Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1886-02-20
NOT A CONVINCING ARGUMENT.
y. u. B. smith Heads the Court "a
Tedious Address, Hut IT Avail
eth Nothing.

To-day was the time appointed Tor
passing sentence on s. ii. Il. Smith, CON
victed short time since OF unlawful CO.
habtation. Smith was araigned in court
this morning, and when asked II he had
anything to say before sentence was pro-
nounced, he requested to be permitted to
read few words he had prepared, TO
which the Court gave its consent. Smith
braced himself and read q long
essay on his case, dwelling with
desperate attempt at earnest
ness upon the lack OF evidence
which he asserted had been used TO con-
Wet him upon. He said there had been
only one thing brought out that could be
called evidence, and this was the testi-
nony OF one witness that claimed TO have
heard him admit that the young child
born of the alleged polygamous wife was
his progeny. This testimony Smith in
sisted he himself had denied and therefore
there was in reality no evidence whatever.
Further along in his recitation he
switched around and tacitly acknowl-
edged that the polygamous relations that
were charged really existed, but still de-
MED that he had lived with the plural
wife under circumstances that could be
construed into violation OF the Edmunds
law, which, he contended, he had strictly
observed. He driited off to the same old
line OF argument about the everlasting
truth OF his religion, and occasionally
glanced at the Judge to see whether he
was being affected like Agrippa of old,
who became SO nearly converted by
l,.,N l,. Il al
most persuadest me to be Christian"
persuade worth cent, however,, and
from the occasional knitting OF his brow
and twitching OF his mouth close OBJ
server could see that even his stoical ma
ture was giving way under the terrible
monotony OF Smiths harangue.
When the select reading was finished
the Judge turned uneasily in his chair,
and fixing his eyes upon the flushed
countenance of Smith, began quiet but
emphatic rejoinder, which before it was
concluded made spectators think that
Smith was being literally burned up
His Honor disposed OF the references tc
lack OF evidence by citing the fac
that the jury had found him guilty
and that the defendants owl
admissions in his own intolerable address
just read confirmed the evidence givel
by witnesses, which was ample and con
elusive. With reference to the pretended
revelations and visitations on which
Smith and others had ignoranty base,
their defiant attitudes, the Judge sale
J they We're gross superstitons which thu
world, and certainlythe American people
had outgrown. NIahomet, too, hat
received revelations, and millions q
ignorant adherents had bowed to thei
mandates, but what had been demon
stratcd in connection with those preten
tons? They had dccayed and waste'
away before the light OF this age, an,
were placed where tho revelations an
inspirations OF the Mormons are throw
by the intelligent citizens OF this grea
Republican the catacombs OF super
. stition.
The Judge grew exceedingly earnes
as he proceeded, and before he 60
through everybody present was forced t
, admit that the remarks which wer
J uttered in all kindness constituted tn
most eloquent lecture OH the subjeC
. which His Honor has ever delivered.
: TlIr usual scIitcnvv OF OF six months
Imprisonment and $500 fine and costs WI,
. pronounced by the Court, and Smitl
! stepped up and asked ii he might be pei
mitted to ride out to the penitentlary wit
his wife. There was no objection offere
,, to this, and ut half-past 2 o'clock, TIL
exponent OF defiance to the law drove
his new home by the side OF his wife an
son, while one OF the deputies rode
another conveyance close at hand.