Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-07-21
an INCESTUOUS BEAST.
Thomas POrcher Marries His Neice ana
Has Ten Children By Her.
Still He Informs the Court That He Is
in Good Standing in the Church.
No Law, Except the Edmunds Act, TO
Punish Such Depravity.

Thomas POrcher, OF the twenty -hioV
ward. was arrested and brought before
Commissioner Mckay this morning by
Deputy Marshal Greenman on warrant
issued by the Commissioner and sworn
to bv United States Marshal Ireland,
charging the defendant with unlawfully
living and cohabiting with more than one
woman, namely, with Ann Porcher, his
legal wife, and with Eliza Porcher, his
unlawful spouse, who
TESTIFIED THAT SHE WAS THE DEFEND
ANTS NIECE.
Thomas Porcher, Robert Porcher, his
brother, and Ann and Eliza Porcher, his
wives, were sworn.
The defendant listened to the COM
plant, and in answer to the question,
'What is your plea? ?" said, "Not guilty,
SIR and asked the meaning of that part
OF the complaint which says, "cohabiting
with two women as your wives" He
went on in an apologize manner to eX-
plain his innocence and ignorance of any
crime, by stating among other things
that his alleged wife Eliza had been i'll
! for several years, since burying her last
child, and she had simply occupied two
! front rooms in his house as roomer, and
not in the marriage relation as man and
wife He hadn't given the matter any
! thought, and didn't want to think about
! it.
PoRCHER's STANDING IN THE CHURCH.
Commissioner McKay-Are you in good
standing in the church?
A.-Yes, sir; presume am.
Q.-Do you desire counsel?
Al don't know; what do you think?
Commissioner Mckay am not to adj
wise you one way or the other. You are
supposed to know whether you want an
attorney or not. The church may pro-
vide counsel for you.
Mr.. Mckay went to the telephone and
called for the Utah Central office, and
asked: els the Bishop there? Mr.. Nc
Kay wants to talk with him."
In few minutes the bell rang, and
was answered by:
f'Hello-YeS-Wha
"Well, you tell Bishop Sharp there is
man here by the name of Porcher, from
the Twenty-first ward, who has been ar
rested for unlawful cohabitation, and he
has no counsel. He would like to know
whether the Church will defend him or
not. | want to hear what the Bishop
says"
Mr.. Sharp came to the communication
and said they would send somebody.
Judge Bennett arrived soon after, and
after taking the defendant aside in con-
sultation, he returned. and
noorop DoDCuEp DpoTuDD
Was called by Mr.. Varian, the Prescott
ing Attorney.
Q.-Where do you live, sir?
An the Twelfth ward.
Q.-Are you a relative of the defend
ant?
Ale is my own brother, from the
same father and mother.
Q.-Do you know Mrs. Ann Porcher :?
Ayes, sir.
(Which one is she?
A.-The little one there.
Q.-What relationship does she hold to
your brother?
A.-She is his wife.
Oils first wife?
Ayes, sir.
Q.-Do you know Eliza Porcher?
Ayes, sir.
Q.-How long?
A.-Ever since she was two hours old,
for about 80 years.
Q.-Where does your brother live?
AIN Butcherville, the Twenty
ward.
Q.-Do you live there?
Ayes, sir; most of the time.
Q.-Does Mrs. Ann Porcher live there :?
Ayes, sir.
Q.-Any children there, and how
many
A.-Three or four.
Q.-Has Mrs. Eliza any?
Ayes, sir.
Q.-What is she reputed to be in his
family?
A-His neice.
Q.-What name does she bear?
A.-The same as ever-Eliza Porcher.
Q.-Was that her maiden name?
Ayes, sir.
Q.-Is she the daughter of another
brother?
A.-No, sir. She is my daughter.
Q.-You say she has had children-by
whom?
Al don't know whose they were.
Q.-Has she children now?
A.-No, sir.
Varian-Just describe the interior of
! your house.
Porcher-The house has five rooms, all
on the ground floor. The two front rooms
are sometimes rented to others. One of
the large room is used as kitchen in the
winter time, and others to sleep in. In
the summer the cooking is done outside.
There are no doors between the bed
rooms, which are occupied by us and
four children. l came here from Eng
land about the time my daughter Eliza
did. but don't know who the father of
her children was.
ELIZA PoRCHER.
Q.-Are you the wife of the defendant,
! Mr.. Porcher?
A.-Not exactly his wife.
Q.-Are you the wife according to the
rites of the Mormon Church?
Ayes, sir.
Q.-You have borne children, have
you?
Ayes, sir.
Q.-Have you been at home all the time
the past few years?
A.-No, sir; have been to Elko, Ne
vada, all winter. Went there late last
fall.
Q.-You had not been away before,
had you?
Al 60 away nursing when 1 am able,
and when here / make my home at
Porcher's house generally.
Q.-Do you take your meals there with
the family at their table?
A.-Sometimes. / have no cooking
place, so use their stove They take rent
from me when l am able to pay it.
Q.-Your maiden name was Porcher |
and your married name is Porcher. Are |
you known as one of the wives of Mr.. !
Porcher?
Ayes, sir. l have been known as |
Mrs. Porcher, but not of late.