Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1890-03-25
PLEAD Guilty.,


A rumor has gained currency that
the ex-Mormons indicted in this
county for conspiracy will plead
guilty and throw themselves upon
the mercy of the court. In our
opinion no wiser thing can be done
aud we believe the court will be very
lenient. Should these parties plead
guilty, it would not be good public
policy to inillct severe punishment,
for the very simple reason that every
effort should be made TO encourage
them to become loyal citizens. The
crime that these men committed can
not be classed with ordinary crimes
and the influences and conditions
which surround them were peculiar
and uncommon. There are many ex-
tenuating circumstances; and il 1t be
shown that they are truly pebitefit
and have an honest desire to conform
their lives and actions to the laws
and customs Of the country, every
nducement should be offered them
to do so. We candIdly submit, how
ever, that il they persist in litgating
their cause, thus mourning heavy OK
penses to the county, and should thoy
or any OF them be convicted, tho
court can not consistently extend the
leniency il would in case they plead
guilty and thus end the proceedings.
In looking at this question without
the slightest prejudice, it is difficult
to see how the indicted parties can
escape conviction should they at
tempt TO fight it out on the same line
followed last fall. Under tho decis-
ION OF the Supreme Court Of Idaho,
every person who handed resigna-
tson paper to Bishop of tho Nor
mon church is held to then have
been member and, as Judge Berry
held, good Mormon, acting strictly
in obedience to the counsel Of church
officers. The court then holds that
such designations did not constitute q
severance from the church and, fur
thermore, that the presentation OF one
at that time aud in substantially the
same language as many others, was
proof that the party presenting suol
resignation had entered into and be
come part of a general conspiracy tt
defeat the law. This decision thor
establishes, first, that every man whC
presented a resignation was ut tn,
time a member of the Mormon church
second, that the resignation did no
disconnoct him from that church and
third, that such presentation at tina
time aud in that language made hin
party TO conspiracy, such as the par
ties in question are indicted for, T,
us thore appears no chance for es
cape from those conclusions,
A short time ago The Enterprs
advanced the idea that il tho indiote,
parties would oo,aply with the pres
ent law requiring certain deolarator,
statements, etc, that such complanc,
would operate largely in their favor
Aftor moro mature consideration o
the question, we are somewhat in
clined to modify our Vows on tina
proposition, for this reason; If az
steal an OK from "B" and does no
offer to return it until after crimina
proceedings have begun, it does no
seem that the fact that "a" offers t
restore the property at such lat
date is a mitigating circumstance
The natural Inference would be tina
"a" sees no way TO escape conviction
therefore, as matter of oompulsior
he offers TO make restoration. w
believe that the same line Of reason
ing viii apply to the case in hand
In fact, we apprehend that the oour
would rule out any testimony tend
ing to show good faith by acts per
formed six months or year after tn
commission of an alleged offens,
during all of which time Grimm,
proceedings were pending. Gu
views may be unsound, but we thin
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