Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-12-21
WOMAN reveals
mormon OATHS
MRS. ANNIE ELLIOTT TELLS OF
OBLIGATIONS TAKEN IN
THE TEMPLE.
OF THE
BODY AMONG PENALTIES
Witness Tells Smoot Investigation
Committee of the Garments All
"Saints" in Good Standing Must
Always Wear.

Always Wear.
Washington, Dec. 1.-THE first wit
ness in the Senator Smoot inquiry Fiji
day was Mrs. Annie Elliott, of Price,
Utah. She is an elderly lady, who
went from Denmark to Utah in 1872,
and left the Mormon church in 1886.
She was asked concerning the obliga-
tons taken in the temple and was
requested to repeat as much of the
ceremonies as she could remember.
In voice shaken with emotion Mrs.
Elliott said that the obligations were
so indicate she could not bear to re-
peat them. Chairman Burrows told
her to take her own time and not to
be embarrassed. The witness said the
first oath administered to those who
participated was that if they did not
want to go any further and take the
oaths they should turn back and go
out.
Tells of Penalties.
BY slow degrees Mrs. Elliott repeated
the oaths Of vengeance ano the vari
Gus penalties ascribed for revealing
any part of the ceremonies. During
her testimony concerning the penal
ties of mutilation of the body the wit
ness trembled continuously and ap-
peared to proceed with difficulty.
After saying that each person taking
the endowments agrees to have his or
her throat cut, Mrs. Elliott said ii
would be impossible for Ter to go any
further. AT that time | considered
it all so sacred l thought l would put
it away and not mention it any more"
she said, when requested to proceed.
Pressed by Chairman Burrows, the
witness to14 of the other penalties and
| Obligations which have been de-
scribed by other witnesses.
Always Wear Garments.
At the request of Mr.. Tayler Mrs.
Elliott described the garments worn
by Mormons who have aiken the en-
dowments. Senator Overman asked If
every Mormon in good standing is
compelled to wear the garments, and
the witness said that all such Nor
mons wear ne garments as under
clothing.
Looking at Senator Smoot, Senator
Overman asked the witness if she
were sure every Mormon in good
standing in the committee room had
the garments on.
Yes, sir, they have" The reply
provoked laughter. and nc witness re-
peated: Il know they -: have them
| on
On cross-examination Attorney
| Worthington endeavOred to draw from
the witness whether she hao told 9th
ers of the endowment remonies, but
she insisted that she ha. never ex-
cept in limited way to the pastor of
the Baptist church in Ter town. She
declared that the attorney for the
protestants had no idc:. what she
would say when she took the stand.
Senator Foraker asked the witness
il she had ever heard of the endow-
ment house penalties being enforced
against anyone. She said she had not
| Mr. Tayler asked if she were likely
to suffer by reason of giving testimony
here Mrs. Elliott said she expected
that her business would suffer.
Charles H. Jackson, of Boise City,
Idaho, chairman of the democratic
state committee, testified at length con-
corning the growing power of tie
Mormon church and its interference in
state affairs, which he said was made
the paramount issue by democrats and
independents in the last campaign in
| Idaho.