The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-10-07
Mr.. OWEN IN A RAGE.
Wants to Run the County Attor-
ney's Office.
--A-
HAD ANOTHER COMPLAINT
WANTED POSTMASTER GRAHAM
OF PROVO ARRESTED.
County Attorney Putnam Thought
the Case Should Be Prosecuted In
Utah County, and Then Owen Be-
came Profane and Made Threats
Went After Justice Sommer.

Charles Mostyn Owen, Colonel Ian
mans crusader. is at outs with the
county attorneys office again. This
time it is because Mr.. Putnam has de-
clined to take up at the outset Mr..
Owens latest prosecution, the defend
ant being Postmaster John C. Graham
at Provo
Owen first filed his complaint against
Graham with his sponsor for publica-
ton in the widely known editors
paper. Then he went to see County
Attorney Putnam. This happened on
Thursday. Owen showed MIR. Putnam
an unsigned affidavit making q charge
of unlawful eohabitation against Ora
ham, and naming Mary A Graham
and Sarah Graham, or Potter, as the
women with whom the unlawful act
alleged was committed.
In addition to being unsigned. most
of the witnesses named in the affidavit
were residents of Utah county, and the
alleged offense consisted of acts COM
mitted in Salt Lake and Utah counties.
1t, therefore, could be prosecuted in
either county. Two witnesses named
were Angus NJ. Cannon and Heber j.
Grant.
After discussing the matter for some
time with MIR. owen, Mr.. Putnam sug-
gested that as the principal witnesses
lived in Utah county, it would be better
TO try the case there. He told Owen
that if the Utah county officials refused
to take the matter up, to return to him
and he would then consider it.
owen Became Profane.
Owen at once proceeded to become
profanely indignant. He admitted that
he had not approached the Utah county
officers, but seelmed to take it as
matter Of course that the Salt Lake
county attorney should prosecute the
case. After venting his wrath in
more or less explosive manner, Owen
LEFT the Office.
Yesterday he went back with his
affidavit sworn to before E. w. Taylor.
This time it contained the names of
several residents of East Waterloo,
who, he declared, were acquainted with
the facts. To the county attorney
Owen stated his belief that Graham
would plead guilty Mr. Putnam re-
marked that this might be true, but
he wasn't going to take any chances
if he could help it.
Complainant Made Threats.
If Owen was hot. before, he sizzled
now He threatened mandamus pro-
ceedings and other dreadful things, but
Mr.. Putnam was firm. He said he
wauted Owen to take the case to Utah
county first, and then if it failed there
he would look into it, for he didn't want
to involve Salt Lake county in any I'M
necessary expense.
; The first place Owen made for after
leaving the county attorney was JUS
tice Morris Sommer's office. He offered
his affidavit there and Sommer called
up the county attorney. The latter adj
vised the justice to swear Owen to the
affidavit. but not to issue any warrant.
This course was taken, Up to late
hour last night the threatened man
damus proceedings had failed to mater
ialize.
1t is believed that Owen gathered his |
evidence in the Graham case at the !
same time he was at American Fork
and other Utah county towns, getting |
up the list of alleged plural births !
which was sprung by the Tribune some /
months ago with such a flourish of /
trumpets 1t will be remembered that |
the plural births turned out to be |
legitimate children.
Affidavit Against Graham.
In his affidavit against Graham. Owen |
states that he believes Sarah Potter. or /
Graham ON the list day of September.
1899. gave birth to an illegitimate child i
at Payson, Utah county. He alleges
further that John G.. Graham did. on
the 1st day of January, 1897, and on
other dates and continuously between /
that time and May II, 1893, unlawfully I
with Mary A. Graham and \
Sarah Potter.
In support of his allegations he cites
as witnesses Angus Nj. Cannon, Heber
J. Grant, MIR. and Mrs. +. NJ. Bishop. |
Mrs. Mary Smith, John Neff, John
Evans, Mrs. Jane Evans and Mrs. Ora /
ham of Salt Lake county, and Edward 4
Partridge, David John. Reed Smoot, /
Andrew Knudsen, e. p. Eggegtsen. VIII
liam j.. Lewis, Joseph Keller. Amasa
Potter, Mary Ellsworth, German Ellis
worth, Christina Ellsworth and Hilda Il
Peterson of Utah county.
What L. ShiInr,p