The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-05-12
MURDER HASTENS
DEATH Of HANER
Shock Of Seeing Axtell Killed
Aggrayates Malady Afllict-
ing Young Lawyer.
DIES SUDDENLY In HIS
HOME THURSDAY MORNING
He Was Native of Salt Lake
Who Won Fame in Legal
Profession.

Willard Hamer, one OF the best known
and most popular OF the young attorneys
OF Salt Lake City. died suddenly at his
home IN the Progress apartment. Third
East and First South streets. at o'clock
this morning.
Death was due to heart failure. super
induced by the shock of Witnessing the
killing Of Walter Axtell by J. j. Morris
at Second South and Main streets Tues
day afternoon at $50 o'clock.
Within an hour after witnessing the
tragedy Mr. Hamer remarked TO A. F,
Doremus. former state engineer. who also
lives at the Progress apartment;
II have just witnessed a thing that
cannot get over. II makes me feel
very strange" Mr.. Doremus says that
Mr. Hamer was very pale at the time.
but did not appear TO be nervous or great
~ agitated.
Mr., Hamer was at his office as usual
Wednesday morning and during the day
held number Of conferences with Mr..
Doremus on business matters. AS late
as $3.50 o'clock Wednesday afternoon he
remarked that he was feeling all right
and appeared to he in his usual health
On going home Wednesday evening
he made no complaint and retired at his
customary hour. but again spoke OF the
shock that the witnessing OF the killing
had been to him. Mrs. Hamer was
sroused by hearing a. guTge dnoh1p in her nus
Death Comes Suddenly.
She spoke to him. but received no re-
TO secure stimulants. J." WAS completely
unconscious when she returned and died
before medical aid could be summoned.
Willard Hamer was 80 years of age and
was native of Salt Lake City. being u
son OF the late Samuel Hamer. While yet
a youth he was deputy county clerk OF
Weber county and during his spare hours
mastered shorthand. Then he became an
assistant TO his brother. Daniel, who was
then stenographer Of the Second Judi
cial district court at Ogden lie lelt MS
position in Ogden TO study law at the
University of Utah ana was aonitteu 10
the bar in 1900.
For time he was associated with {.
C. Richards OF Ogden. but twelve wears
law offices of Richards. Richards q
Ferry. with which firm he remained until
the time OF his death.
The senior members Of the hri;1 unite
ir their tribute to Mr. Hamer's great
ability and high integrity and are mex.
pressiby shocked by his untimely and
unexpected end.
Sick for Two Years.
Mr. -Hamer on February I. 1907 mar
ried Miss Maureen Stephens. daughter
of John B. Stephens. 12T East First South
street from whose residence the funeral
will be held at O'Clock Saturday after
noon Interment will be in Mount Cal
vary cemetery.
For the past two years Mr., Hamer had
been at intervals troubled with his heart
and last February suffered a severe at
tack OF pleuro pneumonia. but. recover :
ing from this. had been In his usual
health UP to the time OF witnessing the
murder of Axtell. and there Is no doubt
In the minds of his friends and relatives
that this shock brought on the attack
OF heart failure which resulted in his
death,
Daniel Hamer, the brother who sur
wives him, is now stenographer in the
district court at Malad, Ida lie was no
tilted by wire Of his brothers death.
cached the city last night and Will re-
main until after the funeral.
Willard Hamer was admired and be-
loved by all who knew him and his
friends in the city and throughout the
state can be numbered by thousands He
was ever an ardent and outspoken Demo-
crat and during the last county cam
palgn was the candidate Of his party for
attorney OF Salt Lake county.
Judge Charles W Morse OF the Third
district court yesterday afternoon issued
an order appointing special committee,
consisting of Attorneys George c. Buckle.
c. S. Varian and w, w. Ray. TO draft
appropriate resolutions expressing the be-
reavement of the Salt Lake bar by the
loss Of one of Its most popular members.