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Show Echoes from the dust Gib Workman trial in Heber Auiiiixi 13, I ) The trial for Gib Workman for the murder of James Griffin last November is in progress in Heber City. At the last term of the District court a change of venue was taken by the state for the reason the prosecuting attorney did not believe a jury could be obtained in this county. The case was called last Monday, August 9, though the witnesses were not summoned to appear until August 12. The idea was that it would require three days to secure a jury. Karly last week the witnesses began to start for Heber and by the end of the week so many witnesses, lawyers, and visitors had gone that it was impossible for the remaining population of the city to secure rigs at the livery stable or elsewhere for necessary use. The num!er of witnesses summoned is not exactly known, as the sheriff has not yet been able to make returns, but the estimate varies anywhere from 37 to 67. The case is likely to occupy the best part of two weeks. Workman, it is understood has taken advantage of the pauper act. A.C. Hatch, the attorney for the defense, will probably set up the plea of insanity, which is a very popular defense these days and when a man once proves that he was insane when he committed the crime it is sometimes a hard matter to prove that he is sane when he desires liberation from the asylum. This trial will cost the county a large sum of money but it has been suggested that money spent in the prosecution of criminals is money well spent. While the prosecution may have a strong array of testimony there is at least one important witness who will not be there, anyhow that was the belief when the officials left here. George McCarrell stated in the presence of Sheriff McNeill and to others that he heard Workman declare on the Sunday previous to the murder on Friday that unless Griffin paid him what he owed him he would kill Griffin. Workman was perfectly sober at the time. At last accounts the officials had not been able to get McCarrell. He is said to be in Nevada. If two or more persons, who heard McCarrell make the statement, were to testify, that would be as conclusive con-clusive evidence as if McCarrell himself gave it to the jury. It has not been ascertained whether the statement was made to others than McNeill and those who were with him at the time. ADIMiRACKTO STATE OK UTAH Juggling and slight of hand per formance by Workman jury gives light punishment to cold blooded murder. After an all night session, last Saturday night the jury in the case of Gib Workman, tried for murder at Heber, found a verdict of murder in the first degree with recommendation for mercy. A verdict of that kind means that the extreme penalty will be a life sentence in the penitentiary. Had the recommendation recom-mendation not been made for mercy the sentence would have been death by hanging or shooting. The condemned man to take his choice. Attorneys Hatch and Wilson for the defense made a motion for a new trial, but it has not yet been learned whether the motion Was granted. In case the motion was refused the court passed sentence last Monday. The trial consumed the best part of two weeks, beginning August 9. On the following Saturday sight eleven jurors had been accepted and the twelfth was accepted on Monday morning. The defense attempted to prove that Workman Work-man was insame at the time he murdered mur-dered James Griffin last November. One specialist gave it as his opinion that Workman could have been insane at the time. LATER. ..The Express had been unable to get anything further, than the above from Heber until J. A. Wilson one of the attorneys for the defense arrived tonight on the stage and from that gentleman we secured the facts. Ten of the jury were for conviction of murder in the first degree and two were for acquittal. After arguing all night they finally reached an agreement which certainly is no credit to that body of men supposed to be intelligent. The ten for conviction offered to the two for acquittal, that if they would come in and agree for conviction of murder in the first degree, they, the ten, would agree to recommend mercy and at the . end of five or six years they would also sign a petition for Workman's pardon. Judge Booth immediately set aside the verdict and on motion of Mr. Hatch granted a new trial. Then Mr. Hatch and the prosecuting attorney, Mr. Cluff 'got together and made a compromise. Hatch agreed to plead guilty to manslaughter man-slaughter but Cluff wanted murder in the second degree. The maximum for manslaughter is ten years and the minimum for murder in the second degree is ten years. Hatch agreed to plead guilty to murder in the second degree providing he could count on the minimum sentence and that was finally decided upon. f t - - :' 1 A a A i , f: ,r "-' I ..... V, V fr.yanwhMT.innifrrfH,, . ' ' ' i i( i in i m d ' r Mf&tU&t 1 STRINGHAM FIVE generation is comprised of baby, Julie K. Str-ingham, Str-ingham, 7 months old, sitting on great-great-grandpa B. H. Str- -ingham's lap. Great-grandpa Ken Stringham (1) back grandpa Kary Stringham and the proud father, Brett Stringham. |