Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-07-08
rnE GRAND JuEY REPORT

$500
The grand jury that has been IN
session for several weeks has now
made its report to the District court
and has completed its labors. That re-
nort win be found IN fun elsewhere IN
this issue OF the Deseret News. we de-
eiro, here, to refer to but one part oil
the grand jury's labors.
The petition for its empaneiling sign
ed BY number Of prominent citizens
vas formulated IN consequence OF high-
" Sensational statements publlsnea
concerning notorious alley. where II
was alleged schooboys crowded In Tor
immoral purposes. Dhgent inquiry
utterly failed to furnish a reason OF
excuse for the luifd tales told aboHt
the place. but conditions were believed
ia exist that justified Investigation
added to that were the stories related
ny sectarian religious ministers ana
other equally reliable GU persons
concerning alleged new polygamops
marriages, contrary to the laws OF the
state and in contrayention of the mani
festc of the late President Of the Nor
mon Church.
Ii is wen known that the grand jury
specially called on this petition spent
iauch time in diligently looking into the
rolygamy charges, and that every
body who thought he or she knew any
thing definite about them had the or
rortunity TO "tel It all District At
torney Eicbnor personally conducted
the inquisition and the matter was
prcsed very thoroughly. The grand
jury appears TO have found no basis
for the yellow yarns about the boys and
the alley. AS to the polygamy cases
which some folks fendly hoped would
furnish something wherewith to alarm
the American public, the official report
is as follows.
Inasmuch as our State constitution
provides that "olfenses heretofore re-
nuired to be prosecuted by indictment
shall be prosecuted by Information amer
examination and commitment by
magistrate. OF by indictment we have
assumed that all ordinary cases should
be prosecuted by complaint before
Justice Of the peace and that we we're
called 10 inquire into such rumoled
violations of law and Offenses against
public morals aa seemed to demand the
larger discretion and wider powers OF "A
grand jury.
We at once began the investigation Of
tho very prevalent aImors OF the viola-
iion of that provision OF our State con-
stitutl0n which says that "polygamous
or plural marriages are forever pro-
ilblted.
We have investigated thoroughly all
such cases brought to our attention by
the district attorney and by citizens
who have appeared before as, which
were reported TO have occurred within
the jurisdiction OF this court. and have
not been able 20 secure evidence that a
single case of poygamy has occurred In
this district since Utah became state.
The rumors OF the commission Of this
crime seem to have grown cut Of inno-
cent circumstances which in ordinary
communities would have created no
Suspicion nor scandal, but which here,
probably owing to a feature of our ter
iitorial history have been seized upon,
and the crime assumed without eyi-
dence, much 10 the chagrin and injury
OF innocent citizens. and greatly to the
detrinlent OF our State and its reputa-
ton throughout the nation.
Those who prize the fair name Of our
State and the rights OF neighbors should
hereafter be more careful to secure
facts and evidence before charging this
crime.
II will be well both for themselves
and for the community II people who
delight in gossip and relish food for
scandal. will follow the advice Of the
gentlemen who have spent so much
time in sitting the stories that have
been the subject Of speculation and TT
tle-tattle, in many quarters and in cir
cies that ought to have been above such
topics OF conversation. They should
indeed be more careful as 10 making
charges that cannot be proved. and in
repeating rumors that are without sub
stauiial foundation.
The report Of the grand jury is al
together a carefully prepared docu-
nent ana is right TO the point on all |
the subjects considered Il contains
many valuable suggestions, and we be-
lieve the inquisltors have endeavored |
10 discharse their duties diligently and
faithfully The cost to the city has
heen much less than was anticipated
and We are Of the opinion that the
results Of the calling OF that body will |
fully repay ihe financial outlay il lu- |
volyes We commend the report to the
attention Of officials ana to the public
in general