| by Travis Uresk | Murder | May 4, 2022
Source: The Salt Lake Tribune April 26th, 1948
Together Friday Night
From the evidence found and from statements made by Babcock, Deputy Beatty said he had determined that Babcock had been employed by Mr. Quirl and that they were last seen together Friday night. The officer said that Friday night or Saturday morning Babcock apparently went to the Quirl farm to collect his wages.
A bloodstained ploughshare found at the rear of the burning garage was believed by the deputy to be the murder weapon. Following a trail leading across country into the desert badlands southeast of the Quirl farm, officers found the partially burned and dismembered body of Mr. Quirl.
Wallet Found On Trail
It had apparently been dragged there by a man on horseback who had tied a rope to the feet of Mr. Quirl.
A wallet was found a quarter of a mile along the bloodstained trial was identified as belonging to John Quirl.
The fire at the Quril farm started late Saturday night or early Sunday morning, was discovered by neighbors Sunday at 4 a.m. They were Mrs. Louis P. Anderle, residing two miles west, and Denail Hemphill, who lives two miles north of the farm.
While Mrs. Hemphill joined other hastily summoned volunteers in fighting the blaze, Mrs. Anderle drove to Myton to notify the Uintah sheriff’s office and Myton Marshall James Giles.
Helps Investigate
As the Quirl farm is located just two miles east of the Uintah-Duchesne county border in Uintah county, Sheriff Mithcell of Duchesne county assisted in the investigation.
Despite efforts of volunteers, the fire destroyed the garage in which Mr. Quirl apparently died, a machine shed, and its contents, a pigeon, a number of pigs, and three straw stacks.
The fact John Quirl was absent when the fire was discovered led to the investigation with subsequent discovery of the route over which the body had been dragged and finding the of the remains.
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