Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-04-16
ANOTHER POINT.

SHOULD he wish to use il the En-
peror of all the Russia's can make
another POINT against the American
.petiti0ners who desire the abolition
Of the barbari,iss pIactired Hpon the
political prisoners Of the Cars do
main. It consists of the statement,
as originally published in the Ogden
Standard and which is reproduced
IN this issue of the News, Of raid
made by two deputy Z. S. Marshals
upon the home Of Thomas b. Helm,
of Pleasant View, Weber County.
Mr.. Helm is probably aboIt sixty
years ola and somewha lame from
having his leg injured several yeas
since. At the time the Edmunds
law was passed he had more wives
than one and he has served two
terms in the penitentiary for the
offense Of unlawful cohabitation-
which simply consists Of practically
acknowledging both families.
We have no reason TO question
the DETAILS given by the Standard,
as that paper is generally correct as
70 matters Of fact. But be TIA as il
may. there seems no room for doubt
that Mrs, Helms sudden death was
the direct result OF the visit of the
deputies. Tits but another fatality
added TO the long list that has been
made 10y The cruel anti-"8Iormon''
crusade, and for which the trainers,
enactors and operators Of the meas
ures which produce such effects will
sooner or later be held to answer.
II the cases pursued under the
snti-'Alormon" legislation passed
aud enforced since the opening of
1882 involved instances OF Polygamy
entered into subsequent to that time,
there would be little room for COM
plant. But such is not the condition.
The laws We're passed and found
numerous families established as far
hack as half century, and all the
way along the Intermediary period.
Those are the domestic domains that
have been ruthlessly invaded, their
heads seized and carried into court,
while wives and children have teen
compelled 20 testify against those
whom they loved better than life.
Men have been herded into prison
by scores. And what has it all ac-
c0mpiished? Mr.. Varian unwilling
y answered thisquestion yesterday,
in a case in which the accused, like
4 contemplate craven, sought to
escape incarceration in prison by
disclaiming the paternity Of his
child, thus, TO save himself, casting
odium upon his plural wife. The
prosecuting attorney said:
This case presented new and pecul-
lar features. I have had considerable
experience in Mormon cases, and
never saw where one repudiated a
child. THIS IS tie FRS, instance trhcreI
@ man has dsiiea tss paternity Of his
plural. lr.Sr's child. 7 is the FRS, case
80 he history Of these prosecutions
srhcTc mg7, holding a membership li
the Church repu9iate9 his plural rife,
and her child Hfs the FIRST time irEel,
sgeh q man has e-ds1rofel 10 strike
DOM The character Of Ais plural ,rjfe.
and it IS the tirst ti.ae irlcre a plural
igife, Ia these prosecutions, has oger
been accused Of Eajutk fulacsS
These people were married, proper
ly as they believed. and they lived To-
gsthcr Tor many years. Now comes
this man with this infamy. I say he
has been living a lie FOR the past seven
years.
This plural wife, with the years Of
an honest life behind her, comes here
and says 10 this defendant, "How dare
You disown this little baby?p 1 saw
that there arc thousands Of men here
ssh0. rather Tan do such q tsi.4g. tgoulR
suffer ae extreme pcHaI.y Ct lsc lar,
bef9re iatiHgtiag such a disgrace. J.
ask this jury to take a common sense
view OF the case, and have 10 d6ub.
OF the result"
Mr.. Hamilton, who hal been ap-
pointed by the court counsel for the
defendant said:
"Iadmit that it is true that this is
the first time where, when l. came to
court, a father has deserted his p,Ivg-
amous children"
Theargument Of the District At.
tOrney throughout was a scathing.
scorching rebuke to the defendant.
and yet he could not excite the
slightest controversy with Us upon
the severest points Of it. But the
admissions Of counsel on both sides
are suggestive. What Is the use oil
seeking 10 force men to repuiiate the |
relationship into which they entered |
previous 10 lS52, and thus brand
wives and children with shamr.
If it is impossible Of accomplish
ment?
Some people do not appear to be
aware Of the fact, but it is neverthe-
less true, that there is a gro wing
sentiment Throughout toe country |
Ia favor Of leaving families which |
were formed before ISS2 undis-
turbed. There is no element Of
magnaniuiJy in infiicting suffering
ana distress upon men and helpless
women and children, when every
result Of such a course is impolitic
and Improbable, to say nothing OF
its inhumanity.
REGENERATING THE HAORIFS. |