The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1885-10-12
A MORMON'S PLEA.
THE PossEssoR OF FIVE WIVES SENT
TO PRISON,


SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Oct l3.-Aunong
the cases tried by Judge Zane, of the United
States district court, in the series of Nor
mon prosecutions was that of Hiram b.
Clawson He had been the possessor of five
wives and had been such Il devout and en-
thusiastic Mormon as to proclaim his gospel
on all suita bic occasions Amjng his wives
were two daughters Of Brigham Young.
About eig htsen mont ago Clawson adver
tised himself AMI numerous wives and pro
geny in fuli-pase illustrations of each mem
Der, classified IN groups Of each wife and
her children, placed as to
make his portrait the central figure. The
picture was attended to represent a typical
Mornon family His prominence in Nor
monism attracted unusual attention at his
trial. Coming before the court, his counsel
asked leave Tor defendant to withdraw tho
plea of not guilty, aud Clawson then
pleaded guilty is charged and said he was
ready 10 judi, menL On being permitted
to speak no said he hal beeu Mormon
forty live years, had besn living in polyg-
amy thirty-Hve years, AM Ae believed he
had been doing risat. lis speech is given in
iul:
Wlon | married these my wivos, they
were yong and wa, young They believed
most solemn covenants and they and
| have enieavuIod 10 live up t. those
covenants. Now they are al bnB IN years;
straaks Of gray begin to show in their hair;
they have families Clat have grown up ana
have cill iren Now, ut thi, IIme, wnen l
am agel aut they ara aged. to ask me to
reAounco those ties AMI cast these women
off and leave them anl my chil,iren--say /
will have no moro TO do with theni--yUu r
honor, it is tning that seems impo,sib
for mo to say.
believe "a | have believed, and l say
now that what believed, thirty years ago
At. 4
and believe chat il were to say that
would cast thea, off, ahl say all those years
count foc nothing, IL /, retLer, FAR better,
for mo to 90 10 prison il tnat L the deci'on
of your honor. LIST that DO one reason why
/ plead guilty t. that Indictment and why
am now ,ttu ling bef re Eis court
Another reason is: How is this thnss
How is it looked at' What is there in III
If make any promises SO far AS regards
the future | am ostrnrisol, / am locke i
down upon, am hlshonured in this com
nluntty, anu ong my brothron--thoSe that
re, pect anl honor--anl among all honor
able men. There is not II man, believe, in
this conrt-roo who, having occupied the
position | have were he to stand in my place
to-day, would do Ju as l say that |
fosl to do to-day. Can bear the scorn and
the Indignation AMI the feelings that
these, my wives, would cast upon ms after
all these years, II l can say that l Will turn
them away and have 40 mare to do with
them' And can | bear what my children
would say, and how my children would feel
in regard to this nattrr' | say. no! 1t is
only fe W years that have to live, and
hal better 10 something el'o than go bacl;
IN what have said believed is true. To
me there arc only two courses: One is n
prison anl honor, the other is liberty and
lishonor. Your honor, have done
Judge Xene. among other things, in reply
said:
A mans belief doas II It Justify n wllful
violation Of the law. Tina fact that you
claim 1t to he your religion land infer you
think because that is ~" you ought not to be
punishei) il no defense Tho law docs not
attempt to regulate the jntsrnal relations Of
u man, so to sl,enk--tha is to say his faith,
his beliefs: hi feelings. 10 can exercise his
faith. ha can exarcis, his belief, but when
that belief and thosN feelnEs become eX
terual and attack the institutions upon
which society rests the law takes hold of it.
and it is not protecta |.
Clawson was sentoncel to six months in
the pantentiary and 'ina Of $3.50 and
costs.
The injustice often shown to first wives
has nu apt illustration in the case of John
Davnes, who, in answer to an Indictment of
unlawful cobalt alton, went into court.
pleaded guilty, prHmi ell to live within ths
law, anl wa released on payment of fine.
He is reported having gone home to the
old and legal wife of his youth aud in
formed her that he should no longer 1.-Two
with hsr as his wife, but should give his IN
diviioi attention in fnture to No.
His legal wife p'oa.lel and remon
stratsd with him, but all to no pur-
pose, AMI was left by him on the floor in
mysteries. A daughter OF his first wife came
in. and, seeing the situation, talked TO her
father as a daughter naturally would under
the cii cumstan cos, hut to no effect Dnynes
shook her off and went to the house Of his
I g.. =. . Is.,,