Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1886-02-11
GATHERING THEM IN.
Mcssrs. Gownps, sesoIn and Foul
ger Found Guilty ON the Usual
Charge.

The case OF Hugh s. Gowans, OF Tooele
City, charged with unlawful cohabitation,
was called up this morning in the Third
District Court, and the empaneling of a
jury was the first business accomplished.
The same farce OF calling, examining and
excusing a number of jurors who had
already dozen times avowed their be-
lief in poygamy, was gone through with,
and there were also two or three gentle
men excused on account OF their ac-
quaintance with the defendant, amongst
whom were Bolivar Roberts and John M.
Young. After examining some thirty
persons the necessary twelve were OBJ
tanned and took the oath administered by
the clerk The plea Of not guilty which
had been entered last term was at the re-
quest of the defendant withdrawn and
that of guilty substituted, after which
Mr.. Gowans requested to be permitted to
testify. On taking the stand he acknow-
lodged that Betsy Gowans and Elizabeth
Brownhead Gowans were his wives and
that he had lived with them during the
term specified in the Indictment. No
further evidence was taken and no argu-
ments offered, and the Judge submitted
his usual brief charge to the jury, the
latter returning an immediate verdict of
guilty. After the jury was discharged,
Mr.. Dickson announced that the other
two cases against Mr.. Gowans would be
continued for the term. lie Grande
Young, Gowans' attorney, stated to the
Court that, if agreeable, the Goth inst.
would be preferred rs the date for sent
ence, and the Court 80 ruled.
The case of Henry Grow, indicted for a
similar offense was next called, but quite
wait ensued before the proceeding at
was discovered that severalimportantwit-
nesses were absent, and the case was
therefore continued till 2 o'clock this af-
ternoon.
Joseph III. Sesoin, indicted for unlawful
cohabitation, was next brought forward
for trial. Mr.. Dickson stated that the
notes taken before the Grand Jury in this
case last November, while he was at
Provo, had been lost, and it would there
fore be necessary to have a jury. A great
deal of amusement was created by Jo-
seph Sesoin, ST., coming forward in re-
Spouse to his name being called, in error.
The old gentleman excited q round Of
laughter when he first made his appear
ance, and his comical department would
have convulsed the spectators had it not
been for the emphatic protestation Of the
Court. He was not the man, and was
excused. The defendant stated that he
was too poor to employ counsel, and the
Court appointed j. l.. Rawlings and LIE
Grand Young to defend the case.
AT the suggestion of Mr.. Young the
clerk called only odd numbers for jurors,
in order that progress might be facilitated.
Andrew Poulson, ST., was sworn as the
first witness, but was found to be useless
without an interpreter, and was allowed
to stand aside for the present.
Andrew Ponlson, Jr., testified: live
at Sandy. Know the defendant; he re-
sides at West Jordan. Also know Han
nah Sesoin; she had two children; 1
have seen them frequently-a boy and a
girl. / have three sisters-Anne, Lilya
and Engred. My sister Engred lives at
Union Fort, and is married to Mr.. Sesoins !;
had been married about two months.
She had lived with her father until within
the last two or three months, and her
Oldest child was seven years old.
Counsel for the defense asked to have
this testimony stricken out, as the indict-
ment charged the relations only between
January 4, 1884, and June Of that year.
Overruled and exception taken.
Witness continued: My sister and
Sesoin's other wife, Hannah, were both
living at the same house when the
first child was born. was not
present at that time. The second
child was about years old and my sister
n vNin xx-ho 10
child was born, and also when the third
was born.
Cross-examined-My sister was mar
ried to Mr.. Sesoins--I don't know
how long ago. They had lived together,
which was generally taken as evidence of
marriage. She and Sisoin had both told
her they were married.
Engred Poulson testified: / am the
wife OF Joseph ii. Sesoin; have four chill
dren by him. was living with him as his
wife when my last child was born lived
in the same house with his other wife,
Hannah.
Cross-examined-Ha been married
about eight years; did not know
who had married them nor where the
ceremony was performed. only that it was
in town. Excused.
The case was submitted without argu-
ment, and the Judge briefly charged the
jury, who gave an immediate verdict OF
guilty.
Sesoins desired, under advice OF his
attorneys, to withdraw his plea OF not
guilty to the second indictment and plead
guilty now, which was permitted, and
Thursday, the 18th inst, set for receiving
sentence.
Herbert j. Foulger's was the next case
called. Mr.. Foulger is bishops counselor
in the Twenty-first ward and is also
superintendent of the Twentieth Ward
Cooperative store. The indictment
charges unlawful cohabitation with Eliza
beth Foulger and Charlotte Maria Foul
ger, on the LIST day of December, 1882,
and continuously thereafter. A jury,
made up exclusively of odd numbers,
was secured without loss OF time, and
Mr.. Foulger took the witness stand. He
stated that the parties named in the in
dictment were his wives and that he had
lived with them during the period stated
as such.
The usual charge followed and was sue.
ceeded by TIE verdict OF guilty, which
the jury announced without leaving their
seats. The Goth inst. was named as the
day for passing sentence, and the court
adjourned till p. IN.