Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1886-07-29
poLYGAMY ON THE INCREASE.

II is well known to all intelligent resi-
dents OF Utah that polygamous marriages
are being consummated in the Territory
10 a greater extent than before the pass
age OF the Edmunds law. The reason OF
this is that the leaders OF the Church,
fearing the effect OF the statute upon
those who had not up TO that time en-
tered into polygamy, that they would
not join in opposition 10 law which did
not directly affect themselves, have since
made unusual efforts, by persuasion,
threats and promises OF ecclesiastical
promotion, to induce as many as possible
to place themselves in position where
they would be in danger of the law by
rendering themselves amenable to
its penalties. The Temples at
Logan and st. George have
full stock companies OF actors who live
within the walls, and whose sole employ
ment is the rendition of characters in the
Adam and Eve Paradise dramatization,
which comprises the polygamous mar
riage ceremonial. These people are kept
more busy than Il circus company on the
Fourth OF July, sometimes giving as
many as half dozen performances dur
ing the day and evening. OF course, the
Mormon papers deny that poygamous
marriages are being continued, but
the denial is for effect abroad, for there is
too much evidence OF the TACT to deceive
anyone here. In proof OF this we pub
lish the following from the report Of the
Grand Jury, which was recently impan-
cled at Ogden in the First judicial Dis
trict OF the Territory:
In the matter of Investigations for offenses
against the laws of the United States re-
specting polygamy and unlawful cohabita-
ton, the Grand Jury desires to say, as being
particularly applicable TO the condition here,
what was recently reported by the Grand
Jury of the Third District Court of Idaho
Territory:
owe beg leave to state that we find a con-
dition of affairs in the several counties of
this district which has been n surprise to the
members of the Grand Jury. Polygamous
marriages and cases of unlawful cohabita-
tiOn are much more prevalent than we had
good reason to suppose. We are confident
we could go on piling up indictments in this
lack of time and funds in the hands of the
United States Marshal to pay for sending
officers out for witnesses.
1--WE find also that there are numerous
cases all through the district of men dodg-
ing the officers, and that it is the general
practice among members of the Mormon
Church especially, to use every endeavor to
prevent the subppnaing of witnesses in the
class of cases above mentioned, and also to
prevent the arrest of persons charged with
these offenses We are also of the opinion,
from the developments and evidence before
us, that there is a concerted action on the
part of the sect above mentioned especially,
to prevent either the court or the jurors from
getting proper testimony in polygamy or CO.
habitation cases; that perjury and intimida-
tion of witnesses are being advocated and
advised by the teachers of the sect afore-
said, and in some cases, as we believe,
actually perpetrated, and in all, with
scarcely an exception, we find members of
this sect unwilling Witnesses
Continuing this, the Grand Jury desires to
say that no matter what difficulties may be
thrown in the way of those whose duty it is
TO see that the laws of our country are en-
forced and obeyed, they should never weary
in that duty.
And yet, in the face OF these facts,
there are people, processing TO be Gen
tiles, in Utah, who believe or profess to
believe, that the present law is all that is
necessary to effect the suppression OF
polygamy in the Territory!