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Show oo Linker Declared j To Be Not Guilty SALT LAKE, Novi 19 A verdict of i not guilty was re'urned last night by the jury in the cas- of Thomas J. Lin , ker, tried on a cha -te of niurJei in th " first degree for the alleged killing of Joseph Brlggs, a Fairview farmer, on the early morning of Tanuary 13 i Brlggs was fatally , not while resist ling highwaymen on West Second ; South street The Jury df liberated about one and a ha.'f hou-s In instructing the Jury Judge liar old M. Stephens of the Third distric1 I court, explained that the Vrdlct mus'. I because of the nature of the evldehc, ! be either one of first degree murder lor acquittal. The .ourt explained that the latitude allowed the Jury in the I circumstances was -rircumscribed to permit of no preat r leniency, in case j of guilt, than a recommendation of i mercy. Brings being killed by someone who was trying to rob him, uie guilty per son must be guilty f murder in th--first degree, the court exolai.ied. sine killing in the course of committing a felony constitutes Ui hlghesl degre of murder, and th statute does not permit l hiding the person guilty ot a less degree. Jointlv with Llnkt r Mr.s. Maud Lin kcr. his wife, and William .4 Brooks, a negro, were charged witn the murder In the information. 3oth npneared as witnesses for the 'fefcncani Who d manded. and was accorded a 'separate trial. Both denied any knowledge of the killing, except through subsequent report, and of the defendant's connection connec-tion with it in any way. The theory of 'h'- slat" was thai Briggs had been io the Macedonia rooming house, of wnich idrs. Linker a landlady shortly before he was attacked, at-tacked, and there displayed a roll of bills, with the result that Linker ano Brooks were told of the money by Mrs Linkf r oo |