The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-03-08
THROUGH WITH SMITH.
Smoot Committee Examines
Additional Witnesses.

for the Defense continued cross-exarni-
nation of the witness and inquired as
to the reasons for her marriage being
consumma ted at Juarez, Mexico, in
stead of at the Mormon settlement al
DiaZ, where she lived. She said she
knew of no reason and had no infernla-
ton regarding an attempt to have the
ceremony performed elsewhere. She
said she did not tell any one that the
man to whom she was to be married |
had another wife and so far as she |
knew the minister performing the cere-
mony did not know the marriage was
to be plural one.
Later Mr.. Worthington asked Mrs. |
Kennedy if she did not know that APP
plication had been made to Apostle |
Teasdale and that he had refused to
conduct or to authorize the plural mar
riage.
what did he say?" asked Mr.. Worth
ington.
'He said it could not be done as all
that had been done away with, SAID
Mrs. Kennedy.
Mr. Worthington called attention to
the inconsistency of the statement ana
he asked why she had said she did not
know request had been made TO an
other to perform the ceremony.
Il don't know how 1 happened to say
that" said the witness. Continuing she
said with some emotion: 1t was hot
pleasant to think about those things
and tried to put them aside trleo
In response to further questions from
Mr.. Tayler, the witness said her moth
er told her of the request to Apostle
Teasdale and that she had no other
knowledge of the attempt TO get MIN
to perform the ceremony.
Charles F. Merrill, son of Apostle
Merrill, was then called to the staha-
He said he was the son of his fatner s
third plural wife and is hlmseI d
polygamist. In answer to questions
concerning his own marriages, MI
Merrill said he was married first IN lsSi
to a wife that died in 1889, ana that
he married his legal wife, Cnl"e
Hendricks in 1891 and had five children
by her He married another VIE IN
1888, the ceremony being performed IN
the Logan temple by G. NJ. EdWarosoA.
He has four children by that wife, the
oldest of whom is 9 years old ana the
Young two and a half years. Their
mothers name was Anna B. StoadaIa-
THE marriage to my legal wire IN
1891" said Mr.. Merrill, was sole1nhlzeo
by my father" GO
Were YOU living with Anna B. Stod-
dard when you married the woman you
called YOUR legal wife?" was asked.
Il was. although she had no house.
She stayed at the home of her Iatnef
and her mother and lived Win my
mother" answered the witness.
In answer to questions from Chairman
Burrows, Mr.. Merrill said he now mas
two wives and is cohabiting with both
Senator Foraker asked the witness ness Is
not the woman you married in 1888 your
legal wife,
mo, SIR
Mr. Merrill explained that when he
married in 1888 he had wife living ana
that he understood that under the laws
/ that marriage was not legal, and that
therefore his marriage in 1891, after the
| death of his first wife, in 1889, MADE ms
last marriage legal one
| Senator OYerman asked for deScflp-
! ton of the marriage ceremony IN 1888
! and the witness declared he could not
remembers how it was performed, eN-
| cept that he went to the temple IN
Logan and it was performed there In
response to a question by Senator Du-
! bois Mr. Merrill said there was no mar
rage certificate issued, no record, or
anv documents of any kind so far as ne
knew He said there was no music, no
PRAYER and no questions that he could
There was nothing but the marriage
ceremony" he said with emphasis
''Well. tell us about that several
members of the committee demanded.
IT cannot repeat it," said the witness
DO you mean to say that you do not
| know the ordinary marriage ceremony
in your church," asked Senator Hoar,
severely.
Yes, l know that answered the VIII
ness.
he was asked.
told to give the substance of it. He
said he and his wife stood up and joined
hands.
"They made you promise something
did they not?" inquired senator hoar'
put YOU have forgotten what it
was?" the senator remarked with
laugh.
con. no. [ haven't forgotten" said Mr..
Merrill He then said he had promised
to love, cherish and support the woman
And you continue to cohab1t with heI
after you married the woman you cal
your legal wife," Chairman Burrows
The witness said he lived with both
wives but they had different homes at
lyon saw YOU We're living with your
mother when you were married the sec
ond time Where was y9 9 1atn ase 1p0s-
He was under the ground most OF the
time said the witness loosely, !, %,
What do you mean by 'uhdersrouilu
asked Mr.. Worthington-
He was in hiding.
: because about that time there were
prosecutions going on for safd fhat often
times he would not see his father 1or
Mr. Merrill said that he had taken his
1883 wife to his mothers home occasional
" hut she had never stayed all n1gnl
E father did not know that he had wife
' already when he was married by his faith
. er to the woman he calls his legal wife
. Mr.. Merrill said his father is still lIv ms
. and ie still apostle OF the church' pu'
: that he is very feeble.
In In regard 10 his fathers family Mr. NJ,
Merrill said he had a father with !. sl ,
= wives and that he had 20 brothers and L
sisters He was asked how many nephews
: and nieces he had and said he dld MOI
q know, but thought there were more thar
a hundred. - t.
d comes to the home of my mother propa,
= bIv not more than once month, ne
v said MY father is a very busy man.
:. the witness supplemented.
: Mr. Merrill thought three of his broth
), ers had married plural wives and ina
two Of his sisters had married into polyg
: amous families. -