The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-09-14
Edward B. Johnston, Slayer
of "Gunplay" Maxwell,
Makes Fatal Blunder
Near Helper.
SAYS HE THOUGHT THE
BOYS WERE HOLDUPS
Johnston Declares the Boys
Failed to Reply to Chal-
lenge, but Wounded Lad
Denies This.
Special to The Tribune.

Special To Tho Tribune.
rELPER, Sept. 15.--Mistaken for
holdups, Brigham Taylor of Provo.
aged is years. and Arnold Dear
Il IL dali of Springville. aged 10 years.
were shot down by former Deputy
Sheriff r.. r. Johnston a mile south Of
Helper at o'clock tonight Taylor WAS
fatally wounded and died several hours
later, Deardall is severely wounded and
will recover
Johnston is locked in the county Jail
at Price and will be charged with mur-
der. He is noted throughout southern
Utah ms the slayer OF the notorious Gun
play" Maxwell whom he shot TO death
two years ago at Price In a sensational
duel
Reports OF the killing tonight conflict
Johnston declares that the boys with
drew suspiciously from the road into the
willows as ne drove by in his buggy and
that he opened fire when they failed 10
wanted. Young Deardall insists that
Johnston fired without the slightest PROV
ocation.
Challenges, Then Fires.
coal mines in Spring Canyon, where they
were employed. TO the Y. NJ, c, A. at
Helper Just as they started across the
Price bridge. q mile from town. they en-
countered Johnston in a buggy. accom-
panied by d. ". Fausett or Helper They
stepped TO one side TO get out OF the
way OF tho horses. Johnston drove by.
stopped and leaped from the buggy.
What do you fellows want7" he called
back.
Nothing" young Deardsll says he re-
piled.
Then came the shots. four In all. Tay-
lor dropped 10 the floor or the bridge.
shot through the abdomen. Deardall fell
on top OF him with a bullet through the
left thigh. Both would have fallen into
the stream had not Johnston run forward
and dragged them TO the roadway.
Taylor Dies in Agony.
learning his ghastly mistake. John
ston, aided by Fausett. lifted the wound
ed boys into the buggy and drove back
10 Helper. Medical attention was sum-
moned at once, but was OF no avail 20
young Taylor. He died In great agony at
10 o. clock tonight. Doardall will recover.
Johnston was arrested at ones and
held for Sheriff Thomas Kelter of Price,
who arrived az Helper an hour later.
only statement was that he
thought the boys were highwaymen.
Great excitement followed the shoot
ing and il was rumored about Helper
that the Utah Fuel pay car had been
held up and robbed and that the boys
we're mistaken for tho robbers. Several
robbcries have occurred on the road be-
twcen Price and Helper recently.
Il had these In mind when I met the
boys" declared Johnston. "Their ac-
lions in stopping and Withdrawing to the
reused by suspicious. I ad-
dressed them and they did not answer.
Then l fired"
1--WE only stepped out to let them pass
md when he called to US i answered
nothing" said young Dcardsil.
In Many Pistol Duels.
Johnston Is said 10 hive shot to death
seven men in his time In the line of
iuty. For many years he was deputy
heriff OF Carbon county, resigning only
eeently to accept position as special
gent for the Southern Utah railroad. lie
S known as the best shot with a revolver
u Carbon county. Al the time OF his
uel with "Gunplay' Maxwell he was
IGNORED highly by the citizens OF Price
or having rid the town OF dangerous
haraetcr Since then he has been a
opular figure In Carbon county.
Brigham Taylor WAS the son OF John
v. Taylor OF Provo, le went 10 Helper
ecking work several months ago. Arnold
)eardall Is the son OF r. u. Deardall OF
prlngville. well-knowp farmer
Sheriff Kslter will conduct an official
nvestigstion OF the killing tomorrow,
ieanwhile Johnston Ia held without bail.
Salt Lakers in New York.