The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1884-07-08
The FARCE OVER.

Nellie White, the continuation
witness, is again at liberty, having
been released from the penitentiar!
on Monday when the grand Jur!
was discharged for the term. In
law has run its course, the court
prosecuting attorney and jury hav'
had their say and done what the!
could. the woman has demonstrated
that she can. hold her tongue ever
against the terrors of lOcks, bars anc
prison fare, and after SIX weeks o.
coercion on one side and resistance
ON the other, matters stand JUS
where they did so far as the
main point at issue is CON
cerned: the court and jury
are legally ignorant of the status Of
Nellie White and Bishop Reundy-
Ignorant as to whether the former
is maid or matron, and the latter is
too much, or just enough married
However the result may be regarded
by the court and the jury. it will
certainly be looked upon by the
public as q decided victory for the
girl who has trlumphed over all
and in a way to belittae those who
have used their authority and
power to coeree If not prosecute her
1t is sincerely hoped that courts
and grand juries will not repeat the
blunder Of imprisoning women for
refusing to betray husbands
and friends. Il is blunder,
and one Of a serious char
acter. Every time it Ia repeated
it brings the courts and the
authority of the law into contempt.
Not alone DO the women sent to
prison have little respect for the
Law and Ius o1hceTs, hui Jne puuliC
generally laugh anthem every time
thew are defeated and made small,
as in two instances Of the imprlson-
ment of women forTefusing to make
themselves infamous in the eyes,
not only of their friends and core
ligionists, but in those Of the very
persons who sought to force them
into giving The information. Courts.
lurOra, and prosecutors might as
well understand once for all
that they will never be able
to convict for poIygamy by
extorting testimony from plural
wives, for they cannot get evidence
in that way. When plural wives
want their husbands convicted fol
polygamy they will give the re-
auired testimony without solicita-
ton, much less coercion; and If they
do not want them punished nc
amount of coercion such as the
courts can apply will extort the
necessary evidence. The prison han
its terrors, but they are insufficient
to induce the ordinary woman tC
betray the person who is deRrer te
her than all others, even II
there were no religious 90
Iigation restraining her from
the exposure. If courts would
but permit themselves to under
stand this absolute fact, they would
put no more women in 6al to force
them to divulge secrets which the
women will not divulge. 1t strikes
us that this farce has been repeated
often enough, especially as nothing
has been or can be gained by it.
Instead of its repetition preserving
the dignity of the court, it lowers
that dignity. the matter now beeom.
ing persecution rather than the
wholesome enforcement Of the law.
You may fill the penitentiary and
all the jails in the Territory with
contumacieus female witnesses, and
the convictions for polygamy will
not increase in number, for these
women can endure imprisonment
and trails and persecution, but until
their consciences are changed and
their very natures reversed, they
cannot do what is asked Of them.
THE CIRCUS opens in Chicago to-
day. The best acts will be played