Morris tribune., 1885-10-14
A MORMON'S PLEA.
the PossEssoR OF FIVE WIVES SENT
TO PRISON,
After Living q Polygam NOUS Life for
Thirty-Eive Years-A Specimen Case
In which Injustice Is Shown
to First Wives.

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Oct 13-Among
| the cases tried by Judge Zane of the United
States district court, In the series Of Nor
| mon prosecutions was that of Hiram B..
sClawson. He had been the possessor Of five
| wives and had been such devout and en-
thusiastie Mormon as to proclaim his gospel
Dnsall suitable occasions. Among his wives
were two daughters Of Brigham Young.
About eighteen months ago Clawson adver-
tised himself and numerous wives and pro-
geny in full-page illustrations Of each mem.
bsr, classified in groups of each wife and
hsr. children, so placed as to
make his portrait the central figure. The
picture was intended to represent typical
Mormon family" His prominence in Nor
monism attracted unusual attention at his
trial Coming before the court, his counsel
asked leave for defendant to withdraw the
plea, of not guilty, and Clawson then
pleaded guilty as charged and said he was
ready fo1 judgment. On being permitted
to speak he said he hal been Mormon
forty-iye years, had been living in polyg-
amy thirty-fye years, aud he believed he
had been doing right His speech is given in
full:
When married these, my wives, they
were young and was young. They believed
the same thing that did. We gave the
most SOLEMN covenants, and they and
have endeavored to live up to those
covenants. Now they, are along in years;
streaks of gray begin to show in their hair;
they have families that have grown up and
have children. Now. at this time, when l
am aged and they. are aged, to ask me to
renounce those ties and cast these women
off and leave them and my children-say
honor, 1t Is thing that seems impossible
for me to saw
: believe as have believed, and 1 say
now that what believedsthirty years ago
and over believe to-day just as did then,
and ] believe that if l were to say that I
would cast them off, and say all these years
count for nothing, 1t i better, far better,
for me to go to prison il that is the decision
Of your honor. Let th1t be one reason why
/ plead guilty to that indictment and why
am now standing before this court.
Another reason is: How is this thing?
How is 1t looked ata What is there in ita
If make any promises so far as regards
tho future / am ostracised, am locke
down upon, am dishonored in this COM
munity, among my breJhren-those that /
respect and honor-and among all honor
able men. There is not man, believe, in
this court room who, having occupied the
position l have, were he to stand in my place
to-day, would do ju as l say that I
feel to do to-day. Can | bear the scorn and
the Indignation and the feelings that
these, my wives, would cast upon me after
all these years, if l can say that I will turn
them away and have no more to do with
them! And can I bear what my children
would say, and how my children would feel
in regard to this matter? say. mol 1t is
only few years that have to live, and I
had better do something else than go back
on what have said I believed is true. To
me there are only two courses: One is
prison and honor, the other is liberty and
T hox
Judge Zane, among other things, in reply
said:
A mans belief does not justify a willful
violation of the law The fact that you
claim it to be your religion (and I infer you
think because that is o you ought not to be
punished) Is no defense. The law does not
attempt to regulate the internal relations of
a man, SO to speak-that is to say, his faith,
his beliefs: his feelings. He can exercise his
faith, he can exercise lis belief but when
that belief and those feelings become ex.
tsrnal and attack the institutions upon
which society rests the law takes hold of it,
and it is not protected.
ie Clawson was sen tencsd to six months in
the penitentiary and fine of $500 and
costs
The injustice often shown to first wives
has an apt illustration in the case of John
Daynes, who, in answer to an Indictment of
unlawful cohabitation, went into court
pleaded guilty, promised to live within the
law, and was released on payment of fine
He is reported as having gone home to the
old and legal wife Of his youth and in
formed her that he should no longer live
with her as his wife, but should give his un.
divided attention in future to No. g.
His legal wife pleaded and remon.
stratsd with him, but all to no pur.
pose, and 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 circumstances, but to no effect. Daynes
shook her off and went to the house Of his
socond wife, and is now living with her.
While he was under indictment this second
wife went in hiding, but when he decided tc
plead guilty, she returned. bringing home
babe only few weeks old. Daynes, it ap.
pears, has been treating his legal wife
shamsfully, for the purpose of getting her
to apply for divorce.
John Nicholson, the recently sentenced
editor Of the church organ, The Dessret
News, is one of the worst fanatics. He
sees the fulfllment of prophecy in almost |
every thing, and is all the time looking for
the Lord to come and receive the Mo rmon |
people and overthrow the govern ment. |