Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1886-11-30
A BRAVE MAN.
John II. RumeI, Sr., Comes Out In
the Very Face of "News''
Editorial and Promises
TO Obey.

~ ODtIs
John II. Rumel, Sr., who was ar
rested few weeks ago on the charge OF
unlawful cohabitation, has been indicted
by the Grand Jury, and this morning he
went into court to plead to the charge.
The indictment charges Mr.. Rumel with
living with Abbie Gray Rumel and Eliza
Gray, between the LIST dav of December,
1888, and the 25th day OF November, 1886.
Mr.. Rumel entered a plea of guilty to
the Indictment and then with the per-
mission OF the Court he made the follow
ing statement
"In pleading to this indictment, if Your
Honor please, | would like to make short
statement. My record as a law-abiding citi-
zen for nearly sixty-eight years has never
been called in question until this day. Dur
ing this time | have never sued person nor
have | ever had n suit to defend. To say
that l am guilty of this charge, would be
doing violence to my conscience; neverthe-
less, the Grand Jurors have indicted me for
the crime of unlawful cohabitatien. And
as their findings are entitled to respect,
shall plead guilty, which seems to be rather
paradoxical. If 1 have erred in my judg-
ment or understanding of the law in the
past, shall not tarnish my record as law
abiding citizen in the future, and will obey
the law in the future as construed by the
court" JOHN II. RUMEL, SR.
Mr.. Varian stated that he believed that
Mr.. Rumel's statement was in accord
ance with his feelings, and he would
therefore ask that sentence be sus-
pended.
Judge Zane said Mr.. Rumel | am
! favorably impressed with your frank
statement and | believe that you are
sincere in your promise to obey the laws.
| therefore desire to extend to you the
same leniency that have shown to men
who have, in the paat, pleaded guilty to
this crime and promised to become law
abiding citizens. | think the laws are
best served, by suspension of sentence,
and sentence in your case will therefore
| be suspended.
There vas an air of general satisfaction
in the room, and as Mr.. Rumel walked
out onto the street, hand in hand with
| Liberty, the expressions of admiration
for his manliness were heard on every
hand.
Mr.. Rumels action would be a brave
one at any time, but it is the more so Just
now, inasmuch as Chief Angus took occa-
|
denim those who promised to obey the
laws, and inasmuch as the church organ
of last night leveled its gun at this very
practice.
Following is portion of the editorial
referred to; events since the opening
OF the present anti Mormon crusade
have simply demonstrated the position
taken by the Nelrs from the commence
ment. 1t has been that to promise to
obey the law as construed by the courts
amounted to reputation of religious and
family obligations in theory as well as
practice. Events have placed this beyond
reasonable question. The matter is
clearly defined, and each individual
caught in the judicial drag-net must elect
his own course"
Only those who realize the full mean
ing OF a NelCs editorial has to a member
OF the Mormon Church, can understand
what Mr.. Rumeps action amounts to-
lie is man OF no great means, wholly
oralmost wholly, dependentupon Church
patronage for the support OF his family
entirely dependent upon the Church for
social and religious position, and abso.
lutely dependent upon that organization
for the good will of his friends. He holds
high position in the Church (beng, We
believe, the President OF one of the
quorums OF Seventies), which he will
lose by the step he has taken. At the
time OF Bishop Sharp's making a similar
promise, Mr. Rumel came ont and en-.
dorsed that gentleman's course. He re
ceived Church rebuke, with all the
terrors it has for the average Saint, and
yet he stood by his convictions. He will
be branded by the Saints as coward
but God knows that his action was q
thousand times Drawer than that OF the
hound who crawls into the Pen for feai
OF his masters lash.
Taking all into consideration, Mr.. Ru.
mel's action is second only to that o.
Bishop Sharp, and it must be admitted
by all fair-minded men that his course
was that of a truly brave and consci
encious man.