The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-11-11 00:00:00

THE VERDICT AGAINST A MORMON
ELDER.

The American Corrempconient of The TI.IAeS, writing from
Phila.lettollia. the 23111 Ott., mya

The first conviction has occurred in Salt Lake City
of a Moi mon arraigned for bigamy. In the Hawkins
case a verdict of guilty was returned, and the prisoner,
a Mormon elder, has been taken into custody. his
counsel have min ed for a new trial and arrest of
judgment, which at present delay his sentence. The
conviction is under a statute which places all poly-
'gambits at the mercy of the first wife, who is the only
party who can begin proceedings against the husband.
The punishment provided is imprisonment for not leas
than three years nor over 20 years, or a fine of 1,000
dols., or both, at the discretion of the Court. This
being a test ca.se,matters look bad for Brigham Young,
who is arraigned on a similar charge.

Animadverting on the verdict, and the probable Influence
It will exeielse on the Mormon community, The Mine of
Tueiday, In a leader, ears:—

. -
Our letter from Philadelphia this morning informs
us that the first conviction for bigamy has been ob-
tained against a Mormon in Salt Lake City, and we
learn at the same time that President Grant "loss
sent instructions for a firm and judicious enforcement
of the law in Utah, directing that no compromise
should be effected with the criminals." There can be
no doubt, therefore, that the chief authorities in the
United States are determined at length to remove the
scandal of polygamy in Utah, and it will rest Witll
the Mormons themselves whether this determination
shall iuvolve the complete overthrow of their settle-
ment and another migration. Brigham Young together
with other leaders of the community, has already been
arraignel on a similar charge, and it was, indeed, re-
lented that he was to be also indicted for a sumsised
nairder coninated some thirteen years ago. It has
often been alleged that Mormona suspected of apostaey
and likely to make inconvenient revelations were put
out of the way by direction of the leaders of the com-
munity. But a charge of this nature would with diffi-
culty be proved, and if Brigham Young can be con-
victed and sentenced for bigamy a blow will bay
been struck sufficient to destroy the present edifice of
Mormonism within the United States. For many
years Brigham Young, though formally associated with
others in the government of the sect, has in reality
ruled despotically, and his influence has been founded
in great measure on the substantial advantages the
Mormons have derived from his ability and energy.
This is not the first time the Government of the
United States have endeavoured to assert the Federal
authority at Salt Lake, but the difficulty of successfully
employing force was until lately very eoliSiderable, and
Brigham Young made a skilful use of his opportuni-
ties. His authority, in fact, is patriarchal, and if lie
and his polygamist associates can be ignominiously
consigned to prison for a felonious nime, the real and
the illusive influence be wielded will alike vanish. If,
under any mismanagement, he should meet with a fate
like that if Joseph Smith, the pretence of martyrdom
might re-animate Mormon fanaticism. But General
Grant's instruction seem expressly designed to prevent
any such blunder, while the sentence pronounced in
the first conviction would indicate that the Courts are
acting with moderation. The punishment provided
by the statute is imprisonment for not less than three
years nor for more than twenty. and the sentence in-
flicts imprisonment for three years only. It would,
indeed, lie both just and salatary that the chief pro-
Pot:at. ies of this wretched delusion should be punished
with severity ; but the ends of ultimate expediency
will be answered by simply rendering it impossible for
the characteristic iniquity of Mormonism to exist
within the United States.

(lay stated that Brigham Young
had taken to flight. If this prove to be true, the end
is already come, an.l there are on other grounds good
reason to hope that no resistance will be offered. For
some time a strong and outspoken opposition to Brigham
Young, and i‘specially to his doctrine of Polygamy,
has been maintained in Salt Lake City by the two
sons of Joseph Smith, and this fact alone renders it
very improbable that the Mormons are possessed
by any real religious fanaticism on the subject.
Nothing short of fanaticism could well prompt a
forcible resistance to the United States' troops,
directed by General Grant ; and if it he mere just and
self-interest which have SO long maintainedthe institu-
tion, it will give way as soon as the assertion of Federal
law places the interest on the other side. It 13 true a
telegram the other day announced that 2,500 women of
Utah hail presented a petition to the President ex-
pressing their approbation of Polygamy, and " asking
the interference of the Executive to prevent a clique
of Federal officers from destroyig their honest,
industrious, and happy community." Bud the men
in Salt Lake City would be able to extract any decla-
ration front their unfortunate wives ; and it is very
pribable that there is much more fanatic belief on this
«Object among the women than among their male
tyrant.. It is worthy of especial remark that the only
successful attempt to introduce Polygamy into an Eng-
lish ci immunity has !wen made by a method which has
rel des silted it t. the weaker sex ill a form it has nowhere
else assumed, The Polygamy of the Morrroms is a
wholly different institution from the Polygamy prac-
tised by the Eastern examples to whom they profess
to appeal. They pretend for each union they
form the character of a religions contract destined
ts, be solemnly fulfilled in the next world. Hest they
simply attempted to take to themselves in addition
to a lawful wife an unlimited number of other women
the grossne-s of their designs would have been ap-
parent; lrnt, unhappy as, according to all travellers,
the Mormon women are, there is little doubt numbers
of them have been beguiled by genune religious delu-
sion on the subject. It Is indeed, curious that there
should be some doubt whether it be not this very pre-
tence of religious obligation which has enabled the
United States' authorities to proceed against the prac-
tice by law. If the Mormons had simply lived in open
immorality, though they might have been
under certain laws which prevail in AmPrka, ti
proseention for a Tad olio offence, they conld hardly have
teen indicted for bigamy. Our prevent information on
this point is a little contradictory. On the one haul,
ion Philadelphia letter of the 23rd ult. says the con-
viction against Hawkins is for bigainy. On the other
hand, a telegram of October 30 said he bad been con-
victed of " adultery." It may be that the conviction
has been revised under the application for a new trial
which was made on the first indictment. At all events,
the point remains that it is only by virtue of a decep-
tion under the pretence of religion that women have
been decoyed in large numbers into this miserable
slavery.

Utah, although now accessible by the Pacific
Railway, is happily too far removed from the more
civilizea, parts iif the United States for popular in-
dignation to break out into the mischievoly excesses
which promotisl the fanatic exodus of the Morons.
frau Nauxiio. The troops of the Union will "judici-
ously but firmly" maintain the law, and the maas of
the settlers around Salt Lake will probably prefer the
continued enjoyment of the land they have brought
under cultivattin to a vain pilgrimage in search of
some Paradise of Polyemy beyond the reach of
the U Go-eminent. States' eminent. The interests which
hind them to the soil of Utah are far more intimate
than any which attasbed them to Illinois; and it will
be (*outran, to the practice of the United States to
interfere with their peculiar superstition, so far as it
does not outrage public morality. Supposin; such to
be the course of events, it will be interesting. to see
whether the silly falsehoods of Joe Smith nil! long
be able to attract -disciples when deprived of the
accessory allurements of licentious living. A more
I difficult practical problem will remain respecting

the fate of the unfortunate women who have been
decoyed to Salt Lake City by men who will now
be compelled to renounce aliy /real connection with
them, and who will, perhaps, be We ready to throw
' off the corresponding duty of protecting them.
A hot controversy was provoked some little time ago
by one of our Colonial Bishop., who thought it would
be at once cruel and unnecessary to compel heathen
chiefs on their conversion to Christianity to discard
their wives. A somewhat siijlar dilemma may soon
be created at Salt Lake; and it in not easy to see how
the corruption of some twenty years can swept away
without occasioning great suffering. Women, Indeed,
like man, must take the consequences of their aela i
but some means wilt have to be found to meet the
physical necessities which may be created. It is,
however, satisfactory that the 'United States will at
length be cleared from this plague-spot, and we may
be sure the work could not be better done than by the
vigorous and steady hand of a soldier like President
Grant.

CUTTINGS FROM AMERICAN PAPERS.
The latest exeiten.ent at l'harlstal was a street-
eleshiag race butiveentwo gange of labourer..

In the Indian lang,nage the name Chicago signifies
"Skunk's Hole."

A citizen of l'ineinuatti recently applied for a mar-
riage licence, but being entirely unable to recall his in.
tended's name, he did not obtain the document.

•
In the course otf an Illinois discussion, a malt is Said
to have had a ravine built in the hack of his head with a
ginger.heer bottle."

An American contemporary gathers a Rlight degree
of comfort from the fact (hat the cackling of geese saved
if wee, sad the kick of a cow destroyed Chicago.
• ••• • •

A Memphis paper announces that the young la4hea
of that city am preparing fur married We by practising in
gymnasium..

An American editor says that " nothing so much
destr.ls(.tir peace of mind as tt, hear another e‘press an in-
itial-a to give ma piece of his.
- -

A Yankee rinhfent of Kalamazoo written to a "school
bored" in Old. that he will take a acluKA as he haa
tought 4 term. @wheel and I attended I coll.:age 4 years at
&Aron, iniehh,^an and am I yea avage."

A correspotident of the N. tr I,,rk Trii.tote, In speak-
ing of the appearance of the Chicago fire when et its height,
says, "all the adjectives in the language would fail to con-
vey the intensity of its wonders."

The editor oi the Cleveland Pia/mica/cc complains
that M und Ilalatead's handwriting looks as if it had been
done by a lot of flies playing a game ut base-ball and getting
up a gunnel with the umpire.

One Sunday recently, a Ittethudist preacher in lowa
advised the sisters te mortify Satan by giving their jewellery
to the church on the next Sabbath evening. The Mutt was
a galvanised watch and three brass linger rings. 'They are
a mean set of sinners," said the parson.

Josh Billings in hiA directions " Bow to pick out a
good hoes," says, "Oil hoagies are stars', all good men,
that deal in any kind of howl, are iikarser.'Si. honest man
lz the noblest work fanms aiqing was written,
in great anguish of heart, by the late Alexander Pope, jtiNt
after buying a good family how.'

- -
A young wife in Troy cured her husband of a dis-
position to absent himself from home at night by unwilling
inn) with an excellent dinner, and saying to lUm afterwards
—"George, if you find a sweeter spot than our home, de-
scribe It to rue, and I will rival it if I die lathe attempt." A
kiss and a few tears completed the victory.
New York Lady : " I should like a ticket for the
train." Ticket Agent (who thinks he will make a joke :
Vram; will you go in the passenger train or In the cattle
train I lady " Welk if you're a specimen of what I shall
experience in the passenger train give me a ticket for the
cattle train by all means."

The editor f a Western paper mar; that he lias three
times put on a clean shirt for the purpose of calling on the
governor of his State, hut he did not see him, and concludes
an account of his olisappointment in the following notice
The governor is respectfully informed that we cannot
afford to make another such run on our linen, and if we
have the honour of making his acquaintance, he will have nu
cause to complain if we are not altogether in trim."

There was once an American clergyman who was so
rightly literal and matter-of-fact that he was wholly incap-
able of comprehending a metaphor of any kind whatever. lie
believed to his il3ing day that Shakspeare's mind was over-
strained and confused by too intense applications when he
wrote that there be

Books in the running brooks,
Sermons in stifles, and o,J iii everything."

It was plain be contended) that Shakspearo meant to say—
Stones in the running brooks,
S_ermons in books, and good in even thing."

- --
The .11-bohm el Rept',lire., in the heatlinns to itx
report of the Chicago tire, has far outaitiipped its New York
contemporaties, and in this
,respect no doubt thinks it has
~. . .

'• hipped ereafin-ii " These 'elegant estracts" will suffice,—
" This Wealth of a Great City to Ashes; Millionaires in the
Morning, Beggers at N LOA ; the Hotels lie Level with the
Earth Last 'being o SCOICA of the Deanna ie Temples ; Ship-
ping Sinks beneath the Waves Railroad Dora& and towhee
Yards Vanish like Mornintrldists; the Ruins Ralf a Score
of Bridges limp Hissing hit. the Waters ; Seurched and
Frenzied I% ri blies Leap into the River hi Despair ; Roasted
to Death in a iVatiTipipe."
One of those enterprising merchants who fled from
Charlestown when the fever was announced, left the follow-
ing nothie on the door of his abandoned domicile, where it
remained until rescued by a enterier reporter. It puts his
case to his grief-stricken customers in a uul-shill

NuTICE.
Not from fever dead,
Not from fever
IMI from frialtt of fever I have fled
Will return when all id over,
If from fright of fever I recover.

A young American preacher recently gave the fol.
lowing fine burst of frenzy from out of his confined soul, or
lswom, or stomach, or wherever these thingi come from
" Yes, my friends, the mind of man is 1.1 expansive that it
can soar from star to star, and from satchelite to satchelite,
and from seraph.° to seraphene, and from rherrybeam to
cherryhiam, mid from thence to the centre of the doom of
heaven. To describe the mind of man would be like grasping
at the stars and sticking in the mud. could I place one foot
on the sea and the other on—ahem—on the Georgiumsides—
ahem, abein—yet to thweribe the mind of man I'd howl round
this little world—and, Ile choked at the next
big word, forgot the rest, and down he cornea-hunting.