Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-04-30
P0LYGAMY CALENDAR.
John Arid Pleads Guilty to One Count
and the Other Is Dismissed.
The Defense in the Musser Case Takes
New Departure.
Gentiles Questioned as to Their Belief
in POiygamy.


Court this morning. Arid is the auburn
haired Scotchman who for several years
held the position of city jailor. He was
bound over by Commissioner Mckay last
winter. When court was opened this
morning Mr.. Dickson arose and stated
that he did not think the prosecution
would be able to prove the
polygamy charge, owing to the
fact that the first or lawful wife
lived in Scotland, and it would be diff
cult to prove that she was alive when the
defendant married his second wife. The
defendant was willing to plead guilty to
the charge of unlawful cohabitation, and
the prosecution asked that the other
charge be dismissed.
Judge Zane read the unlawful cohabita-
ton charge ofthe Indictment to the defend
ant and he pleaded guilty He stated to
the court that he was
LIVING WITH BUT ONE WIFE,
And that it was his intention to live with
in the law in the future, and not to en-
courage any violations of it.
Mr.. Dickson was asked if he had any
suggestions to make and replied that he |
believed the defendant to be guilty of |
polygamy, as he had two wives living |
here at the present time, both of whom |
were plural wives. 1t was rumored that |
the reason he only lived with one of
them at present was on account OF do
mestic infelicity.
The court expressed the opinion that,
in view of the purpose of the defendant to
live within the laws, a light punishment
would be sufficient, and fine of $500 was
therefore imposed.
THE MUssER CASE.
The case of the United States VS.. A. NJ.
Musser, charged with unlawful cohabita-
ton was then taken up. The same seven
attorneys that defended A. NJ Cannon
appeared for Musser After the names of
a large number of witnesses had been
called, the Indictment was read to the
defendant and plea of not guilty en-
tered
THE INIPANELING OF JURY
Was then proceeded with, and twelve
jurors from the regular panel were called
and examined by Mr. Arthur Brown for
the defense. Each juror was asked what
he knew about the case.
Phil Ripple had read something about
the case in the Tribune, but he did not
believe all that appeared in that paper.
1t was liable to ''get off from the truth" :
f. R. Clute had also read something
about Musser in the Tribune, but was not
convinced of the truth of the story by its 5
publication in that paper. He did not !
accept the statements of any paper as I
truth without some other evidence. q
Mr.. Richardson had read the article in I
he Tribune, but neither accepted it as |
rue nor rejected it as spurious He did c
lot accept the article as a revelation. He I
was not in the habit of receiving revela- c
ions. S
Mr.. T. G. NJ. Smith had read the ar 4
icle and did not accept it as true He
lid not think any newspaper was infal-
IDLE.
Mr.. Brown here took an entirely
NEW AND NOVEL DEPARTURE :
Cor the defense in such cases by asking :
ZACH Gentle juror if he believed in polyg-
my or unlawful cohabitation, or was in 9
he habit OF practicing cohabitation with d
more than one woman
L. u. NJ. Smith answered that he was b
lot member of the Church of Jesus d
jhrist of Latter-day Saints and did not o
'elieve in polygamy or unlawful cohabi- {
alton
Mr.. BroWn.-Have you ever cohabited
Nth more than one woman?
Answer.-That's little personal, | -"
hink. don't think it is proper ques-
ion and l decline to answer.
Q-Do you believe in the existence of 1C
lod? B
Al believe in Supreme Being. cl
Q-Do you believe in the Christian -,
ible? I'll
Al don't accept it all. Some of its m
,achings don't believe in. pl
Q-You know that polygamy is taught 10
the Bible, do you not? hi
A-No, | don't know that it is taught.
know that it is alluded to- to
Mr.. Brown-A little louder, please. |
Dn't catch you.
Juror don't want you to catch me-
laughter G.
Mr.. Brown Ito the COURT challenge @
is Juror on the ground that he refuses to II
lswer whether he has ever lived in the 10,
actice OF unlawful cohabitation. I've e
The prosecution showed that he had To
It refused to answer such a question bo
ID that it had not been propounded and
e challenge was overruled.
MIR. Brown then asked the Juror if he
can't to say he had never cohabited with
1re than one woman.
Juror.-I don't mean to say anything ,,.
the kind. l have been married twice n Mc
d therefore have cohabited with more Gu Gu
IN one woman. mean to say that cio
yer cohabited with any other woman III
IN my wife. do not decline to answer a. az
7 questions if properly put. do not VI
leve in the practice of cohabiting with Al Al
re than one woman. WI
he defense were unable to make az. .iliO
e against Mr.. Smith and were com 'iie
led to pass him, but challenged Mr..
pple because he had read something
'ut the case and had formed an opin- Y
3. He was excused. orr
dr. Richardson, another Gentle. was fres
ed II he believed in the practice of 2Oct
abiting with more than one woman. mar
answered that he did not. stoc
You believe in the Bible, do you see
Yes, sir.
you know the Bible teaches
ygamy?
No, l know it don't teach ANYTHING A
ne kind. think that part of it is mer
ply history of the times. just
you believe Abraham had II
e than one wife?
JUDGE ZANE's PATIENCE
exhausted by this time, and he in tt
led Mr.. Brown he did not think it nv.
'ssary in this case to go into the his A. T
OF Abraham, or Solomon, or David. UtaI
Brown temporarily subsidized.
essrs. Shields and Carleson were -
lenged by the prosecution because of 30
,shocl ,yas ,o,'cS 0 1I WIN. lot oil