The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-04-22
MORMON PATRIARCH
WEOS MANY WOMEN
Angus Cannon Tells Senators
of His Numerous Beloved
Families.

WASHINGTON, D. c., April 81. -
The feature of today's hearing in the
Smoot case before the senate commit
tee on privileges and elections was the
testimony of Angus NJ. Cannon. for
twenty-five years president of the
largest Mormon stake in the world.
The testimony was of a personal char
acter, dealing with the conviction of
the witness on charge= of polyganous
cohabitation, and was. dragged from
him under protest that he be protected
from any peril or liability to prosecu-
ton for what he revealed.
When assured that under the statute
of limitations, his plural marriages
could not be used as evidence against
him he answered most of the questions
asked. The same frankness was not
apparent however, when the witness
was pressed to reveal the nature of the
oath he had taken in the endowment
house. Like other witnesses, he de-
clared that the sacredness Of that oath
prevented him from prOclaiming 1t to
the world. His testimony was no less
sensational than that given by Presi-
dent Smith early in the investigation.
He answered all questions of a per-
sonal character, but every admission
was made reluctantly and replies to
questions in regard to his numerous
marriages were as near monosyllabic as
it was possible to make them.
Roberts Testimony Ends.
Brigham H. Roberts was recalled by
the defense. Mr.. Vancott drew from
the witness a review of the elections of
Utah to show that the Democratic sue
cesses of the state were due to the
silver issue, and that the Mormon
church had not maintained a vacillat-
ing policy between the two political
parties as had been inferred from the
testimony given by Mr.. Roberts yester-
day.
Calvin Cobb, publisher of the Boise
Statesman, was examined in regard to
polygamy in Idaho and the influence of
Mormons on the politics of the state.
He said there is no. statute against
polygamous cohabitation, though sew
eral unsuccessful efforts had been made
to enact such statute. All of these
measures, he said, had died in the leg
islature, which is about third Nor
mon.
In regard to Mormon influence in the
state Mr.. Cobb said that the chairmen
of the state organizations of both par
ties go to Salt Lake before every cam
paign and both come back and say that
everything had been fixed "all right"
He said that after the election one or
the other usually felt that things had
not been call right
Cannon Appears.
Angus M. Cannon was called to the
stand. He said he has lived in Salt Lake
since 1849, but had been blessed in the
Mormon church when he was five years
old. He is seventy years old and now
holds the position of patriarch in the
church, having been designated for that
position by President Joseph f. Smith
two weeks ago. Patriarchs, the wit
ness said, rank next to the twelve apos-
ties in dignity. Mr.. Cannon said that
for twenty eight years he had been
president of the Salt Lake Stake Zion.
There was excitement when Mr.. Tay-
ler examined Mr.. Cannon in regard to
his various marriages. Mr.. Tayler
asked the witness when he was first
married and he answered on July Is,
1858"
ITO whom?"
Sarah Maria Moseley"
Whom next?"
Mr.. Cannon stood up and his voice
shook with great emotion as he said:
I beg an opportunity to explain and
ask question before 1 proceed. Nineteen
years ago I was brought into great trou-
BILE. l was prosecuted and sent to prison
because /. acknowledged the mothers of
my children as my families. I was given
the opportunity of deserting my families
or going to prison. / went to prison l
was sent to prison for eight months,
and served six months when the supreme
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