The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-05-23


habit as a husband. and who lived in
their own separate houses: showing by
the evidences that for over four years
his client had cohabited exclusively
with but one wife. True. he &C
knowledged the others as his
wives, not in carual, but IN
a religious sense, which could
give no offense under the statute, as it
was not attended by any Haunting OF
the opportunities of a bigamous house
hold in the face of society which only
prompted acts that were innocent and
meritorious and not done in the asser-
ZION Of any night of cohabitation con-
sisting Of
Visiting at rare intervals.
Supporting.
Driving out in carriage with one or
more OF them.
Atten ton to sick child.
A festivity on his birthday in the
place Of their public worship.
In this connection Mr.. Curtis asks If
the word cohabitation is to have an lin
Repression that will require a man
TO renounce every duty. to dishonor the
dead ana sgonlze the living, and bring
shame upon himselfS
Is II ~ receive an Interpretation with
out any reference TO the obligations or
restraints resting on the sovereignty
which enacted the law7
Is il 10 be made TO mean a construc-
tive dwelling together, when there has
been nothing but the discharge of du-
ties of the highest obligation?
This constructive cohabitatfon makes
this single word the most elastic that
was ever put into statute.
There is nothing that it viii not
reach. Let me enumerate:
l. Combination with sexual inter
course. That is of course within the
statute.
2. Capitalization by dwelling under
the same roof. without sexual inter-
course. That was Cannons case. Now
We come to the dividing line.
3. Cohabitation by dwelling under
different roofs, but occasionally seeing
each other, and without sexual inter-
course.
4. Cohabitation by dwelling in diff
ferent towns, but writing to each other,
sending supplies. delicacies, medicines,
etc, in case Of sickness.
5. Capitalization by living in different
but corresponding, and
speaking of each other as husband and
wife.
6. Cohabitation by acts of kindness
and attention during a series of years,
although not dwelling together; and
then when the death-bed scene comes. |
and the husband stands there for a last |
I'D ~ ell 4. r. L
life, he follows her remains to the grave,
and writes on the gravestone-Harriet
vile of Lorenzo Snow-that, too, is un-
awful "cohabitationp
Have we enacted law so barbarous |
rs this, in the vain hope that We can
stamp out OF the human heart a religious
belief in the relation that subsists in il
when oceans roll between the parties,
Ind when one has crossed the guf
hat separates time from eternity7 No,
We have notl Such constructions are
The second proposition urged by Mr..
Curtis was that aside from any Consti-
objections there was no evil
ience OF cohabitation in either of the
hree cases on which Snow was tried
except with one woman. This PROPOSE.
ion he demonstrates beyond all ques.
ion, but to no avail, so far as bringing I,
elief TO his client. as the cas- was sub
dismissed for want of juris-
LECTION.
In none OF the comments in the press ,
; there any controversion either of the
acts or arguments of the learned law
'er, but there is resort to what de
raded minds will not scruple to descend
Then unable to meet an issue with .
and that is abuse. That is
be one to which the opponents of the :
iormon people and their defenders are :
now. But 1t is to be hoped
hat those who have raised their voices
4 the defense of an oppressed people ,
NIL not falter in the good cause. In
me to come 1t viii be said of them.
They we're friends to Truth; they
the oppressed: they defended
ae weak athey cried avaunt to tyranny. ,
nd demanded justice and mercy for
he despised and hsted"-a record that
III be a monument more enduring.
lore valuable than a marble shaft.
owever embellished By the cunning of
he skilled sculptor.