore September To-
1905 after he had robbed II. early on
Friday morning the prosecution ehdeu rs Us
case. After Judge MarioneauX mad maze
q sta tcment OF what the defense expected
TO prove. Hanson was the first witness
called His testimony was simply gen,
eral denial Of the material facts adduced
by the prosecution. He denied the story
told by Warner and Trimble Thursday
that he was uptown the night OF the flre
disguised lie was up town, he admit
ted. but was dressed in his ordinary at
tire When asked by the district at
torney how he accounted Tor the ietlers
ply was: Il haven't the least idea, Mr..
Booth lie admitted that he passed
Trmble and his girl the night OF the tre
at the solicitation Of Warner, but before
he Gid so lie turned up the collar or his
coat and pulled his hat down over ms
eyes. When asked why ne, did so ne said,
John Hanson. a brother of the defen-
dant, said the night OF the fire he passed
the poStoffce about l. o'clock. he heard
voices under the shed and recognized the
voice of Dick Duncan. The men
we're drinking there and one was smoking
This was about thirty minutes before the
outbreak OF fire.
Postmaster Recalled.
When the morning session opened John
c. Kelly. the present postmaster at FIJI
more, was recalled and testified as tc
what government goods were in his pos
session at the time OF the fire. Qucs-
toned by Judge MarioneauX witness ad-
mittcd that the letter box at the post
office might be full and a newspaper
could he put through the aperture and
he did not think any one would get thelr
hands through.
lee Baker and Peter Beauregard tcsti-
fed, but their evidence was OF no ma
Mrs. Alma Greenwood. who resided at
Fillmore the time OF the fire. said she
Hanson at The fire Hanson said in
flames, smelt smoke and came To the
fire Later she asked him II he had been
up town before the fire and he answered,
no. I WAS home in bed
Cross examined by Judge Maropeaux.
witness said she did remember seeing
either Warner or Trimblc at the fire
Rufus Day and Hans G.. Hanson,
cashier and assistant cashier OF the state
Bank of Millard county, were shown the
letters found in Hanson's room, but they
could not possibly Identify them as the
letters mailed on the Sunday evening OF
the fire by Rufus Day
District Attorney Booth offered In cvi-
dence the letter written by Hazel Bcaurc-
gard TO her brother in Salt Lake city.
Ruling by Judge Marshall.
Judge Marioneaux objected to the in
PRODUCTION OF the letter on various
grounds. one being that IT had never been
shown that they had ever bean in Han
sons possession He also made a mo-
ton to strike out the evidence OF Roley
and Flaver, given Thursday, as 10 find
ing the letters in ilanson'S room.
Judge Marshall overrued the objection
end denied the motion. In doing so he
said the fact that the letter was found
in room used by the defendant was
circumstance which was to bc weighed
by the jury. The court probably will
lie required TO charge the jury that from
that would not be sufficient 10 find the
defendant guilty, but, OF course. they
would consider this with other crcum
stances. But the finding OF the letter
in the event of 1t being unexplained the
Jury would be justified In finding the de-
fcndant guilty.
The ten letters were then introduced
IN evidence and the government rested
1ts
Hanson on the Stand.
Judge Marioneaux then made brief
statement. setting forth what the defense
expected TO prove AZ its conclusion
fendaut. 10 the stand. The greater part
OF the time that Hanson was giving his
testimony he rocked nervously backward
and forward in his chair. Hanson said
that on the afternoon of the day OF the
fire he attended the races at the track.
AS he started home Il began to rain. He
had OH straw hat and light summer
suit. When he got home he changed his
coat and vest. donning black coat and
own a derby hat. After spending con
sidera bic time with Mr Rae. he went into
the drug store and left there about 1920
o clock He saw the Warner boy as he
Ief, tlc 1r7iD
along the block Warner followed him
and said, Are you going down this way?''
to see mis- brother. Johnny. Warner said
this would be good night to go out
and eayesdrop, on some Of these people
and see something funny" Hanson said
that didn't interest him.
Enters Strong Denial
SO Tar az the testimony given by War
ner Is concerned the defendant denied
IL almost in Its entirety. However, AT
go over with Warner 10 where Trimble
and his girl were standing, But" said
he before 60 WI dopn put Up p my n Goa, 1ns
sfree, sHles and n" come iH no back when u" asked @
why he did This he answered, Just for
amusement" Hanson also denied in toto
tho story told by Trimble while on the
Proceeding. Hanson said he looked a,
his watch and found IT was late and
started for nome. He passed the post
office and as he was passing the park
lie heard laughter and recognized Miss
Bcauregards voice saying "Ob. May '
and Rasmussen's, who said. Tell an
other one Frank lust as he reached
homo he met his brother John. who ac-
companicd him back 10 The house. where
tlicy talked over some business
Hanson then told about going 70 bed
and lying reading hearing the frebel
ringing and Il cry OF Fire. He dressed
the same as lIo had been in the carly
evening. With the exception OF having
no collar or tie He met Mrs. Alma
Greenwood. Mrs. Ruby Rae and Mrs
stevens at the fre. Some days later hs
said 10 Mrs. Greenwood that there hac
been some runor about hts setting the
postofnce on fire. and she laughed, h,
said lie saw Warner the night aftal
the fire and said 10 him. Young man
No,i know the circumstances about D1t
last night: you know whether ] was II
disguise" and he said. "No. sir IL
did not see Warner or Trlmble at III,
fire.
Hanson Had Told.
After Hanson had told about malSine