The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1871-10-26
CORRESPONDENTS OF THE WORLD
BRIGHAM YOUNG IN COURT.
A DESCRIPTION OF THE PRopHET-HIs ATTACHMENT
SCENE COURT.
SALT LAKE, October 16. 1871.

This day being set for pleading to the in
dictments them, against Brigham Young and
Daniel H. Wells came into Court, accompanied
by number of the dignitaries of the Mormon
church and large number of their more hum
bic followers, one of the latter bearing an easy
chair for the prophet seer and revelator."
Pending discussion of some motion already
before the Court in another case, had an OPP
portunity to survey the leader of Zion, as he
sat mt rest only few feet from me. He looked
rather feeble and Ianguid from the effects of
his late sickness, yet his form is erect and his
step firm. He wore pants, coat and oyercoat
of blue CLOTH white vest, rubber over.shoes
stove pipe hat, and a roll of flannel bound
around his neck with bandanna handkerchief
He wears full beard, except upon his upper
lip, and his hair and beard, blonde as to color.
is slightly sprinkled with grey. A neck short
and thick is well set on his shoulders; eyes,
blush grey; jaw, large and strong, giving
prominent chin; mouth, large and voluptuuus in
its expression; face, broad; forehead, broad
the Uranium corresponding and apparently well
balanced. He is little over 20 years of age,
about FIVE feet eight inches high, with unusu-
ally broad shoulders and deep chest, and full
habit 1t is evident that he has enjoyed the
good things of life with great relish. Any one
looking upon him, as he sat there in repose.
might plainly perceive that, while the subject
before him can enjoy Il good joke and Il good
dinner, he is hrm and inaexible in his purposes,
sanguine IN his hopes, not naturally cruel but
memorable in his plans and unforgiving of his |
enemies, systematic, secretive, audacious, and |
full of vital forces
On request Of his counsel. Brigham Young
was allowed to sit during the arragnment his
health being feeble, and the indictment being
very long, having sixteen counts, charging an
offence committed with us many different wo
men. After the reading of ten counts, the
reading of remainder was dispensed with on
suggestion of the District Attorney aud with
consent of the defendant. Thereupon the
Clerk asked the usual question, What say
you, Brigham Young, guilty or not gul,y1"
The defendant rose from his seat and answered
with emphasis on each syllable, Not guilty"
Daniel II. Wells was next arraigued, and
made the same plea. He is the Mayor OF the
city, is about 50 years of age, six feet high.
has sandy hair aud beard, aud rough and un-
couth features. He is the military head of the
Mormon forces, and though not gifted with
qualities which would enable him 10 create.
construct, devise and manage, has force Of
character and fanaiicistu enough to follow any
where. T
These formalities finished, the District At. :
orney asked that day be- set for the trial Of
Brigham Young, which brought up defendants !,
counsel, who asked that the trial be put off till
he March term, in consideration Of the i'm. !
'ortance of the case, the number of the counts
md the great number of witnesses Ia be \
'rought up. 1t should be mentioned that at an
arller stage Of the case defendants counsel 90
ad moved the Court to compel the prosecu.
ion to eject one count for trial and to dismiss ,
he remainder, but the Court denied the mo.
ion. holding that the criminal procedure act j
t this Territory does not restrict the indict. d
hent to one Court nor to one 0hrnse SO that >.
ne ohrnses charged were all of the same ma. h.
lre and grade, aud that, at common law, there r.
'as nothing prohibiting this practice. Refer. III
nee was made IN the argument to the statute as
Ia aud 10 Victoria august z, 1851, but fiee
De counsel on neither side seemed to have ex. co
mined that act, or to have considered that. n
De practice having fallen into dlsuse in Eng Is
ma. the said act revived it as to the crime of lie,
'rceny only. allowing rs many as three often h hi
IS against the property of the same person. Hi
ccurrlng within SIX months before the finding, III
be embraced in one indictment, IL as many -
llnts. The Court declined to make any or.
'r, Tor the present for the trial, remarking at
lat the case might be set at a future day. So ID Ia
to allow ample time to prepare for the trial. to
ne defendants then retired from the court
om. most of the spectators being Mormons,
flowing them out. At former appearance
Brigham Young in court, the crowd at and n
'out the court house was so great that it was i
ficult to gain access to the court room; but br,
this occasion, the proceeding not being gen. ser
ally known, the press was not great.
1t is the general belief here that the Grand -
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