The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-04-22
INSISTS ON PLEA
OF sELF-DEFENSE
Alfred Sorensen, Slayer OF
Thomas H. McCillis,
Fl. Talks Briefly.
WIFE OF VICTIM ILL
Autopsy to Be Held Before
Shipment of Body to
Mother in Denver.
WIFE OF , VICTIM ILL

"I obeyed the first law Of nature,
said Alfred Sorcusen Yesterday, "he"
asked whether he had anything 10 say
regarding the shooting of Ihomas
Hvmes McGillis Saturday evening
thought he was going TO draw gun
be added as though by way of eaplana'
tiop.
Aside from this brief statement the
prisoner refused to talk until he had
consulted an attorney, When asked
whether he had secured the services Oh
an attorney or not, he answered IN tue
affirmative. but refused to tell the at
torney's name. Sheriff Joseph sharp
said at 8 o o'clock last evening that no
attorney had been In to see sorensen,
although several had called at the jail
to do so. Mrs. Sorensen called at the
iail Yesterday and was allowed to talk
to her husband, and it is probable that
she will engage the attorney for the de-
fense
Inquest Not Required.
M inquest over the remains Of Nc
ellis will be held, according to state
meut bv County Attorney l. l.. Wiley
last night, hut DR.. A, y. Hansen. ply
sician for Salt Lake county will con.
duet an autopsy probably today, III
this is done today, Charles and Munson
McGillis expect TO leave tomorrow with
the body for Denver That is the b!Ith-
place of their brother. who was killed,
and the home Of their mother, and inc
body is to be taken there for burial.
Mrs. Thomas McGlllls, who, was lett
widow by the four bullets that killed
brother, Munson McGillis, S51 East
Second South street. i'll critical con"
ditiou The sudden shock of the death
Of her husband came near to causing
her death Saturday night, and she is
rot vet considered OUT of danger BY her
nhysiciaus.. She is left without means
Of support. except for $1,000 life insur"
ance which was carried by her husband.
Mother Near Death.
A telegram received from Denver
Yesterday morning stated that the
mother of the McGillis boys had col
lapsed when informed of her son s sud
den death and Isadore McGillis left i'm
medistely for Denver to take care Of
her, The telegram stated that she was
in grave condition and might not
survive the effects of the shock.
In the meantime Surenseu, who dld
the shooting. is being held in the coun-
ty Jail whore he was taken immediate
" after the tragedy. According TO the
statement made by him to Tribune
reporter Yesterday, be will advance the
grounds of self-dcfense when asked to
account for his action. He will be
formally charged. probably today, and
this charge probably will be murder in
the first degree, according to County
Attorney Wiley.
Tragedy in Brief
Alfred Sorepscp, ieweler and
leader Of the Socialist party in Utah,
shot Thomas Hymes Mct1illis Saturday
evening, causing the lstter's death a
few minutes later. The shooting oc-
cured in Sorcnsen jaweIry store. 79
East Second South street, at $50
o clock in the evening. Two deputy
Hedges, we're passing the store at the
time and arrested Sorcussu, taking him
TO the county Jail.
McGillis Is said 10 have entered the
store unarmed in an effort to settle q
quarrel that had been brought about
during the dav over the sale or display
of some iewelry. MeGilIis was work
ing in a hat store next door, where he
aud n partner had rented display
window, and were demonstrating and
selling cuff buttons. Nothing could he
learned Yesterday of any quarrel pre-
vious to the day Of the shooting The
officers searched the dying man before
taking him from the store aud could
lind nothing on him in the wav OF Il
weapon. Witnesses say that nc was
leaning on the counter and made no at
shooting McCillis was taken TO the
Emergency hospital. where he died a
few minutes later while DR.. H. B.
SpTa2ue was working over him,