Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1885-12-11
AN INFAMOUS PLOT.

nv nkOEhhton NuuFcn NORbpIFcB u
Entrap Prominent Married on
eials in Salt Lake, Ruin Their
Regulations and Estrange Then
frem Their wives and FAMILIES
The HideOus Plot Revealed.
The SENTINEL published an item yester
terday morning to the effect that 1t wa
stated in San Francisco Tuesday nigh
that orders had been received at the mill
tary headquarters there to hold troops il
readiness in case Of Mormon troubles IL
Utah. From what we have been able Il
learn 1t appears . conspiracy has been en-
tered into by the Mormon Church, which
carries it down into the depths Of nasti'
ness, and which was designed to ruin the
regulations Of prominent married men In
Utah and separate them from their wives
and families. The following are extracts
from the report Of the Grand Jury Of
Salt Lake District, which was made public
Tuesday morning:
Some time in April or May last an
officer of the city government, not con.
nected with the police, with others un-
known at present to the Grand Jury, en-
tered into Q conspiracy TO open houses OF
designation and ill.fsme within the city
limits, for the avowed purpose of entrap-
ping weak and vicious persons into the
commission Of ~offenses against chastity
and morality, in order that all such might
be exposed and punished in the courts.
This scheme involved the renting and
fitting up of houses for she purpose, the
employment of public and private prosti-
tutes. the conversion OF the police bureau
into q nest Of spoilers and spies, and the
expenditure of a large sum Of money.
For years there have been well-known
houses Of prostitution in Salt Lake,
which have been under police ss.yeillance,
and at stated periods have contributed
materially to the revenues OF the munici.
pality. Several of these houses are stu
ated on the main and prominent streets Of
this city, and with their keepers n pro-
prietors have been and are by reputation
generally known in the community. We
do not understand that the scheme
above mentioned contemplated the in
vestigation of these places, nor the en-.
forcement OF the law against those who
resided therein or resorted thereto for pur-
poses OF prostitution or lewdness. On the
contrary, as appears by the evidence be-
fore Us, the plan was conceived and car
ried into effect without reference TO the
suppression Of existing %nuisances, but with
the design OF using the criminal law as q
snare for the weak aud immoral, and the
object in part, at least, OF creating q great
public scandal. In pursuance Of this
scheme, houses were rented and furnished
on West Temple street, and women placed
In possession thereof. These houses were
30 altered and arranged In their Interior
that persons could be placed TO observe
all that transpired within, and every men,
Der OF the police force OF Salt Lake City,
with two honorable exceptions, John Y.
| Smith and VIM. Calder, volunteered his
| services as Q spy and ipformer in aid Of the
conspiracy. The were hired to per-
form their parts, and their exertions
stimulated by the promise Of exorbitant
sums for their success in e~ntrapping high
officials. One Of these creatures was prom
ised 81 900 in the event OF her being able
to draw the Governor OF the Territory into
her tolls. In the course OF their opera
tions these women conveyed notes OF IN.
vitation TO many prominent ofhclais n
citizens, requesting interviews ON business
at the places designated. The following.
leaving the names blank, Is q sample OF
these notes, delivered by messenger boys:
SALT LAKE CRY. July %, 1885.
DEAR SIR: II convenient, l would be
pleased to have you call TO see me this
afternoon or about dusk this evening. /
want 70 see you on particular business.
Please send answer by messenger boy when
you will call. Respectfully, -.
We are informed by persons engaged IN
this infamous plot, that from their secret
posts OF observation they, from time to
time, personally witnessed all that took
place in the apartments in these houses
visited by men and women who were weak
and depraved enough to respond to the op-
%portuuities presented 10 them. Their
names were taken and the evidence noted
for future reference and use.
When the exposure OF this conspiracy
was at hand the houses were closed. IN
woman was sent to Californis upon o
ticket furnished her. Another was driven
to Francklyn by q police officer who had
previously purchased her q ticket, and
then took the train for Denver under an
assumed name.
One of these women was paid by the
CITY official above referred TO S3OO or S4Ou
and an other $500 for her services. When
the women were safe out Of the Territory
complaints were filed, warrants issued
and arrests made and the community,
thrown into Q state OF excitement and
alarm. The money employed in this
scheme. we are told by its prime mover,
was paid by one Of the high officials OF
Salt Lake county. II is claimed that the
money was raised by private subscription.
We nave been unable to ascertain that any
part OF 1t came from the public treasury.
Neither the mayor. chief OF police. nor
other city officials, except as herein stated,
40 far as we can learn, were advised OF the
proceeding until the plot was ripe. All the
police officers engaged in it, it is claimed.
performed the services required when
off duty. One of them states that his
services were renderd "for the good OF
The cause" We have promptly indicated
persons connected with this unlawful and
criminal undertaking against whom we
could procure evidence, but we are not
satisfied 10 rest here without publicly di.
recting the attention Of the municipal
and county officers to the fact that great
crime has been prepetrated, etc.
Grand Masquerade bail.
Two first-class musicians have been pro
cured at the Truckee Concert Hall. They