Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1889-11-28
THE MORMON TRIALS.
More Telling Evidence Against the
Church Institutions.
Members Take Murderous Oaths - Men
and Women swear That the Govern
ment Shall suffer for the so-CalIed
Martyrdom of the Prophets.
SWORN TO AvENGE.

SALT LAKE CITY, U. T., Nov. 22.-The
investigation into the character of the
Mormon endowment house oaths was
continued yesterday. Mrs. Gilmore
testified that she went through the
endowment house seventeen years ago
with a number OF others, and all
were called upon TO swear that
they would avenge the blood of
Joseph and Hiram Smith upon the
American nation and teach the doctrine
of revenge to their children and chill
dren's children down to the fourth gem
Grafton. Any one who violated the
oaths taken or revealed the secrets of
the house was threatened with death.
Henry w. Lawrence, president of the
Chamber of Commerce, and one of the
most prominent men in the Territory,
testified that he became a Mormon in
nine years ago. lie officiated in
the endowment house in this
city several years. lie was ex-
communicated in 1869 for having
the spirit of apostasy, lie corroborated
the testimony given by Mrs. Gilmore,
and said the penalty of death attached
to the violation of the covenants and
the revealing of the secrets of the en-
dowment house. In the time of Brig
ham Young the priesthood was supreme
and he controlled the people in all
things, and witness said the church was
in opposition to the Government
c. w. Penrose, who was committed for
contempt, did not file a statement yes
terday as was expected. lie is still in
the penitentiary. The court ruled that
the investigation should be closed until
Penrose comes in and purges himself of
contempt,
SALT LAKE CITY, u. T., Nov 23.-In
the investigation being held to de-
termine whether alien Mormons are
eligible for naturalization a number of
witnesses testified yesterday that in
May, 1879, there was big demonstra-
ton in this city in honor of the release
of Daniel II. Wells from the peniten-
tiary, where he had been committed
for contempt of court in refusing to an
swer questions regarding the endowment
house ceremonies. They testified that
a procession of many thousand Mormons
went up the main street trailing the
American flag in the dust.
The prosecution then offered in evil
dence paper served on member of the
Mormon church which fully demon
strated the charge made that the church
dictated and controlled temporal affairs.
Attorneys for the church denied that
polygamous marriages we're now being
solemnized, but when questioned admit
ted no record of such marriages were
kept, and that they had no means Of
knowing if they were being solemnized
or not.
SALT LAKE CITY, U. T., Nov 25.-The
Mormon inquiry was continued Satur-
day. Principal Talmage, of the Nor
mon college, testified that pupils were
taught that the relation of plural mar
riage came from God; but that the con-
constitution, when properly admins
tered, does not interfere with any reve-
lations of God. Witness believed the
law against polygamy unconstitutional.
About one Mormon out of thirty was a
polyga mist. He believed the president
of the church divinely called and would
obey him