Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-14

we might not De able 20 make a case
against him. and that would kill our
movement We SHAH walt TN near The
time OF the meeting Of Congress and
then bring our complaint. Then, II
Roberts stays to defend himself he
cannot be In Congress TO be sworn in
at the opening; II he does not stay IN
Utah 90 defend himself against our
charges but goes to Washington, he
viii be fugitive from justice and We
can appeal TO the people on that line"
In response We have received the an.
nexed communication, which we give
even greater prominence than we gave
10 the statement from Mr.. Peet
Jay Pruden, ColDorter and Sunday
School Missionary.
Salt Lake City, Utah, Dec. 70. 1889.
Editor Deseret News, salt Lake City:
Dear Sr-I was surprised TO read in
your paper OF Monday evening. the 18th,
the surrender" u The plot" by Mr..
v. s. Peet ! would thank YOU FOR
space 70 say that Mr.. Peet has made a
mistake.
a plot would hardly have been
worked as openly as the opposition 10
Mr. Roberts has been. | would hardly
nave Given away a plot" 10 a man
VINO was leaving The impression With
those who heard him talk, that he was
a Mormon Elder just starting out
when a few OF the positions he was
waxing were met by irresistible Scrip
tufe he made hasiy retreat and de.
clared he was a Methodist.
was on my way to Richmond Va.
70 meet with our young people In their
annual convention. | was taking ad-
vantage OF every opportunity TO get
people interested In the putting forth
Of every honorable effort TO hinder a
law breaker from taking a place among
our lawmakers. Hoping and expect
ing that when the people were made
acquainted with the condition Of things
here, that the rejection Of Roberts. and
constitutional amendment would be
prayed for.
Mr. Peet asked the question, "Why
don't they arrest Roberts II he Is guilty
Of these eharges?" My answer. as
nearly as | can remember. was this:
I'm all probability they will II he per-
slsts In taking his seat" well, why
don't they do It right away?" he asked.
MY answer was this TO effect His
penalty would amount to but little.
The law provides a very light penalty
against this crime even as It's maxi
num- Then. the courts are left to
their discretion In inalctlng this penal
~ so there would be very little salts
faction to those who urge the prosecu-
ton. There is plenty time to prose.
cute II that Is necessary"
We passed our opinions I did not
belong to any gang OF "plotters," and
| did not suppose that he did. 7 did
not know that Mr.. Roberts would be
arrested, but ! had my opinion about
what the course might be. Mr.. Roberts
had violated the law There was
certain amount of time that was az the
disposal Of the people in which to do
this ARREST HIM, II they chose to do so.
a great many guesses were being made
as to what would be done. Among the
events Of the past few weeks some
things have come TO pass very nearly
as they were prOphesied This makes
Mr. Peet very certain that 1t was all
plotted"
never had a thing to do with
plot In my life that ! know Of.
Yours very truly.
JAY PRUDEN.
our readers having heard both sides
Of the question, can Judge for them
selves which to believe. Mr. Peet stated
his willingness to testify under oath to
the accuracy Of his statements. We
heard many months ago what the in
tention was among the schemers
against Mr. Roberts. II was exactly
that which Mr.. Peet SAYS was disclosed
TO him by Mr. Pruden. The scheme was
certainly carried out as closely as pos
sible. The departure of Mr. Roberts
for the East a little sooner than the
conspirators anticipated spoiled to
some extent the plan that had been
conoocted but they took advantage Of
that turn IN the tide Of affairs to prefer
the charge that he was a fugitive from
justice.
Mr., Pruden admits that the events
OF the past two weeks were some time
ago "prophesied." OF course. That Is
very simple. The gentleman does not
seem to relish the word plot Very
well. call Il plan. II that viii suit him
better The facts remain The inten-
ton was the same, The dirty details
are not altered. The planners are no
better The crime committed against
Utah ana her Representative at the
hehest Of excited people deceived and
enraged by the utterances Of sectarian
preachers and Sunday school mission
aries, is not palliated. And Mr.. Pruden
does not exhibit very much prudence. in
parading his own connection with one
Of the most Infamous movements ever
inaugurated in this country in the name
Of the Christian religion.