Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-08-20
BRIGHAM YOUNG.
What His Seventeenth Wife Says OF
Him.

A New York Herald correspondent
has had an interview with Mrs. Ann
Eliza Webb Young, Brigham's seven.
teenth wife, who is now seeking a
divorce and alimony. The lady says
that she was driven into marrying him;
that she never loved him, aud never
said to him that she loved him; and
that she looked upon him as heart
less despot. She continued:
From the very beginning of my mar
ried association with Brigham Young
his manner of providing for me was
of the meanest character. [ had to
come up, even from the farm, four
miles distant, to the commissary of
his family, and was glad when l could
get five pounds Of sugar, one-quar.
ter of pound of tea, bar of
soap and pound Of candles. That
I would get about once month.
About a year ago | complained to
him that | had not sugar enough, and
he allowed me what [ required.
When I returned to the city he furnsih-
ed me house in very ordinary way,
and [ continued to live in the best
manner [ could. But it was in the
same stingy way. When a beef was
killed [ cot some fresh meat; but |
was frequently months without seeing
it. Tired of this manner of existence,
l asked his permission to keep board
ers, with the view of aiding myself,
and procuring for one of my sons a
musical instrument, as he was passion
ately fond of music. The permission
was granted, and I kept boarders from
last March. My house was small,
and the business was not very lucra-
tive. | consequently went to him,
six weeks ago, and asked him to aid
me-to give me some assistance to
make life tolerable. He seemed ang-
ry, and complained that he had so
many expenses, and that be wanted
me to keep myself-to take the money
that I had saved to buy an organ for
my son, and keep myself and family
with it. | got stove out OF him
but that was all. During the last
year | only obtained from him two
calico dresses.
Reporter-How does he get along
with his other wives ?
Lady-He keeps them SO under his
thumb that they dare not say ANYTHING.
To their particular friends they com.
plain They are very much tried
with his course.
Reporter-Wh hat do they complain
OF chiefly !?
Lady-They are mortified by his
partiality to Amelia and his prodiga
expenditure of money to give her every.
thing she wants, while they live in 8
very plain way and are forced to earn
a good deal of their support.
Reporter-How has she obtained
such an influence over him Il
certainly cannot be her good looks
for she is not beauty.
Lady-It puzzles everybody. The
other wives think that he is afraid Of
her because she is such virago. She
has threatened TO leave HIM hundreds
of times, I suppose. Il is said that
she trots him about everywhere tha,
she pleases, and when she gets into
one of her tantrums she smashes furni
ture and everything around. She is
the only one in the family that he
breads.
Reporter-Why should he submit
| to her to such an extent when he
humbles and neglects the others I?
Lady-He thinks, doubtless, it would
be great scandal if she left him; be-
sides, she is acquainted with great
many things that be would never wan,
brought before the public.
Reporter-Do any Of the other wives
threaten to leave him !?
Lady-I think if the Court compel.
him to support one that the young
wife whom he married a few months
before me would also leave.
:Rep.-What does she complain of
Lady-When this lady had daugh-
ter to him Amelia was so enraged,
as she had been childless herself, that
she forbade Brigham ever to be hus.
band to that young wife again. This
wife, Mary, is very miserable. She is
young ane beautiful, and Brigham
would probably visit her, but dare not.
After he had been absent several
months from her house he called to
bid her good-by as he waa about to 90
South last fall. She refused to shake
hands with him, and told him that if
he could afford to stay away SO long
from her while he was living in the
same city with her, she could afford
not to shake hands.
Reporter-Why does he take young
wives and use them in this manner?
Lady-It fatters his vanity to let
the world see that be can get young
woman to marry him.
Reporter-Do you not think that
he takes these wives because his relig.
ion requires him to do so?
t., I