The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-12-01
Before the Commission er.

OOLA 4NSAACAA IL AZ Jul OuE
case before him yesterday, that of the
United States VS. John Groves, resi-
dent of Mill Greek, who was arrested
on the 9th inst charged with unla W
tuI cohabitation. The first witness
called was a woman who said her
name was Mary Ann Williams, the al
legged plural wife of the defendant. She
said her nama was Williams; that her
husbands name was also Williams, but
that he was not the father OF her
youngest child. Asked rs to who was
the father, she hesitated and then she
said she didn't know.
Mr.. CLARK-Were there so many in
Volyed in the affair that you find it i'm
possible to tell2
WITNEss-No
Mr.. CLARK-You profess to be a res
pectsble woman, do you not?
WITNEss-Yes
Mr. CLARK Well, then, why cant
you answer
WIrNEss-I prefer to think it over for
a time, while consult with friend.
Mr.. CLARKE-Who is your friend?
WITNEss-Mr. Groves, think.
Mr. CLARKE-How old is your child?
WITNEss-About nine-or about seven
months, believe.
Mr.. CLARKE-You have stated that
Mr.. Williams is not the father of your
child, now will you tell Us who isl
The witness remained quiet for sew
eral m nutes, when the Commissioner
informed her that he thought she was
trif1ing with the court, and that unless
she answered such questions as were
put to her, he would feel compelled to
send her to jail. 81 don't want to be
harsh with you, and l don't intend to
be-" said the Commissioner, "but you
have been asked questions that are
eminently proper and it is your duty to
answer them. 1t is IN the power of the
court to punish those who refuse to
answer"
Mr. GROW Es-May I advise her?
Mr. CLARKE-In what capacity?
Nh. GROVES We'll, l merely wanted
to advise her to tell the truth.
Witness again asked that she might
be allowed to consult with friend, but
the request was denied, the Commits
sioner remarking that it would be
something unheard of if witness for
the prosecution were allowed to take
counsel from the defendant in the case.
She then requested, after a pause of
several minutes, that she might be al
lowed to talk to Mr.. Barney. The re-
ply was in the negative, when Mr..
Barney, in a rather confused manner,
informed the court that he saw no
reason why she should wish to take ad-
vice from him as he had never seen her
bafore the present time. AS last re-
sort she asked that she might have a
little conversation with small girl
present This also was denied, and as
she still persisted in evasive answers she
was sent to the marshal's Office and
other witnesses called for.
MARY ANN GROVES was then
called: She testified that she
was a married woman, being the wife
of the defendant. Continuing she
said: He had wife living at the time
1 married him, but she has been dead
twenty years or more. No ceremony
has been performed since that time;
have heard rumors that Mrs. Stuart
know it; went to her house once with
my husband, where 1 met her; her
name is Mary Ann Williams; 1 do not
know whether she is married to my
husband or not; it is about four years
since l heard the rumors that she was
married to my husband; do not know
when her last child was born; she has
four children living, believe, but what
their names are | do Lot know; my
husband never told me that he was
married to Mary Ann.
MARTHA CARLToN-I am daughter
of the deft ndant; Eever saw Mary
Am Williams until to-day; it
is about a year since | heard
that she was married to father;
the marriage has been discussed
10 the family by mother and my
brothers.
MARGARET GRovE5-Am Is years old,
and the daughter of the defendant;
know Mary Ann Williams; l have seen
her once at meeting in the Sugar House
Ward; never visited her house, and
never saw her but once before to-day.
We do not regard her as father plural
wi Q.
ELLEN ToQUE-Do 70; know Mary
Ana Williams; and never heard that Mr..
Groves had more than one wife.
MINNIE GROVES, another young
daughter of the defendant, was called.
She never saw Mary Aun Williams be-
fore. but had heard it rumorsd that her
father had another wife.
This closed the evidence, and the
coDtumacious witness was sent for. She
was escorted into court by Bailitf
Sprague, when she again worried both
court and prosecutor considerably.
Mr.. CRARKE-Are you ready to an
swer the question lately put to your
WITH ss-I don't know.
The CoMMIssIoNER-Are you ready to
answer such questions now as the court
thinks you ought to answer? Are you,
or not?
A pause
THE CoMMIssIoNRR-I want an answer,
please.
WITNEss-I don't know whether I m
or no. 1 am willing to tell the truth, so
far as know.