The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1885-05-02
4 EASY LET DOWN.
..udius V. Spencer Pleads
Clau' Guilty.
,nr SENTENCE SUSPENDED.
c,eap Breast of His Marital
b'f, Fela.IOus, and Promising to
Reform.

In
ID ID the The announcement from Mr.. Dickson
by W. ciandius V. Spencer, recently in
th'' 1 TO- for unlawful cohabltation' and
' sosa trial had been set for that day.
, ,a.ired to plead guilty
'' ~ SPENCER advanced. and the clerk
..bs Indictment; what follows is a
feAa .tim account of the proceedings:
's mrr CIEnK-What is your plea to this
i list,nent, guilty or not guilty?
p w1 gpEScER-I plead guilty.
w. CouRr-Guilty to the charge?
- SpEscER-Guilty to the charge,
- would beg your honor's leniency.
~ y nv strength permits, in justice to
j ~ and in Justice to the community
nys ~ classes would like to make an
,1planation. vow. nv
,Isnation if you nave anything TO make.
P I'm SPENCER When the Edmunds
- wos known to have become law IN
Nv Nv TERRITORY, 1 and my wives made
ln novenant to obey the Edmunds law to
~ hest hest of our knowledge. The second
M ;Itawhose name appears in this in
wv remained under my roof, and
Ge;S here to state, for the good of our
l,n. ,Tn if your honor will permit,
e .Snre are hundreds of what are called
lannon's Slv in this Territory who be-
ravs thew have kept the Edmunds law
!i.Sev have refrained from sexual in
... so So careful was I, my only
come being from boarding or keeping
botsI that, not to give offense to public
Iaolino or to give an opportunity to
p S within the reach of the law,
aid tbis second wife wages as help.
Sbe has eaten every meal for three
vssrs that has been eaten in my house
With nv servant girls, or alone IN the
Etcben, and in every respect, to the
host of nv knowledge, we have honor
sbIy and faithfully kept this law.
THE COURTS that all you wish to
saw. Mr.. Spencer?
Nm. SpEEcER-I simply wish to add
that have good many dependent on
me for support, that outside OF my
house and lot, on which there is a
mortgage of pretty heavy amount,
have no income, and that in pleading
gulty to this charge l plead guilty to it
an the construction that your honor
bas rendered. do not plead guilty to
aDyintent or known criminal act, and
Unjust rest in the mercy and the kind
ness of YOUR honor to say how much
innocent women and innocent children
shall be punished; for the punishment
viii fall upon them for mistake that
We have made
TIE CouRr-Well, let me see if I'M
derstand you. Did l understand you
10 say that you are not living with
either one of your wives now, except
The last one2
Nh. SPENcER-I am living with my
inst wife
TIE CoUR7-Well, do all your wives
i've in the same house with you?
NR. SPENCER.-Yes. | have another
Eiie-lest there should be some mis-
spprehension-that has not lived with
ne, nor | with her, for some four
teen years; she lives some distance
,Esy.
The CouRr-Well, this offense of I'M
awful cohabitation consists in living
NTH woman as your wife-in holding
hH out to the world as your wife. 1t
not necessary that you should have
sexual intercourse with her, or sleep in
the same room with her. and hold her
out by your conduct or by your express
sons and representations, you are
sulty Of unlawful cohabitation. With
nat view, do you plead guilty to this
lharge2
Nh. SPENcER-I will answer you in
Eject Judge. | have no knowledge of
sTer having introduced this woman, or
allied her in any other way than Mrs.
spencer, that was, before the Edmunds
Ay was passed. may have done it.
IHE COURT-Her name was not Spen-
'I before you married herr
Mr.. SPENCER-No; we have been mar
ned about twenty-four years.
HE CoURT-How long since you were
hsfned to the first oneP
4R. SPENCER-I married her in 1858.
IHE CoURT-There is no dispute but
wa! you cohabit with your first wife.
tle question is, do you propose to con-
I1e to live with both of these women,
Ga represent both as your wives?
AR' SPESCER-I wish to say to your
ssuaof, that can make cOnscientiously
y. te promise, and 1 can do no further,
Ian that, whatever the punishment
-! be, that will live and influence
:! family to live the Edmunds law, &C.
% lung to your construction.
n LIE CouRT-That is not the question. !
Sr question is, whether you propose |
IN, My with these women, and represent |
N NJ noId them as your wives?
AZ, SPESCER-I don't.
IA. tHE COURT-Do you propose, here |
SS S TO obey the Edmunds law faith
n a. SPENcER-That is what propose
%So your honor.
50h9 Ni-Anu 10 ADVISE o'hers W
ia n. SPENCEE-I have done that.
,on !. CoURT-The question is, whether
propose to do it in the future?
BE- "a SPENcER-I propose keeping the !
81, ttuinunds law according to your
asst 9.enon, and advise nobody to |
M IA SSOuRT-Honestiy and faithfully? |
" SPENCFR-YeS.
IN ra, DICKSON, prosecuting attorney,
ssi.sSll Ose and said, SIN view of the /
al Isht which the defendant has |
i es.a recommend that judgment in /
a,ri sse De suspended. 1 think, if he /
NH eat his promise in good faith, he |
asst' III not to suffer. suggest that judg- /
gls ro ODo!SIRT-The Court is supposed to |
By y 6D. IN the opportunity to see whether, /
% carr carr ME and conduct, you propose |
kes msa out the provisions of the prom |
Pend sue Tue Today. l will, therefore, sus
'Ome augment for the present. At
hrn. -utnre time the son tanna will be |