Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-04-27
THE TEMPLE LOT IN JACKSON
COUNTY.

THE taking OF dispositions In the suit
brought by the Recognized or
"Josephitc" Church against the
Church Of Christ or ''Hodrlokites," for
po.sesalon Of the Temple grounds at
Independence, Missouri, was resumed
at that place on the 18TH inst. Among
the witnesses examined was Charles
johnson, Of Southwest, Missouri, who
married Maria Louise Cowdcry,
daughter OF Oliver Cowdery. II was
through johnson that the "Josephites"
obtained the quit-claim deed on which
they base one OF their pretended
"rights" to the property In question.
His wife and her mother died short
time ago within forty.eight houts Of
each other, and particulars were pub
lished In our columns.
In cfoss.oxaminallon It was diclosed
that this man and his wife had done
considerable business In signing quit
claim needs for land to which they
declared they held title, people paying
them ia order 10 quio, litigation. From
the Kansas CITY Journal We learn that
the witness claimed that through his
wife's inheritance By reason OF being
the daughter u Oliver Cow derry, who
had large real estate interests In Jack.
son county In an early Jay, he had
title to seventy-three acres In the west.
ern portion OF the city and also In
Kansas CITY. The witness stated that
about two years ago Bishop Kelley, OF
the Reorganized church, hal visited
him and paid him 500 for u qult.claim
deed to the Temple lot.
Johnson signed the quit.claim deed,
he said, for the 500 ami an oral con.
siderstion. The oral consideration was
ihat suit should be- brought Tor the
possession Of the Temple lot, Rnd all ex-
penses OF such suit were to he paid by
the church. The outcome OF this suit,
the witness thought, would materially
aid him In establishing his claim to the
land without expense TO himself. Az
ter once establishing his claim In the
Circuit court OF the United States, he
would be able TO reap n harvest Of
shekels from property owners who
would, In order to sell their property,
have to give clear title. Some OF tho
finest residences In the city are located
on this land, and johnson could collect
handsomely from people who have
dwell IN fanclod security.
In addition TO this shaky title pur-
chased by the JoaephiteA they base
their claim on the absurd notion that
the original Church Of Jesus Christ Of
Latter-day Saints was dlsorganlzed al
the death Of Joseph and Hyrum Smith,
and that the "ReoIganized" church IL
its successor. ON this theory, every time
the First Presidency becomes dlsorgan'
lied by vacancy In the oiilce oil
President, the entire Church become,
di.organized and new Church has "a
he started or the whole thing Is dead
Against this ridiculous notion Is tn,
established order " the Priesthood n,
set forth In the Doctrine and Coven,
ants, by which the Church is TO be
perpetuated, Its Presidency chosen and
appointed by the body, ana all vacan,
cies In IL quoruma and councils filled,
that II may endure for ever.
Whatever errors Of doctrine and
discipline may have been imbibed 10y
the "Hedrickites,"hcy are in p,ac
abu and lawful possession OF IN,
property which they have bought anc
paid for aud the present undetermined
attempt to Dust them and wrcst from
them this land, cannot be- too strongly
oondemued by fair and honest people.