Transcript

Taylor's Mills, near Ogden April 17th, 1869

Editor Deseret News:--Dear Sir. You have probably heard ere this of the assassination of Bro. Griffith Roberts near this place to-day. There is as yet no certain clue to the perpetrators of the deed. All that I can learn respecting it is, that after breakfasting in company with myself and several others at bro. Edward Stratton's, he went down to the "switch," as usual, to attend to business for Watt, Sleater & Co., for whom he was agent at this place. He had money with him and had borrowed a pistol for self-protection, which he took with him.

The last that was seen of him in life was at the postoffice at Riverdale, across the river, west of here. The postmaster states that he purchased two foreign stamps, and went out. Two men, one light complectioned, the other dark, one of whom wore a cap, were seen to follow him rapidly up to the office and go in, and sometime afterwards were seen to return and get into the caboose of a train bound East. Suspicion points to these men, but the description is so indefinite that it would be difficult to fasten the crime upon them. Bro. Roberts was found about 4 p.m., on an old road leading to Salt Lake City, just at the foot of the bench. There was a pistol wound which must have been fired from the front at close quarters, as his clothing was scorched in front by the blaze of the powder. His pistol was found at some distance from his person with all the chambers but one emptied. His pistol belt was missing, also his pocket book and money.

The postmaster says he seemed rather low spirited; but the fact of the stamps and portmonnaie being absent from his person would prove that it could not be a case of suicide, if such proof were necessary; but any one who knew him would reject with scorn any imputation of that kind. He was a very amiable, sociable and sensible man, and would not be likely to commit a senseless crime like that of self-destruction, even if there was any occasion for it, which there was not. The prevalent impression in regard to it is that he was enticed away on some plausible pretext and assassinated for his money. An inquest will be held this evening. It would be some satisfaction to discover the assassins, but a thousand such lives would not atone for a crime like this.

Very respectfully,

George J. Taylor.