Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1881-02-04

Of the law, and the odensc committed only
in the presence of those who swear never 10
reveal 1t, who are in fact particeps criminis
to the olYense-wlth this state Of things of
course successful prosecutions II polyglmy
cases are almost impossible.
Mr. Van Zile then details third difficulty
in the way of the enforcement of the law, as
follows
These offenses are generally known only to
Mormons, who believe that polygamy is
law of God unto the people, and that the law
of Congress is simply enacted to prosecute
the Mormons Upon these persons the prose
cution must largely rely for proof ofihc oifense
charged. Is it difficult for You 70 under
stand that it is almost impossible To get the
facts before a court and jury from such wit
nesses? Why, perhaps the very witness
YOU RELY on is himself polygamist, at that
moment as guilty as the man on trial be-
sides, he does not wish to sec a conviction,
and is opposed to you inevery way lie has
taken an oath, TO whichis attached horrible
pen, ltv, never TO reveal the very matter you
are asking HIM to testify concerning. These
witnesses have convenient memories, or
rather convenient way OF forgetting.
nave KNOWN NllUtsSlS " WY
other circumstance connected with
the case except the al-important fact-the
marriarc-that they had no recollection of.
And, horrible rs it may seem, it is neverlhe
less true. if these witnesses are pressed to
the wall, when the general answer Il don't
recnllecl' will not do, rather than reveal
the facts mothers and fathers will testify
they know nothing about the marriage Of
their daughters who are living with polyg-
amists and rearing children plural wives
will swear they are only mistresses; and, IN
fact, almost any statement will he made 10
eyade the law. The first, or lawful wife, is
not allowed To testify rs witness, and so it
often happens thai the first, or legal mar
rage, is more difficult to prove than The sec
ond, or polygamous marriage. Often the
frs. marriage was solemnized in foreign
country-for it will be remembered that
large proportion of the Mormons are foreign
ers. The certificates of marriage will not
do; the defendant must be confronted with
tho witnesses
The fact that the oiicnse must have been
committed within the three years last past
shields nine -tenths of all the polygamy In
Utah to-day. 1t is generally understood that
this crime outlaws in three years; with this
limitation law in view, n Mormon takes q
Young IlIl lIlO lLC CuuOWhcut hOuSS oho
she is Sealed to HIM as a polygamous or
plural wife. She then goes home to her
fathers house, and lives for three years
apart from her polygamous husband. The
fact is kept quiet by those who know about
it until the offease is outlawed; then the
polygamous husband calls for his concubine,
and lives with her in open defiance 10 the
Government and IFS officers.
The honorable member from Utah. one of
the Nations law makers, George Q. Cannon,
who has four wives, slipped his neck out be-
cause of this law of limitation, and to-day,
instead of being in the penitentiary, is al
lowed 10 disgrace the government of these
United Statcs-a government for which he
has no respect and whose laws he violates
and openly counsels others to violate-by
sitting IN the House of Representatives as
delegate from this Territory. Is it TO be
wondered at that loyal, law abiding citizens
become disheartened? 1t should further be
understood, in connection with the difficult
ties have mentioned, that there are no laws
forbidding adultery, lewd and lascivious CO.
habtation, ircest or seduction in this terri
tory. otherwise VIC might arrest these offend
ers for adultery, the plural marriage being
void The only law We have TO correct the
evil is this law of Congress above quoted.