The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-11-13
THE IDAHO POLYGAMISTS.
The Courts Sending Them Up as They do in
Utah.

| BLACKFooT, Idaho, Nov. 7.-Chief JUS
tice Hays, at 10 a. IN. to-day, pronounced
sentence upon eight Mormons, convicted of
unlawful cobabitati0n under the Edmunds
law, and on George G. Parkinson for hiding
polygamous wives from the United States
Marshal.
The names Of the unlawful cohabiteIs are
Joseph NJ. Phelps, who has three wives, and
lives In Bear Lake county; Alexander Lea
than, Alfred l.. Blackburn, Andrew Bj,rn,
Naham Porter, Arthur Peck, Isaac b. Nash
and W. G. Garrison, who each have two
wives, and are all residents Of Bingham or
Oneida counties, Idaho. $685.
The court questioned each as to his future
intentions In regard to obeying the laws, and
with the exception of w. c. Garrison, all
positively refused to make any promises, but
said they would obey the laws of God as
they understood them in the Bible. They
believed that polygamy was from God, and
they could not obey the laws of man.
Garrison is an apostate Norman, aud has
honorably put away his extra women and
promises to encourage all men to obey the
laws.
Phelps, Leatham, Bijorn and Peck each
got six months and $500 fine, aud will have
to pay sl6o costs.
Blackburn got six months and $500 fine.
Porter got three months and $3.50 fine and
will have to pay 500 costs.
Garrison and Nash got three months each.
Geo. G. Harkinson, who hid away polyga.
mists, got one year and $500 fine, and will
have to pay 500 costs.
The Judge In sentencing them, in sub.
stance spoke as follows: "You claim the
protection of the laws of your country, yet
you refuse to obey the same and after hav.
ing been fairly tried and having tbs protec.
ton of all the safeguards which the laws
throw around you, you were convicted, and
come into court confessing the correctness of
that conviction; yet claiming the right, as q
religious duty, to disobey and defy the law.
am aware that you seek by every advan-
tage and opportunity to defeat the law. l
am aware that you hope to secure more
friendly legislation, and that your present
policy Is doubtless directed by that hope, and
thai some Of you are base enough to think
that this may be secured by pecuniary con-
sideration. In this you will be mistaken. 1t
requires no prophetic power to foresee the
result Of your present N istaken policy, but
only the power to reason from cause to
effect, and now say to you In kindness, yet
In firmness, the laws must and shall be en-
forced, and II they fall heavily upon you 1t
Is the result Of your crimes and not the fault
Of the law. Mistaken people, you little
know the result of your present defiant
course! 1t can lead to but one thing, and
That Is to arouse the American people and to |
kindle In their hearts q righteous indiena-
ton against your course and crimes. In |
Time this will crystalline into law, and the |
enactments will be severe in proportion as |
The necessity Of your crimes may require.
You are but starting an avalanche that will |
crush you. religion based on crime can |
not and will not stand. Perhaps some
Divine power may be directing your course
or the wise and holy purpose of working
but your own destruction. Your present
course must inevitably bring about that
esult. You have but this choice, either to
% your own destroyers or else bow in sub.
Mission TO the law