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THE HANCOCK CASE.Testimony of the Witnesses for Prosecution.WHEN THE ClilME WAS HONE.It is Beyond thfi Recollection of SomeWitnesses—Mr* Loveless'Interesting Statement.WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON*Kephi Loveless was called in the Hancock case* Ho testified that lie lived in Payson in 1S5S; I was lxrn in 1S34; I moved to Pay son in 1855 from Salt Lake county; I was acquainted with tho Jones family; they were living there in 1958; I sawllenry Jones alive one evening and the next morning I sawliim dead; He was at my house during the night? I heard a noise,hooping and hollowing; Henry Jones hollowed murder ;I opened the door and he sprang into tho house; - he appeared to he frightened; he was a tall well built man; ho was about twenty-three or twenty-five years old; he started- to go east from my house; I did not see any arms; he left in a hurry; Mr* Hancock came; Mr. Hancock was acting as constable in Payson at that time; he said here he is, here lie is; he went on in the same direction that Jones had gone; I don’t know who was with Hancock ; Jones was living about _ two blocks cast from my house in a dugout; his mo tin , a little brother and a sister liyed there also; Mr* Hancock had a gun in his (hand when he came up; I followed up to tho Jones house: Hancock went into thehouse; I herd a gun fired; I saw a gun in the hands of Mr. H uncock before and after; there were others with him: I don’t know’ who they were; Hancock went east and south when ho left there; I went into the cabin after the shot.Mr- Evans:—What did you see there? Objecfcedto by the defense*Objection overruled and exception taken.I saw Mrs. Jones in the cabin; she was dead, a bullet hole in her head; a little girl was in the cabin; I went away; I dodged about a good deal thatnight because I was scared; I saw” Mr. Jones in the rood toward morning; lie was laying in the middle of the road in the midst of blood dust and dirt; he was dead;I saw no Indians about; I saw Mr. Jones at tho cabin after that; the body of his mother was there also.Mr. Evans i'—What was done after the bodies were placed in the dugout? Objection by defense. Objection over* ruled and exception taken.There were a great many people there: I don’t remember seeing Mr. Hancock there; tho posts of the dugout were pulled out and tho dugout fell in.To Mr. BrownI had one child at that time; my wife is still living; it was in the early part of the evening when Jones came to my house; I went to bed early; I had been in bed about half an hour when Jones came in; I had some conversation with Jones; my wife might have heard this conversation; I think Jones was in his sliirt sleeves; he had a hickory shirt on; I don’t know how Hancock was dressed; he had a long srim in his hand; he did not go in my house; it was nearly three miles from ray house whore tho body was found the next morning; J heard one shot; I should jndge it was about a hundred yards oft’. Whea l went into the house I took the little girl up in my arms andasked her where her father was; I don’t know for ccita'm whether I took up the little girl and took her to Louis Hatch’s; I should judge the little girl was about four years old; she was crying and went up and laid her face on her in other* a breast; I know a man by the name of Jack Kay; I don’t remember telling him that this child was bo young that she wanted to nurse the old lady; I took the child somewhere, hut I don’t remember where; ^ I think I told Alvin Crocket of this circumstance; J don’t remember telling him about carrying the little child over to^ Louis Hatch’s: I did not go to bed again that night; it wag towards daylight.when I went towards Fondtown ;1 had an object in goingthat way; I wanted to hide; I did notstay long by the body, not five minutes*; I went from there south two or three miles south; I didn’t do anything particular; I went back homo again; I was afraid for my life; I went ovtr to thegrave about 10 o’clock; I saw iuy wife;I told her about the occurence of the night;! waa on a good horse when I went to Pond town; I had a good reason for keeping my horse out of the corral that night; I kept a look out for Mrs. Hancock; Louis Hatch, my wife and Charley Hancock were at the funeral; Mr. Hancock arrested me once because I would not go to a bishop’s trial;lie tied me uj; it was understood byme and my neighbors that he was constable ; he did not show me any papers when lie arrested me; I was acquainted with the Jones’; I o lie red to go and wash the bodies; I did not go and get any water; I was afraid to go and wash the bodies; I did not see Charles Hancock on tho nisrht of the killing; if I have threatened Hancock it was with the law ;1 have never threatened that Geo* Hancock would die with his boots on; I don’t know but what I threatened him with the law iu this case; it might be live years ago; when I threatened him, he defied me.John A. Mikesell was called. He testified: I live at Fark city; I lived in Payson in 2S5S: I saw’ tho bodies at the cabin;! did not see the cabin polleddown; they ran the small boys away; Geo. Hancock was there before the cabin was torn down; I think Geo* Hancock ordered us away.To Mr. Brown:---! was about sixteen rears old at that time; I don’t reraem-erwhat time I went to bed on the nfeht previous-^ Ellen H. Brown was called. She testified; my name was Hatch before Iwas married; I lived in Payson in 1959; I was five years and two nionths old in April of 1858; my mothers name was Hatch by her first marriage and Jones by her second marriage; the first I remember on the night of tbe murder was being wakened by a noise; I saw brother Henry taking Ins gundoivn; the first time I ever saw Geo. Hancock to recognize him was some weeks or mouths after tho killing; I said, there is the man who killed my mother; all I remember on iho evening was some men coming in and telling her to tell tho truth and they wouldn’t hurt her but I don’t know what it was they wanted her totelljshe waa on her knees on the floor; she said. “For God’s sake, spare my children;” one man tried his gun and said/ 'My gun won’t go off ^’another man cold,“Mine will ;T* I was very much frightened 1 don’t know who the men were; on the Fourth of July I recognized Geo. Hancock; I said to my father, there is tho man who killed mv mother; I bad taken Glias. Hancock to be’ the man before this.To Mr* Brown:—! don’t rememberKephi Loveless being there that night;I remember him taking me.Lycurgus Wilson was sworn and testified: 1 livecift Fairriow, Sanpete; Ilived at Salem in 1S5S; In April it* JS5S I had a very sick woman; I went out toget some wood; while I was out Henry Jones ran into my house; he said, they are after me and are trying to kill me; lie was bareheaded and I think he had on a common flannel shirt; he looked like a scared man and to me he looked like a bad man; he had beenshot in tbe arm; he had long hair; he looked rough; I said ”Wbat are youdoing hero, have.you been killing someone?” 1 ovas going to put Mm out when I heard teoifce men coming; ho.Iran out; I went on outside of tho fort’to sec what was the matter; there were four or five parties there; one of them was* George Hpocock; I don’t know who had charge of the posse;! think George Hancock had charge of them; they wanted him to go back to Pavson with them; ho said* ”1 won’t go back with yon, you have killed my brother.”the men told him they bad not, but thathis brothers were prisoners; I took hold of Jones’ arm; we walked along toward Payson; Geo. Hancock was telling me that soms men’had been stealing horses and this fellow was the ringleader of the outfit; as we were going‘s along, we saw some on* coming to meet us; Jones said, there comes some more of the d—n cusses after me; just then a couple of shots were fired and Jones fell; I think that Hancock had a pistol in his hand on the side next to me; he did not have any gun.; when Jones came Into my house he had a pistol and I think a knife; he had no pistol when I came out of the house to where the men bad him.Mr. Evans: Do you remember whatyou told me yesterday in—*Mr. Brown: I object 3TOur honor to Mr. Evans coming.into Court with what he has got from persons iu private conversation, we have a right to be met with the witnesses.Objection sustained. ,I think tho shot came from behind; Sam Keel was on the other side of the man;we left the body lying in the road; I think Hancock left about the same time that I Mid; he went towards Parson and X went toward Pondtown.To Mr* Brown; There was quite a crowd of people behind us; 1 think there were some guns In the crowd f 1 don’t think it was possible for Hancock to have shot the man without endangering Keel; I doist think from tlio position he was iu that he couid have shot the man; the crowd were all talking; I don’t know that Hancock exercised any mere authority than any one else* Sarah A. Hatch was called and testified; I remember when the Jones family was killed; I did not see Henry Jones or his mother when they were dead; my house was about three blocks from the Jones cabin; I was woke up in tbe morning by hearing shots; I thought thy shots came from the east; the little girl eatne to our house; she was brought to the gate by Jensen ? I never saw either of the Hancocks that night.To Mr. Brown: I was very muchfrightened when 1 was woke up by the firing of guns; I thought it was Indians; my husband begged ine to keep quiet; he got his gun down and loaded it; he listened and said that it was not Indians as he could here white men’s voices; Mrs. Jones came over to our house before 12 o’clock and aaked Father Hatch to come get the little girl as she was lying in the bush and was shot through; my husband detained Father Hatch; myhusband was Father Hatch’s gem by his'first wife; Mrs. Jones waa his second, wife; they had parted; I had never seen Mrs. Jones, but my husband told me it was her.Henry Gardner waa called and testified; 1 was in Payson in 1858; I knew Henry Jones; I was following the band around during tho early part of the evening; I hoard shooting later on; I went to the dugout early in the morning; I saw Mrs. Jones; she was dead; I saw Jones afterwards; ho was lying dead near Pontown; there were wounds in the head, body and arm; an Indian removed some of his clothing.Court was was adjourned until Wednesday morning at V o’clockcTHURSDAY JfOENING,Court convened tins morning at 9:30 o’clock pursuant to adjournment.The Hancock trial was resumed,Wm. Cloward wag called and testified;—I liye in Pa3*son; I was living in Salem In April in 1S58; I remember quite a little rumpus being kicked up there at that time ;I was no duty watch-lug the stock and fort; the Indians were bad; I could hear that something was wrong; 1 proceeded to call up the people and raise the alarm;,! supposed it was an outbreak of Indians; I heard a little group whom I had called up say, “They are gone;” the noise I heard was a rumbling kind of noise; it was made by an object approaching the fort; he made this noise before he got to the fort; the noise was not very large;! heard a shot fired some time after that; it seems to me there was threo shots but I could not be positive; that wouldbe between the fort and Payson.James S. Pallid:—I live at Payson; I lived there in IS5S I am close to 43 years old; I am acquainted with Daniel Itos-sonaudGeo. ML Hancock; I did not hear any talk between these men about the killing of* Henry Jones; I heard some talk between them some davs after the killing about the killing of theJones family; I heard Mrs. Hancock say that Mrs. Jones was killed; I also heard Mm say that he killed her;^ he also said that she waa in a dugout when she was killed and that Bhe fell over on tbe bed when she was killed; he did not say whyhe came to kill her.Cross examined:—I do not know whether Bosson is living or not; I have not heard of his w hereabouts for twenty years that I remember of; I was born in Iowa in 1S4S on September 32th; I was eleven years old when this oe«•cured; I have told this conversation anumber of times; I told Nephi Loveless about it about two weeks ago; I told my mother and Mr. Gough; these men did not say anything to me; I had been down tlie street playing and was goinghome; I heard Hancock say—I killed Mrs. Jones; he said—-she fell over onthe side, of the bed; he aald—I shotMrs. Jones; this conversation occuredrunning north and south past the tithing block; Mr* Bosson did not express any surprise when Hancock told him Mrs.Jones was killed; I don’t know how old a man Mr* Rossoti was at the time of this conversation.Frank WilsonI live in Salt LakeCity; I have lived at Salem; I removed there in 1833.Mr. Evans: Are you in any way related to Mr Hancock?Mr, Brown: I object your honor it’s bad enough to charge us with murder* Objection overruled.I am slightly related by marriage; I remember tbe killing *of Henry Jones; in the night my Mother woke me Up saying, “I believe the Indians are killing some one;” we dressed and wentout in the street; we met Jones coming a running and a panting; he said there are some men after me trying to kill me; my brother said, “If you are an innocent man you shall not be killed;” Jones asked for a drink of water; while he wis drinking it, he heard the men iu pursuit coming he broke and run; when the men came up they said they did not intend to kill him, but he should have a trial the next day at 10 o’clock; Geo* Handcock acemed to be in charge of the par^; ha wanted my brother and coo to go with him to see that he wrasn’tkilled: after we ^ot outside of tbe tow* Geo. Hancock said, “Now you con slip it to lam;’’two shots were fired in his back; I think (Hancock fired one shot in the body when Jones fell; there were BIX shots fired into the man; when he fell he said something about, I knew you yould do it you s— of —b—-; he was disarmed when captured in tbe door of my brothers house; Lyeurgus Wihon is my elder brother; tbe parlies who had done the killing went on towards Payson; I stayed with the body about an. hour; I then went home and returned to the body; some Indians were removing his pants;! made them put the ants back; I noticed then where hefid been shot.Cross*examined by Mr, Brown:—Henry Jones broke ami run for my brother’s house in the fort as soon as he heard the pursuers coming.At the request-of Air* Brown the witness drew a map on the black-board of . the fort and buildings.Th\?e men that came up were armed with brass mounted government'yagers;I don’t know .whether Hancock had a yager or not;' he had a gun; Hancock,latten and Kelson were the men in pursuit of Jones; they said that Jones had been stealing horses; when we were going back with the man Jones the men at his side took the lead; Haneock turned bis head and said .“Now you can slip it to him;” the result was two shots from the men right behind; the wounds were enough to kill him, but he was so heated that lie couldn’t die: he had to cool off first; It took about halt an hour for him to die; three shots were fired In my presence; I don’t know of anything that impaired iny brother’s bearing at that time; it was between 12 and 2 o’clock when tbe killing was done; after the killing f went to San Barnidino; I done a good many things there ;some that I wouldn’tlike4o tell.The witness, at the solicitation of Mr. Brown, related a lone list of travels. He wound up with “I hayc been nearly every place except Provo nnd 1 have spout a great deal of time in Provo. I was fraiuiently convicted and tent to statesprironin California; I was sent there for embezzlement; ^ I was sentenced to thivc year’s imprisonment but only served tn uiths; L Wds arrested on lust election d«r for illegal , voting; 1 was anvft-d twice beforethat;lam u carpenter-and builder hytrade; I have done a. ureat deal of work in Salt Lake; I have talked with a number about this-case; I have talked withNephi Loveless; I have never tried to make any money out of this case! have never offered to leave if X was paid any money; I told Sam Thurman that I did not want to give any evidence in thecase; I did not suggest to Sain Thurman that lie give me money to go? out of the country; he did not toll me !o go to the devil;! have not written any letters about the matter; I have never made any application to Asiel Hancock to furnish money in this case.A letter from tbe witness to his son was produced and submitted in evidence* Two other letters were submitted for the inspection of the witness,but he deified having written them,I know Mr. Townsend; he is my son-in-law; he lived at Payson the last time I saw him.The letter frotn the witness to his son in reference to the trial and asking Ms son to see Ariel Hancock about what was wanted in tljie trial. The letter also referred to a former letter written to Townsend from. Payson. The witness denied liaving written any letter to Townsend, lie stated that he had been continually besieged by bia wife* a relative of the Hancocks, In relation to his testimony in this case.They wanted me to go away, and my wife stated the Hancocks would support her and the children while I was gone*One of the letters, the one supposed to have been written hy witness to Townsend was offered in evidence. The letter was read by Mr. Brown. Offers are here made to leave the country on condition that sufficient money were furnished him with which to get out of the country* The letter also states that ia au interview with Mr* Thurman, that gentlemen had said that the witnesses evidence would convict sure. 'Witness admitted signing this letter but not to writing the same.Redirect to Mr. Evans:*—My wife is a cousin to Mr. Hancock; shehas been at me all winter trying to get me not to testify in this case; MosiaL Hancock and tbe teachers have also boen to me iu this matter; none of them had any influence over me except my wife; Thurman said to me that tny evidence would convict.Mrs, Hatch was recalled -This shooting occurred on the morning of the 24ih of April, in 1858.Mrs. Collett:—I was living at Payson at the time of this shooting; X was living about two blocks form the Jones’cabin; I heard a good many shots firedthat night: I saw two bodies ia the morning; I noticed Mrs. Jones was shot In the eye.Lyeurgua Wilson was recalled by the defense:—I heard the most of my brother’s testimonr*Mr. Brown:—Did you hour Mr. Hancock use the expression—iso* boys slipit to him*Objected to by .Mr. Evans on llie ;round that the question had before ieen asked. Objection sustained and exception sustained.The prosecurion restod.Court adjourned until 2 o’clock,D1EILHelen Potier, wife of Amass Potter, from Payson, died at her home on Sunday morning, about 4:30 ’clock, March 1G, 1899, aftera Jongperir-d of Affliction* She was over 54 years of ag*- and a mother of seven children.Her remains were conveyed to themeeting House where the. funeral services were performed under the direction of Bishop J* S. Tanner*Elders D. Lant, W. S. Tanner and others addressed the congregation on doctrinal subjects which were consoling and hopeful, both to her family in their bereavement and Saints generally. That consolation and assurance which come to us through the resurrection* The bereaved family have the sympathy of many friends. Gaapiio.JQTTKUS*[From Thursday’s Daily f]David Beebe is homa again from Price.Tnon ts Jones, of the Second ward, is quite ill*Treks is considerable sickness intown at present.Every day brings new subscribers for The Daily Enquirer,Father Twelves has completely recovered from his injuries.We would like to hear a little oftenerfrom our regular correspondents*The signs recently painted on the Union Block look neat and tasty.In a few weeks the vacant land north of the East Co-op will be on the market for gale*Dave. (Evans and Geo* Sutherland have cleared up $9,000 within the pastthirty days on their real estate transactions.There is a decided feeling on the part of West Center street business men that the post-oSice should be more centrally located. *Theke_appears just now to be more substantia^ 3m provement going on onthe west side of the factory race thanon the east side.. Mr, Dodd has built a good substantial plank sidewalk in front of Ins residence in the First ward! Let us have some more of the same kind.The fiscal year just closed of the Provo L. HI- 4c 11, Co., has perhaps been the most successful and ^profitable the company has over experieneedLThe American Fork weekly paper will put in its first appearance some day next week* It is understood that the pub-lisherhas promised the people there that tli6 paper will be not only Independent iu name,‘but in nature.Mm John Leetiiaxe died at his homo last night, about 11 o’clock,after a painful illness of only a few days* The funeral will take place at the Methodist church, to-morrow a£ 1 o’clock p. m* Friends of tbe family are invited to attend the services.There is going to be an abundance of work iu Provo this next summer for the unemployed of the Territory* The circulation of $160,000 among the people through the improvements that are to be made on the Terri toril Aaylnm noinsignificient item. Then there are several new and costly business blocks to be started up, and scores of Sue residences.When Bull j waa sick we csre ter Castorfa*When she wraa Child, she cried for Cratoria, When she became Kiss* she dung to Castor!*, When she had CluUxen, she cave tfcemCaatori*
Newspaper Details
Provo Utah Enquirer
Provo, Utah, US
Fri, Mar 21, 1890
Page 4
Full Page
Clipped by
Lori L.
NA, 24 Apr 2023
Other Publications Near Provo, Utah
Provo Utah Enquirer
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