The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-05-07
BANISHED FOR LIFE.
THE OUTcAST OF CHURCH ISLAND IN
GREAT SALT LAKE.
He Has For Years Lived tho Life Of Q Wild
Man and Rarely Sees . Human Being
Branded For Robbing tho Dead by Order
Of Governor Brigham Young.

Man and Rarely Sees . Human Being
rande For Robbing the Dead by Order
Of Governor Brigham Young.
In the center Of the Great Salt lake
in Utah is a large body Of land known
as Church island. This land consists Of
mountains and valleys, with trees and
vegetation, and has always been used
as a herding ground for cattle belonging
to the Mormon church. Several years
ago the water on the east side of the is
land vas shallow and cattle could be
driven across easily, but now the water
is deep and everything must be convey
ed to and from the land in boats. A dis
lance Of about five miles covered with
salt water must be gone over by canoes
to get to OF from the island. On this
famous spot, amid millions of pelicans,
sea gulls and other fowls, wanders a
lonely old man. without clothing and
devoid Of language or any of the in
stincts of humanity. He was banished
years ago by the Mormon church On the
7 charge of robbing the dead.
Jean Baptiste was a Frenchman who
came to Salt Lake City a young man
nearly 40 years ago. He grew up among
the saints, and, after marrying. was
made sexton of the small cemetery. His
duties were light and his remuneration
correspondingly small. He resided in a
little cabin IN the mountain side over
looking the city, and spent his time.
when not employed in the cemetery, in
collecting junk and trading and trafick-
ing with a few Jewish secondhand
clothes dealers who had the hardihood
to engage in business among the Nor
mons. A regiment Of United States
troops was then camped near the city,
and the gehtiles engaged in business
were assured protection.
The little Frenchman was an avari-
cious man and was noticeable because
Of his picking up every cast away arti-
Gle and carrying it to his home. Old
dry goods boxes, barrels, tin cans and
other packing articles cast away by the
soldiers were especially we'll cared for
by Jean Baptiste, the sexton. He dress
ed as q scavenger and resembled the
ONACA b0AOOh AOo4C1, WIZ II 0yn
searching the slums for barrels and box
es Of garbage and cast off garments.
The actions Of the sexton created some
comment, and not q little curiosity was
aroused among people who had occasion
to visit his residence ON the mountain
side, owe the city.
One day Jean appeared on the streets
dressed in an elegant suit Of broadcloth.
A few days before a wealthy stranger
had died and was buried in the ceme.
terry. The suit in which the body wal
dressed resembled that worn by the sex
ton. An examination was ordered, and
the corpse was found to have been rob
bed Of its clothing. A committee wait
ed upon the sexton and made q most
startling discovery. The graveclothel
Of over 200 persons were found In thu
baskets and boxes slowed away in hi
ghoulish cabin. Excitement ran high /,
Salt Lake City. The boxes Of clothing
were emptied and the contents taken t.
the city hall, where many a fond moth
er identified the burial robes Of he
child. Elegant silk dresses, at that tim
a luxury even to the rich, were found i,
the various bundles. The man was ar
rested and cast into Jail, pursued by
mob who sought his life.
Brigham Young, then governor ant
general dictator in Utah, ordered tn
man to be branded with a hot iron an,
!. banished to Church island. During tn
i. quiet hour Of midnight Jean Baptist
was taken from the Jail, and his Who'll
( forehead was scared with the followin
inscription: Branded For Robbing tn
+. Dead" Two men escorted the quive'
ing, naked form from the city Of vengs
!. ance. A was entered ear th
q city, and the doomed prisoner was take
:. in chains to the island which in futn'