Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-09-29
A RED LETTER DAY.
Bishop Clawson Stays With His Re.
ligion and Gets the Usual Dose
of Three-Six.
But an Angel Falls from Grace aud the
Spirit Leaves Him When in
Sight of the Pen.
Sensible Sep. Sears VIII be an Ameri-
can Citizen, and Live and Obey the
Law and But One Wife.

This was made memorable day in the
Third District Court by following the
long pending Hopt trial with half-dozen
notable unlawful cohabitation cases.
Shortly after 10 o'clock, with the room
filed with many ladies and gentlemen,
several of whom were friends OF the ar
raigned parties, Judge Hardness addressed
the Court and said that
BISHOP HIRAM II. CLAwsoN
Desired to withdraw his former plea Of
"not guilty."
Mr.. Clawson being perfectly familiar
with the charges in the indictment, said,
upon the inquiry being made, that he
was guilty of unlawful cohabitation.
Time was offered him by the Court in
which to make statement but it was
waived.
Judge Zane, addressing him, said:
You understand, L believe, the law in
your case. Do you desire to say any
thing?
Mr.. Clawson.-With your Honor's
permission, yes, / would like to say
few words in regard to this matter. am
arraigned before this Court for misde-
meanor, not fully understood.
1 HAVE LIVED WITH MY WIVES AND chill
DREN FOR OVER THIRTY YEARS
In exactly my present relations. l have
been with this church for nearly forty
years, and believed that l was doing
something in this life to merit sought
for reward hereafter. When married
my wives they were young. We made
the most solemn covenants known to
man to live the lives we now
are living. They are growing gray with
time, and now to ask me to cast them and
my childen off, is to put all to naught
What is this thing thought of? So far as
l live up to my chosen religion, am os-
tracised. But will turn my wives and
children away and then bear their Just
censure? l say, no! To me there are
but two courses to pursue; one is prison
and honor, the other liberty and dis
honor, and l will abide by the conse-
quences.
Judge Zane-Mr. Clawson, it becomes
the duty of the Court to now pronounce
the sentence of the law You state rs q
reason for your course that you formed
the relations which are now to be pun
ished many years ago. 1t appears to be
the opinion, of some of the members ut
least, of the sect to which you belong,
THAT poLYGAMY WAS LAWFUL PREVIOUS TO
THE EDMUNDs ACT.
There never has been time in these
United States when polygamy was lawful.
More than 100 years ago the greatest
commentator in the United States said in
relation to plural marriage that it was
unlawful, and that second marriage was
void under the laws of Mexico. Before
Utah was coded to the government plural
marriage was unlawful, and
AT THE TIME YOU MARRIED THESE WIVES 1T
WAS UNLAWFUL
And caused children to be stamped as
bastards. Because you say you thought
it right at the time, and that you were
committing no offense against the law, is
no defense for your course. A mans in
ternal feelings are not touched by the
laws OF his country.
HE CAN THINK AND BELIEVE AND WORSHIP,
But at the same time the arm OF the law
protects society and humanity against the
Entertainments of polygamy and all crime.
The American people, together with the
whole civilized world, believe and prac-
tlce the monogamic marriage system with
the almost solitary exception Of this peo-
pie. This institution you have entered
into is an unjust contract. Here Judge
Zane spoke at length of the solemn and
sacred duties of one man toward one
woman in the marriage relation
You say you are loyal citizen OF the
United States, and yet you say you will
not obey the laws for which millions of
as brave and good men as ever lived
have proudly served and died to pre-
serve. AS n man have nothing to say
concerning your case. regret that you
have not the bravery and courage to
stand up to protect the laws of YOUR
country.
YOU SAY YOU ARE AFRAID OF BEING os-
TRACIsED.
III you say you are determined to live up
to live up to your adulterous relations /
must obey my duty as Judge of thsc court
and see that the extreme penalty be i'm
posed upon you. You will therefore be
sentenced to the penitentiary for six
months and pay fine of $500 and costs.
This settled the important matter, and
scored another victory for the laws OF the
Union.
WILL LET JOHANNA GO, AND OBEY THE LAW.
Following the disposition of Bishop
Clawson's case, II. o. Angel, the bcy-
clist and assistant architect of the Church
OF Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, MS
he put it, was called, and listened with
head erect to the reading OF the indict-
ment found against him for unlawful CO.
habitation. He withdrew his former
plea OF not guilty, and acknowledged the
corn, The Court asked him il he de-
sired an attorney, to which he replied he
did not.
Judge Iane.-IIave you statement or
anything you wish to say?
Ayes, sir; simply one thing. AS to
Johanna Gregory and myself, we have
MUTUALLY AGREED TO LIVE WITHIN THE
LAW.
Court-Do you say your intentions are
sworn in good faith to live within the
laws OF the United States in the future ?
Al have made a promise to not violate
any OF the laws.
Court-You do not say directly that Won
will obey the Edmunds law, and not adj
wise any one 10 break il in the future. /
am exercising discretion, and what /
want TO know is, whether or not You in
tend in the future to obey the laws of the
United States against polygamy and un-
lawful cohabitation.
Here the ambitious Angel tried again TO
make himself conspicuous, and evade the
proper answer by quibbling, and finally
saying: "My feelings are to keep the
law, but
SUPPOSE III SHOULD BE REPEALED"
faint laughter throughout the room