The Dillon tribune., 1885-11-14
THE LAW ENFORCED.
y Religion Based on Crime Cannot and
Will Not Stand.

At Blacktoot, Idaho, on the 9TH inst.
Chief Justice Hays pronounced sentence
upon eight Mormons, convicted Of unlaw.
full cohabitation under the Edmunds law,
and on George c. Parkinson for hiding
polygamous wives from the United States
Marshal.
The names TT the unlawful cohabitors
are Joseph NJ. Phelps, who has three wives
and lives in Bear Lake county; Alexander
Leatha,n, Alfred L. Blackburn, Andrew
Biyorn, Nathan Porter, Arthur Peck, w.
c. Garrison and Isaac b Nash, who each
have two wives, and are all residents OF
Bingham or Oneida counties, Idaho.
The Court Questioned each as to his f,,.
ture intentions in regard to obeying the
laws, and with the exception Of w. c. Gar.
rison, all positively refused to make any
promises, but said they would obey the
laws Of God as they understood them iii
the Bible. They believed that polygamy
was from God, and they could not obey
the laws Oh man.
Garrison is an apostate Mormon and
has honorably put away his extra women
and promises to encourage all men to obey
the laws.
Phelps, Leatham, Bijorn and Peck eact
got six months and 5000 fine and will have
to pay $500 costs.
Blackburn go, six months and $3oe
fine.
Porter got three months and $15o fine
and will have to pay $loo costs.
Garrison and Nash got three months
each.
Geo. c. Parkinson, who hid away polyg
amists, got one year and 5000 fine and vii
have to pay $1oo costs.
The Judge in sentencing them, in sub
stance spoke as follows: "You claim thu
protection Of the laws Of your country
yet You refuse to Obey the came; and afte
having been fairly tied and having th'
protection Of all the safeguards which th'
laws throw around you, you were con
victed, and come into ocourt, confessing tn
correctness Of that religion, yet claiming
the right, as a religion. duty to disobey ant
defy the law. am aware that you seel
by every advantage and opportunity to de
feat the law. lam awar" that you hop
to secure more friendly legislation, ant
that your present policy is doubtless di
rected by that hope and that some Of yo
are base enough to think tina. this may b
secured by pccuniary consideration. Il
this you will be mistaken. Il requires n
prophetic power to foresee the result q
your present mistaken policy but only tn
power to reason from cause ID effect, and
now say to you in kindness, yet in firm,
ness, the laws must and shall be enforced
And if they fall heavily upo, you it is tn
result of your crimes and no. the fault c
the law. Mistaken people, YOU little Ano,
the result Of your defiant ca'rse! 1t ca
lead to but one thing, and that is to arous
the American people and to kindlc i
their hearts righteous indignation agains
your course and crimes. In time this vi
crystalline into law, and the enactment
will be severe in proportion as the neces
sity OF your crimes may require. You ar
but starting an avalanche that will crus
you. \ religion based on crime cannc
and will not stand. Perhaps some Divin
power may be directing your course fo
the wise and holy purpose Of working OF
your own destruction. Your prcser
course must inevitably bring about tn:
result. You nave bat this choice, cithc
to be your own destroyer or else bow i
submission to the law"
|
! HIG; STEAL.