Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1886-12-15
ANGUS DISCHARGED.
There is Not Sufficient Evidence to
Hold Him on Either Of the
Four Charges.
The Promises Made to the Grand Jury
by Two of CannOn's Wives
Unwilling Witnesses.
Robert II. II. Parsons Gets Himself In
Il Box by His Dlsgraceful
Presentations.

The five cases against Angus NJ. Can
non, charged with polygamy and unlaw-
ful cohabitation were at last settled this
morning by the decision OF Commissioner
Mckay.
Before the result was announced Mr..
Richards made few remarks in refer
ence to the fact that the charge Of cohab-
itation, on which Mr.. Dickson had asked
that the defendant be held, had already
been Investigated by the Grand Jury and
that body had not found an indictment.
JUDGE MKAY
Said, in delivering his decision, that he
was the assistant prosecuting attorney
when the grand jury was investigating
the case in question, and he was there
fore acquainted with all the facts in con-
nection with it. The evidence given be-
fore that body was very conclusive and 1t
was not for a lack OF it that the defend
ant was discharged. The evidence
at that time showed clearly that the de-
PENDANT had lived at the house occupied
by Clara and Amanda Cannon, during
the time mentioned in the complaint,
l. e: the time between Cannon's ar
rest and his sentence. But two OF
HIS WIVES PROMISED
| That they would not live with him when
| he returned from the Penitentiary and it
was for this reason that no bill was found.
The difference between the testimony of
the witnesses as given at that time and
as given in the present examination was,
in the language OF the Judge, simply in
famous. However, there was nothing in
the testimony given in this examination
that would warrant holding the de-
PENDANT, and he would therefore be dis
charged on all four charges.
THE PARSONS CASE.
Just before dsposing of the Cannon
case, as noted above, the Judge said that
he would like TO make some examination
in the matter of the testimony given by
the witness Parsons, on Monday morn
ing. He was of the opinion that the
witness had lied, and he thought that he
should be punished. He then ordered
that Parsons be brought into court, and
also called Marshals Dyer, Pratt and
Cannon rs witnesses.
MARSHAL DYER
Was sworn and said | had converse.
ton with the witness Parsons in regard
to the Cannon trial ON Friday last,
heard that he wanted to talk with me and
that he would be at McKay's office at
o'clock | went there and, without any
solicitation whatever, Parsons said he
knew enough to send Cannon to the Peni.
Tertiary. He then asked if | could pay
him for testifying, saying, in explanation,
that if he were to give evidence in the
case he would have to leave the country,
and wanted money to go on. lie then
went on to say: 81 saw Mr.. Cannon
IN BED WITH MISS HUGHES
Twice, through the door, when went to
take her breakfast, and on one or two
other occasions saw them through the
window, when | peeped in out OF curl
osity.
About an hour later, continued the
Marshal, he came to my office and told
me about witness named Annie Olson,
who used to live in the cottage and who
was now laundry girl. He went out to
inquire about her, but when he came
back he said he believed she had gone to
Bingham.
He told me that Matte Hughes was at
a certain house in the Nineteenth ward,
and it was for this reason that that house
was searched.
WITNESS PARSONS.
Parsons was then questioned by the
Judge in regard to the statement he had
made, and the only explanation that he
could give was that he had had little
drop and was not responsible for what he
had said.
The Marshal further stated that he
thought Parsons was perfectly sober at
the time.
DEPUTY PRATT
Was then called and said: | had q con-
versation with Parsons on Friday last in
Whttemore's hotel; | had seen his
mother previously and she had said: 81
know all about the case, but my son
Robert is the man you want to see. >
When | found Parsons he told me that
he knew enough to send the - of Il -
to the Pen. He said he wanted money
to get out OF the country, and il he could
get it he would come forward and tell the
truth. | told him he would have to tel
the truth anyway, and that he might as
well 60 up and do it.
Deputy Cannon, who was with Mr.
Pratt at the time the above conversation
IOOh llluI Htull0llluH
story, and both were OF the opinion that
he was perfectly sober at tho time.
Judge Mckay then ordered an officer
to take charge OF Parsons, and said that
he would issue an attachment and make
a further investigation OF the case
DISCHARGED.
At 2 O'Clock this afternoon Judge Nc
Kay again summoned Parsons before
him, in order to give him his freedom
This was done, however, with a reluc-
lance which His Honor did not try to
disguise. He told Parsons that he had
examined the authorities on the subject
and could find nothing which would war
rant holding him either for perjury or for
contempt, and he would therefore have
to be discharged. AS monumental
liar, the Judge told Parsonsl that he was
far ahead OF anything on record, and His
Honor had never seen and never wanted
to see another preyaricator OF his calibre