The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-12-14
TESTIMONY IN DETAIL.
]. 81. Wallis, ST., Tells Story of Tenn
pie Marriages.

Washington, Dec. 13.-The Smoot in
Nestigation was resumed before the
senate committee on privileges and
elections with j. II. Wallis. sr. a Nor
mon from Salt Lake city. as the first
witness. He testified that he Joined the
Mormon church in 1851 in London. and
came 10 the United States in 1890 SET
illng III Utah. where he had a son. who
came TO this country in 1881. Mr.. Wal
us SAID he had three wives, but not
more than one at time He knew
Apostle George Teasdale and also Mar
son Scoles in London. She came TO this.
country as an unmarried woman. and
according to the witness. is reputed 10
nave been married 10 Teasdale in Utah.
Proxy For Dead Men.
Questioned as to his belief. the wit
ness SAID he never believed fully in the
celestial marriages TO the dead. and
Tour times had stood proxy for four
marriages Of living women to dead
men, He married his present wife i'm
the temple. Explaining the marriages
IN the temple. Mr.. Wallis said il is ne
cessary to take the endowment before
marriage. and in this way had passed
through the endowment house cere-
mony twenty times at least. The cere-
monies. he said. had always been sub
stanually the same, and each one con-
sumes about two hours.
MT Wallis said that he had A dis
finct recollection of the ceremonies
Within the temple and that he is able
70 describe them just as they took
place. He was asked to give the oaths
taken by those who participated. and
TINS he did. together with a description
OF the secret signs executed by each
persons. Nearly all of the obligations
were that those who took part would
not reveal anything they saw or heard
on peril OF mutilation of the person.
ana every one who passed the temple.
sara the witness. was compelled to
agree 10 the conditions laid down n,
the priests.
Fearful Penalties.
The penalties agreed to were given
by Mr. Wallis as follows:
nat the throat be cut from =
ear 10 ear and the tongue be torn =
That the breast be cut asunder =
and the heart and vitals be torn Z /
y from the body.
That the body be cut asunder y
at the middle and the bowels cut y
: That if demanded we viii give :
an we possess to the support of = |
tity in which the obligator agreed NOT !
10 cohabit with any person not given
him or her by the RESTS.
Ahother obligation was one that we
would never cease to importune hea-
yer 10 avenge The blood Of the pronbets
upon the nations Of the earth. or the in
bahitants OF the earth II don't inst
remember which. said the witness
7 his was followed by quotation from,
the scriptures, 1 thing Revelations 90.
Fhe souls Of those slain cried aloud on
the affairs for vengeance
No Longer a Mormon.
Mr.. Tayler. for the protestants did
not ask for a description of the Gers
monies. but turned the witness over to
Mir Worthington for cross-examina-
ton Mr.. WorthiDgton obtained from
Mr.. Wallis that he had given notice To
ms bishop several months ago OF
MS severance from the church.
Mr. Wallis. when questioned by Mr.
Worthington. told the committee that
he had always considered the ohliga-
tons i'm the light OF joke and that he
thought many others had considered
them in the same way.
He said that there never had been I
any solemnity in the taking Of the ]
1Dliedllons- so Tar as he could see Mr. |
Worthlngton told the committee that 1
ne was not ready TO proceed with the {
discrimination until he had con- {
suited with others. and asked that the !
witness be excused until this afternoon.
John l. Nicholson. recorder OF the q
Mormon temple. was excused tempor- s
'riiy on a physicians certificate.
George II. Brimhall. president Of the
Brigham Young university fost;so., Z
hat he had two wives, married before :
$50. Senator Smoot is a member OF !
he university board. but was not pres =
mt when witness was elected presi- Z
lent. Senator Smoot frequently adj
lressed the students and always urged
hem 10 obey the law
Case of Hickman. @
Josiah Hickman. a teacher in Brig
lam Young university. testified that