The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1871-11-04

CuIEF JUSTICE M'KEAN, of Utah, is
waging a vigorous and unsparing war
against the corner stone of polygamy.
Thomas Hawkins, an Englishman and
prominent Mormon, has been convicted in
the court over which he (M Kean) presides
of the crime of adultery. The informa-
tion on the case was made by bis first
wife, aB is required by the law of the
Territory Furnishing that offence. A true
bill has also been found by the Grand
Jury against Brigham Young, for lewdly
and lasciyiously cohabiting with sixteen
different women. His trial has not yet
taken place, but will be brought to an
issue at an early day. 1t is difficult to
say where all this will end, if followed
up by other prosecutions of leading mem
bers of the Mormon church. The follow
ing are the remarks of the Chief Justice
when he passed sentence on Hawkins on
last Saturday in Salt Lake:
Thomas Hawkins, 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 came from England to this
country with the wife of your youth. For
many years you were kind husband, a 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 a convicted criminal. L might
imprison you twenty years and fine you one
Thousand dollars / cannot imprison you lie s
than FIVE years nor fine you less than three
hundred dollars. 1t is right that you should
! be fined, among other reasons, to help defray
enforcing the laws, but my experience has been
| such that were TO fine you only, am satisfied
| the fine would be paid out of other funds than
| yours aud thus you would 60 free, absolutely
! free from all punishment; and then these men
! who misled you and many Others, would believe
| that God had sent the money to pay the fine;
| that God had prevented the Court from sending
you to prison, and 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. l must
look to it that my judgment be not so severe
az to seem vindictive and not so light as TO
seem to trifle with justice. This community
| ought to begin to learn that God does not inter
pose TO rescue criminals from the consequences
| of their crimes. but, on the contrary, that lie
soorders the affairs of His univ verse that, sooner
or later, crime stands face to face with justice
and, Just as the Master, / will say here and
now that whenever your good behavior and the
public good shall justify me in doing 90. will
gladly recommend that you be psrdOned.
The judgment of the Court is that you be
fined $500, and that you be imprisoned at hard
labor for the term Of three years.
Contrary to all expectation, there was
little or no excitement in the Court room.
The attendance was large, but generally
all maintained a proper decorum. The
| United States Marshals and their deputies
were fully prepared for any emergency.
Notice of appeal to the Supreme Court
was gwen by the prisoners counsel,