Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-10-01
SEARS EXPLAINS THE MATTER.
No Use Trying to Fight Uncle sam,
and the POlygamists Had better
Come In Out OF the Wet.

= =
and the Polygamists Had Better
Come In Out OF the Wet.
Few people there are in Ogden, says the
Neaus of last night, who do not know Cor
at least have not heard) OF Septimus w.
Sears, one of the shrewdest and most
successful business men of the West, an
unexcelled operator and expert in the
grain trade.
S.W. Sears is thorough business man,
but still he is human, and as such he
happened to enter into matrimonial re-
lations which, though sanctioned by the
code of his religion, are declared criminal
by the law of the land. 1t will be re-
membered that, last year, he went to
Chicago with Belle Whitney, his alleged
second wife. In the Garden City he met
with close escape from dreadful death,
when the hotel in which he and his lady
companion were putting up at the time
caught fire, several lives being lost. The
ubiquitous reporters of the wideawake
Chicago papers were soon on his track
and induced him to make various state
ments as to the hairbreadth escape, in
which Belle was so afraid of being burned
to death that she attempted to poison
herself, rather than be roasted alive. MIR.
Sears also lost considerable property
wardrobe, jewelry and cash) in the con-
fagration; but more still, he apparently
lost, for the nonce, that great selt-control
and quick presence of mind which are
leading features of his character and
have enabled him to reach the exalted
post on the ladder of financial success
which he is holding at the present time.
He "gave himself away by referring to
his lady companion as "My wife Belle"
and allowed his expressions to be trans
mitted over the wires by the Associated
Press reporters.
OF course, this news had no sooner
reached Utah and the Argus eyes of the
ever-alert "minions of the law in Salt
Lake City than they, well aware of the
fact that he had already living in this
Territory one lawfully welded and undi-
vorced wife, MARY Needham Sears), took
steps to make use OF the self-convicting
evidence of the Coop manager. In con-
object of Deputy Marshals' vigilance, and
was finally enmeshed in the intricacies of
the Edmunds law. Still, he came back
here and kept quiet, attending to his pro-
fessional duties, awaiting the time when
his appearance would be required in the
Courts of his adopted country. The last
act of the drama took place before Judge
Zane, in the Third District Court at Salt
Lake City, where Mr.. Sears appeared
and pleaded guilty to the charge.
In this action Mr.. Sears, to all accounts
and appearances realized considerable
relief by having done his duty to the
country to which he had pledged allegi-
ance and obedience long years ago. He
has evidently taken the whole matter
from the standpoint of a shrewd, careful,
cautious, business man, who prefers the
certainties of the here below to the uncer-
tainties Of the dim hereafter, especially
as he will be all the better enabled to
continue providing for those whose lot he
once tied up with his own. At least, so
the Neacs judges, whose editor had the
pleasure of shaking hands with Mr.. Sears
at the depot, this morning, before the
latter's return to the Territorial capital,
whence he had come up last evening on
business. The following conversation
took place On the OCCASION
'sMr. Sears" queried the Faberite, ri
understand that you intend removing to
Chicago to enter in the grain business on
your own hook ?"
''You do not surprise me by repeating
what morning paper states; but l can
assure you that this is news to me- al
though if | should take such step am
tolerably certain that I'd not get left"
Your stand in court YESTERDAY is
largely commented on, and greatly COM
mended by many"
''That | do not know nor care; | did
what thought was right. If 1 thought
or believed that we people of the church
could beat the United State on this issue,
I'd fight all in my power; but as 1 do not
think that way, | have submitted to the
law as laid down"
The Ne,Us' scribe, not then wishing to
press the delicate matter to further ends,
asked: GLOW did you find business ?"
81 think business shows signs of inn
provement. The Coop. is steadily taking
firmer ground.'
GLOW about grain ?''
"Well, l don't know much about grain.
Here the reporter could not suppress
smile of the most decided incredulity. |
But l think there is great doubtfulness in |
the market. The Bulgarian war scare
raised the price or 9 cents a bushel; but
as that is likely to blow over, wheat may
again take tumble, although it is diff
cult thing to determine ahead"
"To revert to your future plans, do you
really intend to go to Chicago?" resumed |
the irrepressible interviewer.
g As I have already told you, 1 am not
decided, as yet 1 may go to Chicago,
or San Francisco, or New York, or some |
other large centre of trade. At any rate,
if l go anywhere, it will be a place that
gives me ample scope for speculation
I'll either make much money or be broke
quick"
"Once more, Mr.. Sears" continued
the unfortunate reporter, "what do you
think the result of your action and Bishop
Sharp's will 5e?'
"That is not for me to tell. Possibly
our move was a few months too early:
but do believe it may come to general
acceptance of it. Anyway, it's the best
thing our people can do, under existing
circumstances.
"All aboard, Denver & Rio Grande ~