Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-10-30
Sentence of Hawkins the POlygamist-
Escape of Brigham Young.

Salt Lake City, %. Chief Justice Mexican,
this morning passed sentence upon Thomas
Hawkins the polygamist, as follows: Thomas
Hawkings, l am sorry for you, very sorry.
You may not think SO now, but shall try to
make you think so by the mercy which l
shall show you. You came from England to
this country with the wife of your youth. For
many years you were kind husband and
kind father. At length however, the evil
spirit of polygamy tempted you and possessed
you, then happiness departed from your
household, and now by the complaint of your
faithful wife and the verdict of a law abiding
jury, you stand at this bar as a convicted
criminal. The law gives me large discretion
airy power in passing sentence upon you. l
might both fine or imprison you. l might
imprison you twenty years and fine you 1000
dollars. l cannot imprison you for less than
three years, nor fine you for less than 5000
dollars. 1t is right you should be fined, among
other reasons, to help defray the expenses of
| enforcing the laws. But my experience in
Utah has been such that were l to fine you
only, am satisfied the fine would be paid out
| of other funds than yours, and thus you would
go free, absolutely free from all punishment,
| and and then those men who misled the peo-
pie would make thousands of others believe
| that God had sent the money to pay the fine,
| that God had prevented the court from sending
you to prison. That by a miracle you had
been rescued from the authorities of the
| United States. / must look to it that my
| Judgment gives no aid and comfort to such
men. / must look to it that my judgment be
| so severe as to seem indicative, and not so
| light as to seem to trit1e with justice. That
this community must begin to learn that God
does not interpose to reserve criminals from
the consequences Of their crimes, but that
on the contrary he so orders the affairs of his
universe, that sooner or later crime stands
face to face with justice, and justice is the
master. l will say here and now, that when
ever your good behavior and the public good
shall justify me in doing so will gladly rec
ommend that you be pardoned. The judg-
ment of the court is that you be fined five
| hundred dollars, and that you be imprisoned
at hard labor for the term of three years.
Contrary to all expectations there was little
or no excitement in the court room. The at
tendance was large but generally all main
tanned proper decorum. The United States
marshal and detectives were fully prepared for
any emergency. Notice of an appeal to the
Supreme Court s'given by the prisoners
counsel.
1t is stated in the official circles that Brigham
Young left on Tuesday fort he South. Yester.
day he was said to have been l20 miles to the
South, and his course was still onward. 1t is
not known to what point he is bound, many
think that he intends to leave the country
but think that he will find refuge in St
George Village, 800 miles from here, ant
about 10 days from the court. 1t is certainly
doubtful whether he will appear for trial, ant
it is also doubtful whether he will be seer
again here, until the trouble is over. Dele
gate Hooper has gone to Washington to Sc,
the President and endeavor to effect som,