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Show HELD TO THE DISTRICT COURT. Page Vestal, Charged with Attempted Blackmail, Bound Over. Saturday afternoon in a little room 12x12 over fifty men crowded to hear the preliminary hearing of I'upe Vestal. charged with attempted blackmail. black-mail. While all could not get In, and those who did were packed like Bar dines, the largo court room above Blood empty, but the county attorney (stated that the commissioners hud forbidden preliminary hearing to be held there. Protests wero made, but to no avail. The caw came up before Hans 0. IlatiHon; County Attorney King prosecuting pros-ecuting and Soreti X. Chrlstenson of Salt Lake defending. Vental pleaded not guilty, und County Clerk Nephl Anderson was the first witness, and his testimony was In substance as follows: Knew Vestal ainco last July; hired him shortly after he got out of the county Jail; took an Interest Inter-est in ti I nt on account of letters from his futher; fiu time their relations were all good; discharged him on the Kith of January, then contracted with him to get out posts; did not grub-stake blm or lend him money, but went security for $30; received but the one letter demanding money, and turned It over to deputy sheriff. The letter went In as evidence and defendant's de-fendant's attorney admitted Vestal had written the letter. On cross-examination Attorney Chrlstensen tried to get Anderson to admit that he (Anderson) and others met Vestal at his homo and later met at the Hoblnson farm, but Mr. Anderson Ander-son denied any meeting; he also stated that Vestal was t hia (Anderson's) (Ander-son's) home the, night of the shooting. He further Btate'd ho did not know what story was referred to In the letter, let-ter, but took It, thut Vestal charged him with a crime; did not owe a cent to Vestal, nor did ho tell Vestal to write such a letter to make the others come through. Proctor Uoblson was the next witness. wit-ness. Was acquainted with Vestal; talked to him before he left ; Vestal agreed to turn certain money on his hoard bill; Vestal told him Anderson had not treated him right, and that he woulJ havo to come through; did not mention that be did not treat him right; did not ask him what the trouble was; would like a full InveatF gatlon. Deputy Sheriff Payne told of the arrest; ar-rest; Vestal did not deny writing the letter. Thomas Mulhull titnlid he was up In the canyon with Vestal, who told him he had written the letter. This was the case, the defendant putting In no evidence and admitting that he wrote the letter. Attorney King argued that the letter was a blackmailing one, and Attorney Chrlstensen arguing that it was not, unless there was something back of the letter that Anderson knew of. The Justice took an hour to decide and then held the prisoner to the district dis-trict court In the sum of $."00. He failed to get bail. , |
