The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-10
A MORMON CONVICTED.
FIRST SUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT or THE NEW JURY
LAW IN UTAH-A SECOND WIFE TEsrIFIEs
AGAINST HER PoLyGAMoUs LORD.

FIRST SUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT or THE NEW JURY
LAW IN uTAH-A SECOND WIFE TEsrrFrEs
AGAINST HER PoLyGANoUs LORD.
SALT LAKE. U. T., April T. 1875.
The non-Mormons in Utah seem TO be doing
their best TO make history. The irrepressible
conflict between the civilization OF the present
and the barbarsm Of an early scrptural age
is being waged with intense feeling, and ever and
anon a clash results which arrests the attention
OF our whole people. Brigham and his unlettered
hierarchy assert absolute temporal rule, which
claim is not disputed by the deyout followers OF
the Mormon Church, who, being gathered from
the lower class OF European populations, have
never been accustomed 10 the use or the ballot,
and have never taken part in local sell.
government But the few thousand Genties
who have intruded upon Brignams domain, at
tracted by the wealth concealed in the mountains,
are FESTIVE under this priestly despotsm and car
rying with them the Instincts OF American cltl-
zens rudely disturb the prevailing harmony By
asserting their right TO representation and by
holding the men elected 10 pubic once to &C
countabty to those who support the IN IN position
Here is the oppugnancy OF two diverse systems.
Brigham being the chosen servant OF Goo, rules
by divine illumination, and power descends from
him TO his subordinates The lrreyerent Gentiles
scout at this claim and assert the inaltenable
rights OF American citizens.
DEFECTS IN THE NEW JURY LAW.
The act OF Congress, approved June 90, 1874. en-
titled IAN act In reIaton TO courts and judicial
officers In the Territory OF Utah. removed one
serious diflculty by providing means for empanel-
ling Juries, and under this law federal courts in
Utah have been making an Intellectual effort 10
administer the law and punish crime. But the
section winch provides for the making OF jury
lists is found be detective, because the persons
designated Tor this duty being Mormon 1.-THE
Probate Judge OF the county and a
Gentle 1.-THE Clerk OF the District Court,
select names alternately from the two OPP
posing elements OF the population IN Utah.
This produces mixed jurles, and as devout saints
are innuenced by counsel from their superiors ana
are taught to regard an oath In pagan court as
OF no binding force, 1t has been found impossible
to convict offenders who hold positions in the
Mormon hierarchy, no matter how heinous the
crime they may have committed or how convln-
cling the evidence produced THIS was shown in
the trial oil Bishop Kicks, who was accused OF MUIR
derng q prisoner committed to his custody as
Sheriff OF Cache county some fifteen years ago,
and VINO gave as an excuse that his victim was
attempting TO escape. Tue evidence adduced
showed that the murdered man David
S. Keen by name) was lying asleep,
wrapped in his blanket, on the floor OF
the log scnoolhouse used as jail, when the Jallor
Kicks and a confederate entered the building
stealthily and discharged their reviewers at the
PROSTATE man. The cause OF this murder IS sup
posed TO nave been the apostacy OF the victim and
the Danger OF his disclosing secrets which might
be damaging to the Churcn. dead men, says
Brigham. ''tell no taesn This IS cl2ssed as q
Churcn murder aud the annals OF the Mormon
Church are iull OF them. Bar Notwithstanding the
direct character OF the evidence bringing the
crime home 10 the Jealous Blsnop. the jury conn
Weakened GentIle brought in a verdict OF not
guilty and the man discharged.
TRIAL FOR PoLYGAMY.
on the 31st ult another Interesting trial was
held IN the same court, the defendant, George
Reynolds former secretary OF Brigham Young
having been lndlcie ny the Grano Jury lof Dlgamy
He was living with two wives IN the same house.
HIS 1rst and legal wife was married TO him III the
Endowment House, IN salt Lake Clty, In ls65, and
has borne nlm NUMBER OF children. His second
Wile was married to MIN in the same place last
Aulu by Daniel H. Wells Lieutenant General OF
the deiunct Nauvoo Legion, second Counsellor OF
the Prophet, Brigham Young, and present Mayor o.
salt Lake. Reynolds indicted under the act or
Congress OF 1862. known IN Titan as 1.-The Polygamy
bi,r ana the trial was regarded By both parties
as test case. Inc prosecuting officers brought
up cloud OF witnesses TO prove the crime. me
father OF tue nrst vie swore tnat he was present
IN the Endowment House when tue rrst marriage
was celebrated, out he was entirely ignorant OF
the polygamous rela ions OF his daughters hus-
band with a second vie. The mother aud sister
OF the nrst wife, all living IN the same
city, ana all visiting at the house, were as blissuy
ignorant OF the existence OF o second Mrs.
Reynolds. me DEFENDANTS sister, an inmate
oil her brothers. house. knew nothing OF the
connnpial relations existing between the pair.
She Anew the woman was not servant, but she
could not ten in what capacity she vas retained.
Mayor Wells could not remember having per-
formed the marriage ceremony, and was gwen
tlll tue nexs day TO refresh MS memory. Orson
Pratt the great champion OF poygemy and hign
priest OF the Endo wment House, could not tell
whether any record OF the marriages cele DRAFTED
there was kept, nor whose duty IL was 10 keep
the record. Hair dozen other witnesses EN-
ployeu IN the Endowment House were placed
upon the stand, pu5 the same lnnrmity OF memory
affecteo all
A CONVICTION.
The prosecuting oficer was peTplexed. These
witnesses mad ali been counselied and could not
be cajoed or inundated into making an adj
mission. AT TINS moment a happy thought oc-
CURED to him. He filed out subpoena Tor the
second wife, and IN a lew momenfs she entered
the court room IN charge OF an olncer and was
placed upon the stand. Her evidence upset the
whole plan OF the defence. Giving her name as
Amelia Jane Reynolds, she testified that she was
married TO the defendant on the 80 oil August
las, ana the marriage services were performed by
President Wells In the Endowment House. The
Court adjourned here. and tue next day the de-
fence surrendered the whole case. Tne Court, IN
his cnarge TO the jury, took occasion 70 say that
the DEFENDANTS religious belief could not shield
him from punishment for the commission OF
crIme and that religious liberty Is not violated
when the citizen Is called upon TO answer Tor his
external acts. The Jury was composed OF eight
Mofmons and four Gen;les and alter mali an hours
deiiberauon they returned a verdict OF guilty. IL
\ ieyed TINS verdict the result oi 'scOun-