The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-01-12
GIVE TEST|NONY|
AGAINST S|RMA|
Witnesses Tell of Actions of All
legged Slayer of Tom
karrick.
SAW FIGURES MATERIALLY
In STATES PROPOSED CAS-
Much of Evidence Relates q
Condition of Premises Where
Crime Occurred.

The trial OF julius Sirmay for the nurs|
der OF Thomas karrick, October IL, l9id|
began in the criminal division Of tho|
Third district court. presided over bv|
Judge George 6. Armstrong. "Wednesday
ct 10 o'clock, after two days spent In OBJ
tanning the jury.
District Attorney Boofbourow outlined
the case as IL will be presented by thd
state, Plats Of the karrick home and
surroundings were explained. II is thd
plan OF the prosecution TO prove, II pos1
sibe, that Sirmay. and not another sum
posed burglar, committed the murder|
\ leading feature Of the states evideucd
is the saw. which young SIrmny borI
rowed and about which he told conilictiud
stories. The prosecution Will attempt "a
show that Sirmay was seen both going "a
and returning from the Karrick resi-
dence on Thirteenth East street imnel
diatcy before and after the crime wa
committed, and that among the article1
carried by the burglar or burglars wad
some photo materials. BY the evidence
Of Frederick I[ropf the prosecution ex1
poets 10 prove that the defendant wad
an amateur photographer, having made|
and sold photographs in Murray shortiI
before the murder.
Weapon in Evidence.
The revolver borrowed by Lewis 81
Karrlck from the National Guard. which
der with four OF the six chambers empty
was filcd IN evidence. as well as sha
shells and cartridges, and the saw
which Sirmay is supposed to have carl
ricd to the karrick home and left therel
was also offered. The district attorne3
expects TO show that carmen saw Sir1
may on the car shortly before the GRIND
was committed, and that he left the car|
the Karrick residence Edward Shepj
herd saw man resembling the defend1
ant scamper down the steep embank1
ment near the karrick home, and mau'3
footprints were later found there.
BY the testimony OF kropf the prose-
cution will attempt to prove that Sir1
may acted strangely on the afternoon q
the murder; that he bought a newspaper|
and when a neighbor Of Kropf's. Mr|
Riley. was speaking OF the size OF thd
murdered boy in the defendants pres1
ence. SirInay corrected the comparison|
showing definite knowledge OF Tom Kdr4
rick's height.
The day after the murder, the prosecu!
ton Will try to show, Slrmay spent d
the city and was later found by tWd
boys In an unconscious condition, havin3
attempted suicide, and that ne, there1
after. while in custody, again attempted
suicide by cutting his wrist with a safeyX
razor blade.
Introduce Evidence.
The defense waived Its opening state
ment, and taking evidence was proceeded
with. j. IL. Mackey, who drew the plats|
explained them in detail 10 the court
after which John II. Canning was called
as the first witness. Canning presented
the saw and a letter. but did not remefn1
Der the condition OF the saw when giveII
into his Keeping last October
Mrs. Sarah T.. karrick. mother Of tl,3
murdered boy. was the next called. He1
testimony was preliminary. and concerned
mainly the articles stolen from bed
home. and the condition of the home cd
the morning Of the 18th. She stated thai
watch and chain and a stick pin werd
taken. on cross-eXamination. Mrs Kar1
rick admitted that at least three men
engaged through the Salvation Army, bad
been employed during the summer an4
fall to do odd jobs about the place.
Miss Janice Karrick a sister. testified
as TO the condition OF the house aftc1
the murder, especially as TO the dislie1
and preparations for a meal.
Policeman James A. Conyers Identified
the revolver as the one which he tool
from the karrick home. l.. S. karrick|
brother OF the murdered boy. told OF
the domestic routine OF the family, oQ
the condition OF the house In the morn
ing and when he returned shortly afte1
the murder. He described in detail Tho
articles OF plumber which were gathered
from several rooms and packed in teie.|
scope in the basement, and OF mani
things being out of place, the lock on
one door picked; a hatchet used to break|
coal In the basement was on the floqr|
above. and there was evidence that it|
T.. Il. Howell was the next witness
and corroboratcd the testimony OF Kar-|
rick concerning the articles taken from
his room and trunk. Two or three ring
and clock taken have never been found
Movements Of Victim.
Mrs. 4. d. Whitaker. Tom karrick'9|
teacher at the Bryant school. testified|
that Tom was dismissed at 1915 on the
fatal day. Arthur y. Ford, schooI|
chum OF the murdered boy. told Of walk
k.,ax H. A. Ill. naA
seeing him proceed towards his home.
John S. Rood told OF seeing Tom stag
ger down the karrick terrace. and oI
going 10 his assistance and there findln1
the boy dying. The witness testifie1|
that blood could be traced into the hous1
and up the steps leading to the secono
floor.
Robert Spiler street car oonductcr
corroborated the testimony OF Rood as
seeing Tom fan and as 10 the time. De
+. c. Odel. county physician. who exam
ined the body. explained the nature
the wounds and said that five gunshot|
wounds were inflicted. two OF which were
fatal Two OF the wounds. the doctor|
thought. might have been made by one
shot
An Important Witness. FL
Frederick Kropf, cobbler living neaI
Murray on West Temple street. was ~
most important witness for the state -
the first days proceedings. II is o|
Kropf that the prosecution relies to prov#|
that Sirmay acted strangely. that he o.
rowed the saw. made photographs, an
had little or no money on the DAY I'll
the murder Slrmay lived In the shov~|
shop. where he had been for three or iou>
weeks before the murder. and paid W|
cents per week for the accommodation.|
on the afternoon OF the crime. Slrmay%|
according To kr0pi. remarked;
''TYe had the darldest luck. i've ioeX|
your saw Here witness testified -
defendant said he had left the saw VIII
going 70 town and that on returnIns
found il gone. MIR. Riley. the evening
October Y. was telling OF the murder -
the Eropf home. when Sirmay eFihcss
keen interest In the story, and wheh ~. ~ I
qucs,ed 10 leave the group he uic SO. ~,
returned. This Was soov
{ o'clock The defendant then porrors|
a bicycle and went To Murray. return
with IA newspaper containing the w..
Of the murder. and had kropi rsau
account. The next day the detehuss''5.| n
bought another evening paper ana
that read TO him. = ..sr
Kropf was stlIl on the stand vac
court adjourned. ~
Konold Again Wins,
Rudolph Konold has received word, ,,I
.f h.4 Phoenix