The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-07-22

upE MORMON sealing ceremony
IS a legal marriage contract, and
the church divorce is naught.
annie Armitage Hilton was the legal
wife Of Or. John r. Park. and, being
,ou his widow, is entitled 10 and will
,scelve one-third of his estate.
"a says the supreme court Of the
rate OF Utah in d STRAIGHTFORWARD. I'M
sr1lvocal opinion rendered yesterday,
vbcb reverses the decision of the trial
,ourt In the famous case. 1t was writ
-, BY Justice Bartch and concurred
/, nv Justices Miner and Baskin.
The opinion is important in its ef-
fset The peculiar ordinance of the
rburch Of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints known as sealing" was never
tssed nor legally defined until now,
and the decision that it is a legal mar
rage for time" as well as eternity,
Z contrary even to the Interpretation
nlaced on the doctrine by some of the
recognized authorities of the Mormon
religion. On this question the case de
ospded. The favorable outcome will
make Mrs. Hilton richer by about
1900.
AT the time of the death of Dr. John
P. Park, the Utah educator, he left the
major portion of his estate, valued at
sbout $4,000 10 his adopted daughter,
Rosa P ROylance, and the University
Of Utah. Some months after DIR.
Parks death, on Dec. 5. 1900. Mrs. Hill
ton. wife of Police officer William Hill
ton. brought action against the heirs
and executors to recover a statutory
interest If one-third in the estate. Her
claim die not. however, relate TO the
Doctors personal property.
The case created a profound sensa-
ton. Mrs. Hilton claiming that she
vas married. or sealed to DR.. Park
IN December 1872. and was never d.
vorced, except by a church divorce,
which is an agreement between the
parties 10 dissolve their marital rela-
uonship.
The hearing came on before Judge
Han in the district court and the evil
ience showed that In 1872 Annie F.
Armitage. then a girl of 10. met DR.
Park then a man of about 40, at Liv-
srpOol England, on a vessel bound for
America. Miss Armitage came to Salt
Lake and took no her residence with
Emeline f. Young In November OF
the same year the girl was taken seri-
Ously IN and so continued until Dec. 5
is12, at which time, at the home OF
Mrs Young. Miss Armitage, on hel
sick bed was sealed" by mutual con-
sent 10 DR.. Park, the ceremony being
performed by Daniel H. Wells, one o.
the first presidency Of the Mormon
church. The latter issued a certificate
Ct sealing to the parties, as follows:
Certificate Of Sealing.
John Hockey Park. born Tifin,
Seneca, o., May, 1888.
Anne Flora Armitage, born Not
tnghin. London. 10 Feb. 1858.
The above parties were sealed by
Prest D. H. Wells in the presence
Of Emeline Free Young, at her
residence in Salt Lake City, u. T.,
Dec. s. 1872: the lady being on her
supposed deathbed.
DANIEL H. WELLS.
Endorsed across the face of it was
Recorded in historians Office. journa
Of date, r. L. G."
Dr.. Park continued to visit Miss Ar
m2ge after the ceremony and sh
eventually recovered her health. BIZ
he February following the docto
ceased his visits. He had told he
lnere was 'an obstacle" TO their mar
rage. Upon two occasions then sh
demanded a divorce from the doctor
ane he said he would arrange the mat
Ter In March. 1873. they mutual
esFeed upon a church divorce, the doc
Oment being as follows: