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Show 5EARCHF0R LOPEZ r EELIEVES BANDIT IS STILL MINE, BUT FURTHER SEARCH WOULD BE USELESS. Every Precaution Will be Taken Keep Mexican Murderer in the Apex Workings in an Endeavor to Starve Him to Death. Bingham, Utah.- Further searcl of the workings of the Apex miuj for Rafael Lopez, the Mexican desperado, desper-ado, who has taken a toll of six liveSi has practically been abandoned. This was the announcement of Sheriff Andrew Smith, Jr., Monday nigin, following a conference with Utah Apex officials. While admitting that a continuance of the search of 'the mine will prol ably fail to accomplish the desired end, Sheriff Smith does not admit that Lopez has escaped from the mine. If the Mexican is not dead ia the mine, he is still in there, alive. Sheriff Smith says he believes, ani his opinion is shared by the mine offcials and the Bingham citizens who have taken a prominent part ia the hunt for the fugitive. But while search of the mine itself f will be abandoned, every precaution ' will be taken to keep Lopez within the workings and starve him to death, allowing for the possibility that he has not escaped from the mine, but has escaped death by asphyxiation. When the mine was reopened on December 5, after having been sealed seal-ed in an effort to smother the Slex-ican, Slex-ican, three posses went into the mine. They searched all day for tha desperado, but without avail. On Saturday the search was resumed, but without success; they were back in the mine again Sunday morning. All this time guards were kept at the different entrances, in case Lopei should still be alive and make a dash for liberty. The Apex is full of every kind of fa hole, stope, tunnel, raise, incline and shaft imaginable. Places were found where it is evident that the smudge could never have reached, as the air was absolutely fresh and un-contaminated. un-contaminated. For this reason it ia believed that Lopez, if he is in the mine, may very possibly be alive. The searchers crawl through the mine with revolvers constantly ready for instant use. After the searching parties came out of the workings of the Apex on Sunday night, members of the party declared that they were satisfied that Lopez was still in the mine, ani probably alive. Belongings of the bandit were discovered dis-covered near the point where Hulsey and Manderich were shot to death, it appearing to the searchers that they, had been hastily abandoned. The question of whether Lopez was able to get out of the mine, get to the home of some friend, change clothes and slip out of the mining : camp without being apprehended, is still being discussed. The belief that this might have happened has grown since O. E. Radtke, an employee of the Highland Boy mine, reported that he had seen a man fitting the description de-scription of Lopez skulking down tha road on the night of December 1. Radtke said that he was returning to his home near the Highland Boy about midnight Monday when he saw a man walking down the road. He said the description as to size fitted Lopez and that the suspicious actions of the man caused him to step closer to get a better look at the ace that was hidden under a cap and pulled down low over the eyes. He said tha man moved rapidly away. |