The Oskaloosa herald., 1904-03-10
BREAKS LAWS OF
LAND AND CHURCH
MORMON APOSTLE LYMAN CON.
FESsEs TO VIOLATION.
is PRAcTlcINo PoLYcAMy
Expects to Continue to Live with His
Wives-BeIeves Smoot Knew
of His Marital Relations
Other witnesses.

a Z 4
Washington, March o. ME senate
committee on privileges and elections
on Tuesday in the investigation of the
protests against Senator Reed Smoot
OF Utah, brought out variety of testi-
mony, of which the most sensational was
that given by Francis M. Lyman, presi-
dent of the Twelve Apostles of the Nor
mon church, and the man chosen to be the
successor of President Smith. His ad.
missions were similar to those previous.
ly made by Mr.. Smith pertaining to the
church government. Other witnesses
heard en- Tuesday were Mrs. Kennedy,
her mother, Mrs. Matthews, and Charles
Merrill, the son of Apostle Merrill.
Knew He Was Violating Law.
Mr. Lyman admitted in response tc
questions put to him that he knew that
in living in polygamy he was disobeying
both the law of the land and the rules
of his church. He also said in reply tc
one of the questions that he was not
only now living in polygamous cohabita.
tion, but that he expected to continue SC
to live
Senator Hoar at last took the witness
in hand and brought out a succinct
statement from him, which was of g
character to interest all present.
Referring to the rule of which you
have spoken" Senator Hoar said, you
understand the rule or law Of the
g prch to be the law of God, do you not?"
NJ Lyman replied that such was
misunderstanding.
Then VOC are living and intend to live
in violation Of the law of God and man?''
II fully intend" said Mr.. Lyman,
showing disposition to elaborate more
Z D b. g dans ..te to be true to the law
+ : my country; to my God and TO my OBJ
legations and covenants WI my ". .-ses,
and have never done t Jng that my
conscience did not approve" H. ths
went on to explain that he had bt n
raised by parents that had practiced
polygamy and had been taught to be-
licve that it was right and correct, and
that he could not find 1t in his heart to
leave his wives.
Senator Hoar then said: $50 you, an
apostle of your church, expecting to
succeed Mr.. Smith in the presidency and
in that capacity to receive Divine revela-
tions yourself, confess that you are now
living and expect to continue to live in
disobedience to the law of the country
the law of your church and the law of
God?"
The witness replied with a simple
yes" He added in reply to question
from Senator Dubois that he considered
it his duty to live with and protect his
wives
living with plural wives?" was asked
by Senator Hoar.
Mr.. Lyman answered that Senator
Smoot did not know, as he never had met
any one of his wives. He said that the
people in general in Utah knew, but that
he did not think Mr.. Smoot had any
knowledge of the fact. He said he was
so generally known and his reputation
was SO wide that what was admitted as
a fact in regard to him would be ac-
cepted blythe people as true.
Chairman Burrows insisted on know
ing If the people OF Utah knew in regard
to his life, why Senator Smoot could not
know just as we'll. The witness re-
sponded several times that the people
must have known, but that Senator
Smoot did not, whereupon Senator Hoar
demanded to know what the witness
meant by such answers. The witness
then said that Senator Smoot probably
knew just as much about the question
as the people in general.
DO you take back what you said
then, that the people knew and Sena-
tor Smoot did not know" asked Sena-
tor Hoar.
II take that back"
Charles F. Merrill, son of Apostle
Merrill. was then called to the stand.
He said he was the son of his fathers
third plural wife, and is himself polyg-
amist. In answer to questions concern
ing his own marriages Mr.. Merrill said
he was married first in 1887 to a wife
that died in 1889, and that he married
his legal wife, Chloe Hendricks, in
1891, and had five children by her. He
married anothefswife in 1888, the cere-
mony being performed in the Logan
temple by NJ @. Edwardson. He has
had four children by that wife, the old
est of whom is nine years and the
youngest two and half years.
In regard to his family Mr.. Merrill
said he had father with six wives, and
that he had 20 brothers and IL sisters.
He was asked how many nephews and
nieces he had and said he did not know
but thought there were more than 100
Mr. Merrill thought three of his BROTH
ers have married plural wives and that
two of his sisters had married into
polygamous families.