The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1886-05-13
HORRORS or MORMONDOSu.

!
SECRET oATHs OF THE ENDOWMENT
BETRAYED BY A INDY VICTIM
WASHINGTON, May Sin the hear
ing to-day before the House Judiciary
Committee quite group Of ladies
came with Miss Kate Field to see the
three Mormon women, who sat upon
one OF the sofas during the hearing.
Mr.. Baskin, representing the anti
Mormon element, made a very. elab-
crate argument before the committee,
urging additional legislation to put
down the Mormon power. He argued
that the men who thought polygamy
was right should be disfranchised, as
we'll as those who actually practise
polygamy. Mr.. Baskin made SEN
sational point in his discourse by in
PRODUCING to the committee Mrs. Miles,
a lady who had gone through the En-
dowment House and who could tes-
tify to the oaths required of the mem
bers. Mrs. Miles is tall, clear-faced
brunette, perhaps thirty years of age.
She sat back OF Miss Field, and looked
very much excited and disturbed while
Mr.. Baskins related her story. She
was an Englishwoman, who las per-
suaded to join the Mormon Church by
a missionary who bad been an old
playmate of hers. He proposed to her
and she left England in spite OF the
protests of her parents, She went to
Utah to join him, knowing nothing
OF polygamous marriages until she
arrived in Salt Lake. Then her low
er told her that he intended to take
second wife. She resented this, and
it was only after long struggle with
the Mormon powers that she consen-
ted to be married to him, but upon
condition that she was to be the first
wife,
She went through the Endowment
House and will give her testimony
before the committee concerning the
horrible oaths that were required.
She found soon after that she had
been tricked and that it was the other
wife who was the first. She then had
Miles arrested and his case was tried
and thrown out in the Supreme Court
upon d technicality. Legal proof was
lacking of the first marriage. Miles
was therefore freed. Mrs. Miles new
er returned to Salt Lake. A short
time ago the death OF relative left
her an Independent fortune in Eng
land. She has since returned from
England to this country, where she
intends to live, She will assist Miss
Field in her fight against the Nor
mons.
Mrs. Miles testifies to two or three
forms OF oaths, which were submitted
to the committee to-day. One form
specifies that the Mormons shall re-
gard the rules OF the Church as above
that of the civil law, and that any be-
trayal Of the secrets of the Church
shall be followed by the tearing of the
tongue from the mouth and the cut
ting Of the throat of him who so fall
SITES his oath. Another oath has the
penalty OF disembowelling connected
with it. Mr.. Baskins submitted sew
erdl cases Of murder that had been
committed in the Territory during
his time by the Mormons, which were
in conformity with the penalties pre-
scribed in these oaths. The presen
tation of an actual witness who car
subscribe to the secrets of the Endow
ment House will greatly aid the peo
pie who are seeking to get additiona
{ legislation against the Mormons
The secrets Of the masquerade Of thu
Mormon Church have never beer
fully given before any of the Cong
ressional committees.
Mrs. Miles story Of the shocking
and disgusting mummeries OF the En-
dowment House, the horrible anC
murderous oaths required, make
q sensational story which was present
ed in a very dramatic form this after
/. noon. Mrs. Miles is strong, resolut,
; looking woman. There is no doub
e that her testimony is truthful ant
q honest.
= Giving New Workers an Edea