Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-05-01
PLEADS GUILTY.
The Course Pursued by Claudius '.
Spencer.
He Acknowledges His Mistake and
Proposes to Uphold the Law
i'm the Future.
Sentence Is Suspended and He Goes
On His Way Rejoicing.

pered around that one of those recently
indicted for unlawful cohabitation would
plead guilty. This impression was verified
when Mr.. Dickson arose and stated thai
Claudius V. Spencer desired an ar1algn
1 ment.
The Indictment having been read to the
defendant the Clerk asked:
What is your plea to this indictment
guilty or not guilty?
Mr.. Spencer plead guilty.
The Court-Guilty to the charge?
Mr.. Spencer-Gui to the charge and
would beg your Honor's leniency. Ii my
strength permits, in justice to myself and
in Justice to the community OF ali classes
| would like to make an explanation.
The Court-You may make your eX-
PLANTATION if you nave any to make.
Mr. Spencer-When the Edmunds law
was known to have become law in this
Territory, and my wives made cove
nant to obey the EdmundS law to the
! best of our knowledge. The second wife,
whose name appears in this indictment,
remained under my roof [ suppose, and
! | wish here here for the good of our COM
munity, if your Honor will permit, there
are hundreds of what are called Mormons
in this Territory believed they kept the
Edmunds law if they refrained from sex
ual intercourse. So careful was /, nv
only income being from boarding or keep
ing hotel, that not to give offense to pub
lie feeling or to give an oppoi tunity to
come within the reach of the law, [ paid
/ this second wife wages as help. She has
eaten every meal for three years that has
! been eaten in my house with my servant
| girls, or alone in the kitchen, and in
every respect to the best of my knowledge
we have
HONORABLY AND FAITHFULLY KEPT THIS
The Court-Is that all you wish to say,
Mr.. Spencer?
Nh. Spencer simply wish to add that
| have a good many dependent on me for
support, that outside of my house and lot.
on which there is Il mortgage OF Il pretty
heavy amount, | have no income, and
that in pleading guilty to this charge l
plead guilty to it on the construction
that your Honor has rendered. l
do not plead guilty to any intent or
known criminal act, and it must rest
in the mercy and the kindness of your
Honor to say how much innocent women
and innocent children shall be punished
for the punishment will fall upon them
for mistake that we have made
The COurt-Well, let me see if I'M
derstand you. Do understand you to
say that you are not living with either
one of our wives, now, except the last
one?
Mr.. Spencer am living with my first
wife.
The CouHt-Well, do all your wives
live in the same house with you?
Mr.. Spencer-Yes, have another wife
lest there should be some misapprehen-
sion-that has not lived with me, nor
with her, for some fourteen wears she
lives some distance away
The Court-Well, this offense of unlaw-
full cohabitation consists in living with a
woman as your wife-in holding her out
to the world as your wife 1t is not neces-
sary that you should have sexual inter-
course with her, or sleep in the same
room with her. If you live with her and
hold her out by your conduct, or by your
expressions and representations, you are
guilty of unlawful cohabitation. With.
that view do you plead guilty to this !.
charge?
Mr.. Spencer will answer you in
effect, Judge. [ have no knowledge of |
ever having introduced this woman, or
called her in any other way than Mrs. |
Spencer that was before the Edmunds |
law was passed" l may have done it.
The Court-Her name was not Spencer
before you married her?
Mr.. Spencer-No; we have been mar
ried about twenty-four years.
The Court-How long since you were
married to the first one?
Mr.. Spencer married her in 1853.
The Court-There is no dispute but
what you cohabit with your first wife.
The question is, do you propose to con-
tlnue to live with both of these women,
and represent both as your wives?
Mr.. Spencer wish to say to Your
Honor, that can make conscientiouslv
the promise and | can do no further than
hat, whatever the punishment NAV be.
hat will live and influence my family
% live the Edmunds law according TO
your construction.
The Court-That is not the question
The question is, whether you propose to
i've with these women, and represent and
hold them out as your wives
Mr.. Spencer don't.
Inc Court-DO you propose, hereafter.
o obey the Edmunds law faithfully
Mr.. Spencer-That is what PROPOSE to
10, your Honor. f''O ~
The Court-And to advise others to do
Mr.. Spencer have done that.
The Court-The question is, whether
on propose to do it in the future?
Mr. Spencer. i propose keeping the
law according to your con-
5ruction, and advise nobody to break If
The Court-Honestly and faithfulIv9
Mr.. Spencer-Yes.
Ar. Dickson, prosecuting attorney L
ere arose and said: In view of the
atement which the defendant has made la
recommend that judgment in his case re
suspended. l think if he carries ont W
Is promise in good faith, he ought not TO l
lLler. suggest that judgment be sus- u
The Court-The court is disposed to d.
We you the opportunity to see whether tn
your life and conduct you propose TO
try out the provisions of the promises &c
ade to-day. l will, therefore. suspend W
ugment for the present. At some %
lure time the sentence will be pro- In
'uhced, not at present. You will he its
ven fair chance. fel
Mr.; Spencer thanked the court and tn
anu