Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-03-26
DEspICAllLE TACTICS.

btNEt' NhIi lAA lANNs
WE have given our readers a sketch
Of the "Josephlte" movement to wfesi
from the possession OF the "Hedrick.
il,s" tho land In Independence, Mis-.
souri,, known Rs the Temple lots. The
department Of the men representing
the "Joscphitep, "during the invostiga-
ton here, was quite In keeping with
thu attempt 10 Gust from that land the
people who bought and paid for II and
have held II from fifteen 10 twenty
years. We now give some particulars
ofa small trick by which the sect seek.
Ing to 'Jump" the land thought to
gain n mean advantage over the own
ers. The details were furnished by
residents Of Independence knowing to
the facts related;
"In the year 1872, or about tina, time, n
new Charter was adopted by the City Of
Independence, under which certain
number Of cillzons could petition tho
city Council and obtain an order for side
walks to be built In front of property.
who,hor tho owners wanted Il or not. In
accordance with this provision, a side.
walk was quictly polliionod Tor and
ordered built on one side Of the Temple
lot Tho ownors OF the property were
not even notified and knew nothing Of IL
until tho material was on tho ground
aud tho walk partly laid. A tax bill was
issued against the property, to pay for
this sidewalk, recognizing James \.
Blako-loe, Bishop Of The RoorganiEcd
Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter day
Saints trustee In trust for that church,
rs owner Of this property.
- sidewalk was then ordered on
Tomplo street. and boforo the
tax bill was made out, tho presiding
officers OF tho Church Of Christ
or "llodrlckltcs" discovered the error In
tho iirst tax bill, and notified the abstract
firm that they had Obtained decree Of
the court appointing Richard IIlll, their
bishop, a. irusieo.in-trust for the
"Church Of Christ" which church was
tho beneficiary and owner Of the prop.
oriy, and that he must furnish correct
abstract to the clerk whose duty It was
to make out the tax bin. Tho decree of
tho circuit court was then filed for record
In tho county recorders Office.
That night, all the lower lights In the
Hcdrickiio Westinghouse on the iomplo
lot were broken ont and other damage
done. The reporters ofthe Kansas CityS,ar
aRd journal wrote sensational articles
and represented that there was war
among the Mormous at Independence,
and that the "Josephltos" had destroyed
property belonging 70 tho "Iiedriclsitos.p
Thl, was copied In part by tho Associated
Press reporter. and tologrnphcd from
Maine to California. Readers OF tho
daily pross dispatches will no doubt re-
member tho tom.
The attention OF tho members OF the
Reorganizcd Church was by this Incident
called TO the ii,ct that the leaders OF that
church had been Incorporating the
lao,s In regard TO the ownership Of the
Temple lot, and NJ the April conference
Of 1884, an explanation was asked for.
This called forth tho statement that the
Roorganlzod Church hnd tho title, but
tho 'ilcdriokltes' had possession OF tho
properly, that there was a cloud on the
title which could easily DO removed, aud
tho church would get possession OF that
property Us Ii did tho Kirkland Temple.
The conference promptly instructed tho
bishoprlc to take the necessary stops to
remove tho cloud from the title to tho
property in Independence. In accord
anco with that instruction suit was com
moneed In tho u. s Distric. Court Mt
kansas city In September, isll."
fit had not been for the vigilance
Of the Htdrieklte President, the trick
by which tho "JOsephite" Bishop en-
dsavofed TO appear officially US the
owner ofthe Temple lot as trustee for
his sect, would have prevailed and an
appearance Of title to the land would
have been made. The "Josephitea'
gained possession OF the kirtlanl
Temple by a bold stroke aud because
the suit went by default the Clutch In
Utah not making an appearance In
the case. Success Ia that Instance has
cmholiened the "Josephite'' leaders to
take steps to grab the Temple grounds
In Independence, to whicn they have
no more moral right than 10 the
private property OF any citizen
OF Missouri. The intrinsic present
value Of the hand Is not much, hut It's
historic and prospective worth 10 groat
In view of past incidents and future
expectations in connection with that
sacred spot, which is the centre Of at.
traction for many thousands Of Latter.
day Saints.