The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-02-07

Hundreds of Them Serve from Two to
Six Years i'm the Utah Penftentiary.
South Pend Tribune

Big Ed Sewell the faithful assistant Of
Sheriff Eberhart as jail turnkey and court
bailff, can tell some highly interesting
stories about his experience as guard III
the government penitentiary during the ex-
citing times of 1891 and 1892. following the
enforcement of the law making polygamy
Ed came to South Bend about sixteen
years ago and was turnkey under Sheriff
Zach Johnson After Johnson retired from
office he drifted West, and the latter part
of the eighties and early nineties found
him working for a prominent Mormon at
Salt Lake City About this time the gov
eminent was hot after the men who were
violating the laws by keeping a plurality
of wives, and the polygamists were very
sly about visiting their various families.
The law was such that If they were seen
going into the house of more than one wife.
the abodes of their several better halves
being located on different parts OF their
estates. two living in the same house,
the act was sufficient TO cause the arrest
of the polygamist. 1t was an easy matter
10 convict him. for the wife would invaria-
bly, swear that he was her husband and
the father of her children. 1t was an easier
matter TO catch him, because a reward of
SO given TO every one who would in
form on d Mormon, provided the informa-
ton led to a conviction. So spies were thick
all through the Mormon country, and the
courts were kept busy.
Il worked for a big Mormon named Rob-
insCn" said the turnkey. when i first
went to Salt Lake. and / never had bet
ter employer. He had big farm not far
from Salt Lake. and there were four houses
on the farm, arranged on the outside some
distance apart. Each one of these houses
was presided over by woman, the church
wife of Robinson, and each with several
children. The women had nothing TO do
with one another, but the children mixed
and played together. Robinson in the
habit of visiting his families at regular in
tervals. and i warned him that he would
be picked up some day, but he stood high
the church and felt perfectly safe. He was
q quiet, industrious man, very kind. and
had good business head. lie was strictly
One day. though, a gentle spy got after
him. and Robinson was brought before the
courts Two of his wives were called in
TO testify against him, and he was sent up
for three years.
When he went away TO put on the
stripes he left me in charge OF the farm.
with instructions to call on the head wife
for my pay regularly, / had done by
him. The business of the farm car
ried on Just the same in his absence. The
four women remained in their own houses.
were perfectly true TO the old man, and
were never seen in public except when
allowed 10 visit Mormon in prison. but
the children Of their wives 10 any number
can visit him at stated times. Well, In
about a year after Robinson was sent up
/ got an offer of a job as guard at the
prison. with much better pay and easier
work than l had on the farm so L took II.
About the first man came across after i
got my uniform and gun was Robinson.
wearing the regulation stripes and appear
ing very meek and humble.
Well says the old man. Il suppose.
Ed you Will be my boss now. Things have
taken change. | see. But you Will find
me a very willing hired man, just as you
were for me the farm Then he in
ouired about the families and how things
were going on the place. and appeared quite
contented with his lot. There We're between
three hundred and four hundred Mormons
In the prison at that time. all put I'm for
poly gamy They were splendid lot OF
prisoners. No penitentiary ever had beI1Nr.