The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-02-10
AORA()N|SA NOT DEAD
Polygamy Is Practised With
out Any to Hinder
FOR MORM0NS WILL NOT
And GentiIes Dare Not Try TO
Enforce the Law.


punished?'' why do not the state au-
thorities punish those who defy the lsw?'
The answer is simple. 1t is because III
authorities are either Mormons them
selves or are Gentiles who fear the Nor
mon vote.
In Salt Lake county, where, II anywhere
the Jaw sheould be enforced; where cases
of new polygamy are found with but lit
tie search: where cases Of unlawful CO.
habitation are to be met with at almost
every corner; where too, there is Gen.
tile prosecuting attorney, there has not
been in three years solitary prosecution
for the infraction of the anti-Dolygamy
laws
Not that there are any :ac OF offenders,
nor that it would be difficult to convince
any jury of self-respecting men of the
polygamists' guilt, but rather that the
prosecuting officers are keeping an eye
on the next election, which would GER
tain.y result adversely to any one inaug-
urating any such prosecution. The view
generally held by all thoughtful Gentiles
is simply this: What would be the use
of forcing an unwilling officer to prose-
cute such an offender with the certainty
Of forcing the case to trial before a jury
composed in part, if not wholly. Of Nor
mons. with a judge who dare not oppose
the Mormon church,"
If the prosecuting attorney wishes to try
a case, that of Samuel F. Ball, confec-
toner, of No. 10 South Main street, and
whose residence is No. 500 West South
Ia fe,1 ix-iYO uuffh
least two wives.
The names of the women are Anna NJ.
Ball and Maggie B. Ball, Thelatter is the
daughter of Margaret Brown, widow of
William, and from 1891 TO 1897 lived with
her mother. who worked for Ball. In 1895
the directory shows that Samuel F. Ball.
confectioner resided at 500 West South
Temple street.
Anna NJ. Ball, dressmaker, boards at the
same address, as also does Maggies B.
Ball. clerk.
Maggie Brown also resides at No. 500
West South Temple street.
1t is the common repute in the neighbor-
hood of the Brown residence that Mag
gle Brown is the plural wife of S. F. Ball
Margaret Brown, the mother, is a worker
in the Temple at Salt Lake city. So far as
can be learned, neither of the parties have
been out of the state to get married
Are they then living in a state OF unIaw-
full cohabitation, or are they sealed under
the most solemn covenants for time and
eternity?
AS Ball is a high church Official in his
ward it is hardly to be believed that the
former is the case.
There are many other cases that can
be cited. 1t is not probable that with a
Judge whose term is about to expire and
who hopes TO be reelected. a prosecuting
attorney whose last wish is to stif up
trouble for himself and put an end to all
political hope in the future, a jury selected
by a Mormon board and surely Mormon In
part, If not WI ole, that any prosecution
can be hoped for
To whom should the people appeal?
To the legislature, composed almost
wholly of bright and shining lights in the
Mormon church?
One of the greatest difficulties encoun-
tered lies in obtaining information. Gen
tiles say:
II know a great deal. I have seen a
great deal. but do not dare to tell. To
do so would injure my business interests,
myself and my family. My friends would
be not only ostraSized but my pos
sessions would be endangered and posi-
blv my life"
This is no dark picture Of the magma
ton. but are based upon facts that have
happened in the past, and may happen
again at any moment. There is no action
of which the fanatical Mormon is incapa-
BILE if he is inspired by his religion or is
directed by his ecclesiastical superiors
There is no oath that any member of the
Mormon church viii respect when It in
any way trenches upon his religious
views.
The fathers that disovned wives and
the mothers that swore that
they knew not the fathers Of their children
in the past. are ready 10 repeat the story
in the future.
The teaching OF polygamy is spreading
the Sunday schools 81 thu
the practice is rampant through
the various states in which the Mormons
live. The state and county authorities do
not attempt 10 carry out the laws. which
are so many dead letters or the books.
Another case that the authorities might
look into II the fe,t so disposed Is that 81
l. W. Crosby. representative in the legis-
Iature for iron county. ard president o,
the Panquich Stake Of Zion. He married
Sarah Ann Meeks about three years ago
when he certainly was the possessor Of
az leas- two plural wives The statement |
given out % the pubic AZ that time vas
that his legal wife having died ne had 4
married again a legal wife What were I
the plural wives doing Them whas vas
their 0osiuon2 Is not the very statement 1
q reflection on their stains Why not al /
vance ore q these faithful women 10 the /
more honorable position?
George Teasdale apostle. % Sephl. 4
T-tah. and Mexico Is IL exactly the same 4
aredicimeat.
The 2ozsessor q four wives n Utah
and goodness knows how many IN Mexico. |
be GAINED another victim only last year
1n this same plea TeaEdzJ4 IS az IszS,
sjxiy-tive OF seventy years % age. ard his
afth bride Only mere girl.
John ". Taylor. another apnsti.. e. with
SUI any reasonable doubt Kulky % poly
ssmy with the Christensen girl al Gur-t-
s9n. Utah. He Il The an VINO boldly az
used the whole ;aSernscls choir q iru-
GA oRHA,
RA.-a. Ias NJ w Ess Iszzs 5s--t