The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-06-25
J. J. Norris, Slayer of Wallace
AxteIl, Getting Interested in
Proceedings.
EYEWITNESS TELLS
STORY OF THE SHOOTING;
Dramatic Recital Is Given of the
Manner i'm Which AXtelI
Met Death.

Manfestlng far more interest III the
proceedings than he did during the
examination of the venires the several
preceding days. but assuming the same
calm, complacent attitude that has char.
acterized his actions from the first, j.
j. Morris, on trial in the criminal di-
vision of the Third district court be-
fore Judge +. c, Loofbourow for the
1urder Of Joseph Wallace Axtell whom
be shot down and instantly killed near
the corner of Main and Second South
streets on the afternoon of May q,
while trying to escape after the hold.
ing up and robbery of the Uncle Sam
Loan Office, listened Saturday TO the
details of the awful tragedy, as told
by several eve witnesses
John Held, who was but few feet
away from the two men when Axtell
was shot down by Morris told dra-
matte story of the shooting-how Nor
ris turned around in front of Held s
store and fred a bullet into Axtell S
body, and with an oath commanded him
to stop.
Morris was perhaps somewhat more
serious Saturday morning when the trial
preceding days, which were taken up
In the examination of the venires. Oc-
casionally. however, the desperate
prisoner was seen TO smile Saturday
during the proceedings, and when the
bullet which was taken from AXtell S
body was introduced into the evidence
he looked at it with the interest of an
ordinary spectator, while the mother
and other relatives of the dead man sat
In the rear almost crying.
Statement by Leatherwood.
The days proceedings was opened
with statement to the jury
by District Attorney {Tg L. Q, Leather ter
TSHa Tolowng the SenA district 8S attorney .SF
statement Carl a. Badger, at
torney for Morris, admitted that Nor,
ris shot and killed Axtell, but denied
that it was done Intentionally.
In his statement TO the jury District
Attorney Leatherwood said:
1.-THE defendant, j. j. Morris. is
charged with murder in the first de-
gree The evidence in this case will
show that Joseph ". Axtell was shot
store on East Second South street. The
evidence will show that Mr.. Axtell
left his home for work as usual on
the afternoon of May 9; that the car
on which Mr. Axtell came to town
stopped in front of the Continental
block. owing TO the crowd which had |
gathered in the street; that just at
the time ! have indicated the defend
ant. J. J. Morris. broke out Of the
crowd, and Mr.. Axtell at this time
dropped from the step OF the car and
started in pursuit of Morris.
"The evidence will show that Jo-
seph Walter Axtell attempted to stop
Morris in his flight and as he did so
Morris turned with an oath and Or
dered Axtell to stop. shooting him at
the same time. Mr.. Axtell reeled and
fell. He died few minutes after.
Aftermath of Holdup.
GA few minutes before Mr.. Axtell
was shot this defendent and another
man. named Murray, held up the Uncle
Sam loan shop and took large quanti-
ty Of jewelry. After the robbery they
ran down Commercial street, pursued
by Mr.. White of the loan Office, to Or
pheum avenue and then east on Or
pheum avenue to State street. At
point near the Empire theatre this de-
fendant fired several shots and then re.
loaded his gun. He ran down State to
Second South and west on Second
South
Murray was captured in front of the
Continental block and this defendant
continued his flight west TO the point
H.
then ran west TO the United Cigar
Stores corner and there was captured
by deputy sheriff. ~
On behalf of the defendant Carl A.
Badger admitted the death of Mr.. Ak
tell from the gunshot wound inflicted
by gun held in the hands Of and dis.
charged by j. J. Morris. but denied
that the gun was fred feloniously, pre-
meditatedly OF of his malice afore.
thought.
The witnesses were sworn at the be.
ginning of the trial and were excluded
from the courtroom.
j. G. Mackay, Jr., the first witness
called by the state, presented map of
the block bounded Main and State and
First and Second South streets and ad.
iacent property for use in the trial.
Held Tells Story.
John Held. an eye witness to the
shooting. said that his attention was
attracted by people running east on
Second South street. Stepping TO the
doorway, Mr.. Held said that he OBJ
mercial street toward his store on East
Second South street. Mr.. Held testified
that he saw the defendant turn draw
his hand down and shoot man at the
back of him in the breast.
Immediately after the shot was fred
ana without hesitancy, Morris turned
and ran west. Mr.. Held testified Mr.
Held said that Axteil. upon being shot,
stepped up to Mr.. Held IS store and
looked up into his (Held 's) face as
though he was going TO say something
Then he sank to the pavement, dying
almost instantly.
AS Mr.. Held went through the mo.
tiOns Of Morris at the time of the
shooting Morris paid the strictest at
tention, watching every movement OH
the part Of the witness carefully.
Robbery Is Described.
Adolph l.. White Of the Uncle Sam
office told the story Of the hoIdup and
robbery Of the loan office. He testi.
fled that Murray held the men in the
store at the point of his gun, and
Morris proceeded with his work of
cleaning up the diamond jewelry
White testified that after securing the
diamonds, Morris demanded that he be
given the money in the cash drawer.
Both men backed out of the front door.
Mr. White rolutaJ how hn n,,rcu,d