The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1904-03-17

That they had plural wives and had con-
tinued to practice polygamous living
since the manifesto of $780, The prose-
cution stated that it had no more wit
nesses ready to put ON the stand on &C
count of the failure of several summoned
officials of the Mormon church TO ap-
pear.
Convicted of Adultery.
Lorin Harmer formerly a bishop of
the Mormon church, gave the first testi-
mony in favor of the defense that has
been offered thus far in the eight days
of the hearing. He said he was coz
victed of the crime of adultery, and that
he believed Reed Smoot was responsible
for his arrest.
Smith Admits Interview.
Attorney Tayler, for the prosecution,
recalled President Joseph F. Smith, of
the Mormon church, to the stand. Nh
Smith was questioned as to an interview
he gave out in 1902 Upon hearing the
interview read, Mr.. Smith admitted he
had been quoted correctly in regard TO
Mr.. Smoot and had urged his election.
Officers Are Sensitive.
"The officers Of the Mormon church
are sensitive in regard to charges that
plural marriages have been performed
since 1890, are they not?' Mr.. Tayler
asked.
Mr.. Smith said he thought they were
very sensitive on that subject. He was
asked then whether he had taken any
steps to run down the stories that the
laws had been violated by members of
the church.
at is not my business to do So" the.
witness replied, with emphasis.
Admit Plural Marriage.
Thomas III. Merrill, bishop and son
of Apostle Merrill, said he had two wives
and that he had six children by the first
and four by the second wife. His second
marriage took place in the Logan temple
in 1885, he said. He said he did not know
whether marriages performed in the
temple were recorded. Alma Merrill
said he had two wives, one of whom he.
married in 1885 and the other in 1886.
His wives were sisters.
Mormons Rule Politics.
Washington, March 1.-THE Reed
Smoot hearing yesterday brought out
the fact that the Mormon church insists
on controlling the votes of its members
Andrew Jensen, assistant historian Of
the Mormon church, testified that he had
never known of a prosecution Of polyg-
amist who continued to cohabit with
plural wives he had married prior to the
manifesto of 1890.
Must Get Consent.
Senator Dubois referred to the pros
ecution of Heber J. Grant, and the
witness said he had heard of no sud
cases. Mr.. Jensen said it is only tho
high officers of the church who are
| supposed to devote all of their time to
the church, who are under obligations
to get the consent of their brother Of
ficers, when they desire to engage in
some other business or enter politics.
Will Prepare List.
Chairman Burrows asked the witness
to furnish a list of presidents of the
So stakes, and he agreed to do SO as
soon as he could prepare it. The chair
man indicated that he also would seek
a list of the bishops of the 700 wards.
This is for the purpose of bringing ad-
ditional witnesses to Washington.
Critchlow Resumes Testimony.
Washington, March 1.-THE only
witness on the stand yesterday in the
investigation of the Smoot case before
the senate committee on privileges and
elections, was E. B. Critchlow, former
assistant United States attorney for
Utah. He continued his history Of the
Mormon church.