OCR Text |
Show WESTERN WHISPERS. Utah. The Junction of the 5th says that the child beater W. S. Lewis, who recently [line unreadable] was fined $10 and costs, the latter amounting to $34.70. <br><br> Ben Tasker is one of the most remarkable desperadoes of the great west. For years he has not only been reputed to be a horse and cattle thief, but has often boasted of his success in that line. Repeatedly arrested, convicted, and brought to trial, he has always escaped by proving an alibi, the witnesses being his ready tools and accomplices in crime. He has also been strongly suspected of complicity in more than one murder, and, a short time since, was convicted in the second district court, of murder in the first degree, committed some months ago, near Ben's ranch in southern Utah, the victim being a German, commonly known as "Dutchy." Just before daybreak on the morning of Aug. 2d, Tasker, who was confined in that apartment of the jail used as the sheriff's office, seeing that the two guards placed to watch him were fast asleep, walked over them to liberty, and, at last accounts, was at large. There were other guards on the outside of the building, who failed to intercept the escaping murderer. It seems to us that there is something remarkable about all this. <br><br> A BRIGHAM City correspondent of the News, furnishes the following amusing account of the late visit of the Governor and party to that place: On arriving at the hotel, the party supposed to be and were taken for circus men by the host Mr. Jensen. The day previous to the Governor's arrival in Brigham City, the forerunner of Mr. Cole's circus had been in town and engaged accommodation with Mr. Jensen for six of the circus hands, who were to be in town the next day (same day the governor arrived) to put up posters, etc., and when the governor's party entered the hotel, Mr. Jensen naturally supposed they were connected with the circus. "Yes, yes" replied his excellency, "that is our profession at present." "Well, well walk in gentlemen," said Mr. Jensen "but I expected six and I only see four." The other he was told, would come along after a while. Thus the fun went on until bed time when a new impetus was given to the farce. It seems that when the circus man was round he informed Mr. Jensen that his men could all sleep in one room, as well as not, and arrangements to this effect were entered into by showing the manager a room in which were two beds with still room for another bed to be made on the floor, which was entirely satisfactory. After the Governor and party were conducted into the bed chamber they were informed of the previous arrangement with the circus man in relation to the sleeping accommodation. Here were three beds in one room, one of which was on the floor, and four circus men to sleep on them; they could take their choice as to who slept on the floor. Mr. Jensen kindly suggested that the biggest fellow had better take the floor, which was good humoredly acquiesced in by the big fellow; it was nothing unusual, they said, for circus men to sleep on the floor; they could accommodate themselves to the circumstances. The big fellow was the Governor. This thing went along all through the next day until the Secretary called in at a certain public office in Brigham City to transact some business, when the whole farce came to a sudden termination. Apologies were then in order all round. It is said the Governor and party seemed to enjoy the joke immensely. <br><br> IDAHO. The total white population of Idaho as shown by the last census returns is 82,611. THE U. & N. R. R. [Utah & Northern Rail Road] depot at Oxford is nearly completed. It is a handsome, commodious building. <br><br> THE population of Helena, Montana, is 3,630. Butte is the second town with 3,364. <br><br> THE IDAHO Enterprise says that, at Malad City, on the evening of July 26th, two prisoners made their escape from the city jail. One of them named Frank Converse, is described as follows: About 23 years of age, 5 feet 9 inches high, weighs 190 pounds, of light complexion, blue eyes, closely shaven, and short hair. Wore dark colored shirt, blue overalls and brogan shoes. The other one whose name is Lawrence Downs, is an Irishman of very broad accent, and about 22 years of age, is about 5 feet four inches in height, square built, weighs about 145 pounds of light complexion, with light mustache. Wore brown duck coat and pants, and brogan shoes. There is $300 reward offered for their capture, or information leading to their apprehension. They are pursued by John S. Watson. Sheriff of Oneida County, Idaho Territory. <br><br> THE IDAHO Enterprise of Aug. 5 says: A shooting affray occurred on Wednesday, July 28th, at Irish Creek, about eighteen miles northwest of Soda Springs, between a cattle man named Jesse Powell and a herder named M. E. Hawver, in which the latter was shot twice, the first time through the side of his neck and the second shot took effect in the left side of the forehead just over the eye, killing him instantly. Mr. Powell immediately started for Soda Springs for the purpose of surrendering, but upon finding no magistrate at that place, he came to Oxford the next day by Mr. Morrisson's stage and gave himself up for trial before Justice Finney. It seems that Powell and Hawver had engaged in an altercation over the bridling of a fractious horse, and had been applying foul language and epithets to each other. At length Hawver started toward Powell, brandishing a knife. The latter warned him to stop, but he did not, and when Hawver was but a few feet from him, Powell fired two shots from his revolver, both taking effect. It being apparent, from the testimony of several eyewitnesses, that the shooting was done in self-defense, Powell was discharged. <br><br> FROM the Blackfoot Register of Aug. 7th, we learn further particulars of the suicide of the young man Cronin, mentioned in our last issue: Deceased came to Blackfoot last winter, and formed a partnership with a man named Pryor to conduct a saloon. Pryor's time in the army at Ft. Hall had not quite expired, and so Cronin conducted the business. Pryor's wife lived in Blackfoot, and he, suspecting Cronin of dishonesty wrote to her to watch him. Soon Pryor was informed by rumor that a criminal intimacy existed between his wife and Cronin. On Monday, Aug. 2d, Pryor came to Blackfoot went to the saloon and ordered Cronin to leave. From this time matters grew worse, until afternoon, when Pryor, bringing two pistols asked Cronin to defend himself. Cronin refusing, Pryor got a horsewhip and gave him a whipping. During the evening and the next morning Cronin was around town and in every instance protesting the innocence of Mrs. Pryor, saying if he could vindicate her he would willingly die. It was Cronin's decision to leave Blackfoot on Tuesday, ??? Aug. 3d, but during the afternoon [line unreadable] was waiting on a customer, shot himself in the abdomen, the ball entering the spine. He died the next morning at about 8 o'clock. |