Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-01-04
TESTIMONY CLOSED
IN HILTON CASE.
The Examination Of Mrs, Wells is
Completed,
ONLY LIVING EYE WITNESS.
Testified 60 Having Seen the Marriage
Ceremony Between Dr. PARK
ana Urs. Hilton,

ana Urs' IitltOn'
Some interesting proceedings were
had both on this and yes
terday afternoon in the case Of
Mrs. Hilton, against the heirs Of the
late DR.. Park. before Attorney II. A.
smith. sitting as commissioner OF che
court 20 take the deposition Of Mrs.
Hannah c. Wells for Use in the case
when II comes up FOR trial as this
lady, It Is claimed. Is the only living
person who Witnessed the performing
OF the alleged marriage ceremony be-
tween Dr. Park and Mrs Hilton-then
Miss Armltage. Mrs. Hilton was pres
ent at the proceedings, and was rep
resented in the case boy Attorney y, v.
Jones The other side was also rep
resented by counsel IN the persons OF
Judge Howat Waldemar Van Colt
Frank Pierce, Stewart q Stewart and
e. w. Boyd.
Mrs Hannah G. Wells was the only
witness yesterday, Mr.. Jones ques-
toned her. first endeayorlng 20 show
thar she was prejudiCed against testl-
tying. Witness stated she was II
years Of age that she did not remem-
Der having advised the plaintiff 20 with
draw her suit Said she knew Dr.
Park during his lifetime. but not very
intimately. had known Mrs. Hilton az
Miss Armitage early In the seventies.
Testified that her husband Daniel II.
Wells, was a member Of the First Pres
idcncy. and that she was present at
her sisters house and witnessed the
marriage ceremony performed by Mr.
Wells, between Miss Armitage and DR..
Park. She did not recollcct hearing
her husband pronounce the parties
husband and wife" Mrs Wells fur
Their said she thought the ceremony was
a sealing. because Miss Armltage was
then supposed 10 be dying Said she
could not speak authoritstIvely on the
Church marriage ceremony. but she UNI
derestOOd there was a ceremony for
time and one for eternity. Witness
volunteered the statement that she
thought Miss Armitage was only mar
rled for eternity Attorney Jones OBJ
jected 20 this statement, but IL was
allowed 10 stand
In reading over some Of the answers
10 questions. IL was found that the Of
fetal stenographer had In answer 10
one question. II think 50" while 20
other stenographers present had IL II
don't think So" and the case was then
postponed till p. m. today when an
other stenographer would be obtained.
THIS AFTERNOON.
The testimony OF Mrs. Wells was re-.
sumed before special commissioner
Smith at 2il5 this afternoon. The ex-
animation was opened by Attorney
Jones, who asked
Mrs. Wells, did Miss Armltage 90
directly 70 the home OF d. H. Wells
after arriving in Utah?"
Yes. SIR
Did she not become sick soon after
arriving there2'
Yes, sir
Was she sick more than once?"
No, sir
Was It not during her sickness that
the marriage took places"
Yes, sir
Since you declined 10 give a state
ment Of the facts some time ago. with
whom have you talked in regard to
the case?'
4 have neither been aided in the mat
ter, nor have | declined TO give YOU
any OF the facts as ! know them.
You have not talked with any OF
the lawyers on the other side about
it?'
Il decline 10 answer
You bad no conversation with any
Of them
Il may have talked to one Of the
Stewards
AT whose instance did you talk with
Mr. SteWart2'
Il was not asked by any one to talk
with Stewart"
What did You say2"
The conversation was very short
and ] don't remember what 1t was
Have you talked with any Of the
other attorneys upon the matter?'
II decline TO answer"
Mrs. Wells 90 YOU regard yourself
as competent 10 explain the ordinances
Of the Church Of Jesus Christ OF Lat
ter-day Saints"
II would not undertake 10 explain
them; ] would not say that I know
them to certainty
Then were not your statements yes
lflhdF VI lfkdIu 10 lNt llluIIldkt more
the expression Of opinion than anything
else?"
We'll, yes; that was my opinion
do you know that there is a cere-
mony In the Church, OF sealing for
eternty?"
II think there is such an ordinance;
such as the one performed between Dr.
Park and Mrs. Hilton"
You can't define the difference be-
tween that ceremony and the ord-
nary?'
NO sir. } cannot
when did YOU adopt the idea. Mrs.
Wells, that that alleged ceremony was
for eternity"
i think that have always had that
idea"
DO you remember telling myself and
Mrs. Hilton that you had witnessed the
marriage ceremony between Or, Park
and Mrs Hilton, and that YOU enum-
Grated number OF witnesses who were
prtsent2'
Yes, ! remember that p
DO you remember stating during |
that conversation. that you remembered |
seeing Dr. Park. sitting by the bedside |
lf Miss Armiage and holding her hand. |
Nhle Daniel II. Wells performed the |
ceremony