Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-07-27

copies the subjoined extracts from the
report Of the grand jury and COM
ments from Truth q non" Mormon
weekly paper published in this city
1t is somewhat singular that the rclort
here mentioned has oecasioned so little
comment by The great papers of the
county, while # It had bctn Of uit'
ferent nature and indictments had been
found, all newspaperdom would be
aname with sensational accounts and
editorial denunciauous The Post says.
"a grand jury which was recently
convened at SALT Lake Utah, to ,inyesti-
gate alleged violations Of the law pro-
hibiting the practice Of polygamy has
made the following report
"Wc az once began the investigation
OF the very prevalent rumors of the
violation Of that provision Of our state
constitution which says that polygam-
Qua or plural marriages are forever
prohibited
I'VE have investigated thoroughly an
such cases brought to our attention by
the district attorney and BY Uilzens
who have appeared before us which
We're reported to have occurred within
the Jurisdiction OF this court. and have
not been able Ia secure evidence that
single ease Of polygamy has occurred
In this district since Utah became
state
"The rumors Of the commission Of
this crime seems TO have grown
out of innocent circumstances
which In ordinary communities
would have created no suspicion
or scandal but which here prob
ably owing TO a feature OF our territor-
ial history. have been seized upon, and
the crime assumed without evidence,
much 90 the chagrin and injury Of In.
nccent citizens, and greatly TO the de-
trlmont OF our state and IT'S reputation
throughout the nation
Those who prize the fair name OF
our state and the rights OF nelghbors
should hereafter be more careful 10 So
cure facts and evidence before oharg-
ing this crime.
Truth, an independent journal, pub
lished in Salt Lake city has this to
say on the report Of the Jury.
1T viii not do 10 say that plural mar
rlages are being entered into, but that
II Is impossible TO get evidence against
the guilty ones. In the face of what
has occurred that would be silly The
anti. Mormon fanatics, including mem
hers of the ministerial association, and
to some extent the ministerial associa-
tion as a body loudly proclaimed and
on numerous occasions caused TO be
published broadcast to the world that
they had positive evidence that Nor
nous were continuing to enter into
polyeamous relations and that the
church leaders approved Of H. Their
dotectiyes--and quite a few were em-
ployed in the business mouthed at the
street corners about what they knew
and the positive evidence they had
that plural marriages were stlll being
celebrated. All they wanted was half
a chance to put II in and indictments
and convictions galore would follow
Now. they either had the evidence or
they hadn't II they dla have H. why
didn't they offer t.? Every opportu-
nifty was given them The bars We're
thrown down Numbers Of those who
said they knew 50 much We're sub
poenaed and testified before the grand
jury but the grand Jury says
their testimony was only rumor
Without even "a SHADOW Of the
shade of Substance a majority Of the
members Of the grand jury were non
Mormons. The foreman. Deacon Hall,
was Thoroughly in symnathv With the
anti-polygamy sentiment and trusted
friend and advisor Of the ministerial
association. He Is man Of strong
personality and dominated the grand
Jury to large extent Yet after
months OF labor. earnest and faithful
in the effort to lndlct polygamists who
entered into the relation since the
manifesto, Deacon Han who wrote the
grand jury's report says in effect In
his report that the alterations are
nothing but malicious rumors.