The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-01-13
LAWYERS OBJECT
TO CONF FESS|ONS
Class the Conditions ITnder
Which They We're Obtained
as lnguisitiOnaI.
WARDEN SAYS SiRMAY TOLD
OF VISITING kARRICk HOME
Saw Is Identified and Officers
Say Sirmay Made Foot
print in Yard.

The trial OF julius Sirmay. charged
with the murder OF Thomas Karrck
drew large crowd to Judge Armstrong;
courtroom Thursday and marked the
first legal battles between counsel in
volving sensational evidence.
in the testimony OF Arthur Pratt war
den of the state prison, us In the testi-
mony OF County Sheriff Joseph c. Sharp,
points we're brought out relative 10 con-
fessions which these officers secured fol-
lowing the murder, October Is and l6.
The attorneys for the defendant siren
uously objected TO the admission OF these
were got by third degree" methods and
were ''inquIsitional." The objections
were overruled.
In his confession, made in the peniten-
tary between 10 and or O'Clock the
night of October 10, Sirmay, Warden
Pratt said. admitted that he went to the
karriek residence to steal jewelry and
the Hike, but that ne was assisted by a
partner named Joe, with whom he came
10 Ogden from Reno last June or July.
In The confession Srmay. the warden
said told OF going to the karrick house
ol entering the basement, OF prying open
door with hatchct. and OF illng a
telescope with tools and other things
found In the basement.
Partner Goes Up Stairs.
Warden Pratt testified that Sirmay
lIl3l JOG went upstairs. telling
him 10 remain in the basement. and that
after about half an hour he followed his
partner upstairs, but returned because
ne saw Thomas karrick pass.
Slrinay according TO the confession
then left the house alone. later TO take
i car for Main street.
Warden Pratt exhibited plats of the
Karrick yard and basement which Sir
may drew, but stated that Sirmay would
not or could not draw the plat OF the
second floor. If Sirmay skilled Karrick
he was familiar with the three floors. is
The states theory.
On cross examination the defense got
the warden TO admit that Sirmay was
weak, having just recovered from at
his mouth was burned. and that he re-
peatedly asked TO he let alone.
Sheriff Sharp, recalled to determine
what confessions Sirmay made before be-
ing taken to the pcnitcntary, admitted
that Sirmay was in d weak condition.
but said that he was able to answer
questions intellisently; THAT he was cues
toned in the sheriffs office, in the pres
ence OF several officers and many others.
First Witness.
The first witness Thursday morning
was Frederick kropf, who continued his
testimony begun Wednesday afternoon.
Kropf said that Sirmay slept in the
Kropf kitchen Friday night and was in
great pain all night
Kropf also identified the saw found al
the Karrick home. as his property, kroDf
the day OF the murder about $50 p, m.
along the path leading from the railroad
on the west.
ley, when Riley told Kropf that the dead
boy was about the size OF Frank kropf. |
Sirmay kropf testified. said that the
murdered boy was larger than Frank
Kropf.
Under cross examination the witness
admitted that several officers had talked
to him about the case. and that Slrmay
had often brought papers home thereto-
Kropf's wife corroborated him and
Identified The saw. Mrs. kropt tod oil
Joe LcComskrs being at the kropt home |
the previous sunday. and when Le-
comsk asked who Sirmay was he was |
told that Sirmay was boardcr. one
of the family addressed Lecomski as
Joe" 80
The defense has indicated that IL will |
contend that another man assisted IN |
the burglary and that his name was |
Iccomssi is the divorced husband OF
Kropfs daughter
Gives Reasons for Act.
Mrs. Kropf attended Sirmay after he
attempted suicide, and il was then that
he SAID his reason for the act was that
he had no home. She also admitted that
officers had talked TO her of the affair.
the i<ropfs WAS the next witness. He
was called to identify the saw. This he
did, relying mainly on the marks on the
handle. made shortly before the muir
Ger. his DOG gnawing II.
Wilford J. Allen, street car conduc-
tor on the Murray line. testified that he
Tying d saw. about II q. m. The wit
ness said that Sirmay October l., be-
tween l2;i5 and 2:45 .. m. rode back
on his car 10 Fifteenth South street.
on cross examination the witness adj
n1itted that many foreigners ride back
and forth on his car and that he could
the man VINO went TO town on his car
about IL o'clock. but was positive that
II was Sirmay who returned In the aft
crnoon.
H. p. Meyers, motorman. the first
witness of the afternoon. said that ne
saw man resembling the defendant on
his car either at tne ~, Up or or Idao @ run.
ricd a parcel which appeared 10 be u
saw he said.
Johnson Is Contradicted
F.. a. Johnson, the conductor on the
University car. on which Meyers was
hearing held several weeks
ago. Johnson said the man laid the saw
down, while Thursday he said the man
let il sliae down TO the car floor. lie
also sworc that he had not talked TO
Conductor Meyers about the matter.
Meyers was recalled and swore that he
iEu Johnson mad often discussed the af-
AIR together.
H. 5. Karrlck was recalled to testify
the footprints leading away
rom the Karrick house. !!c stated that
ne covered UP The best track soon after
lis brother was killed and was later
present when the officers compared Sir
nays shoes with the print.
Sheriff Sharp sworc that in his opin-
on the footprints We're made by Sirmay's
shoe. Lieutenant John Hcmpel OF the
police force corroboated Sharp John 6. {
'orlcss. deputy sheriff said thet he also
Sirmay's shoe with the print
Ind agreed with the other officers in the
main. but could not swear Sirmay's shoe :
made the mark
Concerning the shoe print. II was !
brought out that rain fell the day be- 7
ore the murder, making the ground soft:
hat the track compared with the shoe '
was the best one Of many and yet II was [
arger than the shoe because its maker
slipped a
Dispute Is Aroused 4.
Before Warden Pratts testimony was
Idmitted counsel debated the admissabli-
~ OF the evidence. Here IL was tha,
!efendant's attorneys called the question Z