The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-04-22
Spent Six Months in Prison Ra her Than Desert Moth-
 CTS of His Children
TREMBLING " HI EMOTION
 HE TAXES WITNESS STAND
Begs Attorneys Not to Ask Him Ques- tions That Will Require Public Exhibition of His Family
 Affairs.

Washington, April 21.-The feature of today'5 hearing in the Shoot case in the tions was the testimony of Angus M Cannon, for twenty-five years president of the largest Mormon stake in the world The testimony was of a personal char acter, dealing with the conviction of the witness on charges of polygamous CO., habitation, and was dragged from him l under protest that he be protected from any peril or liability of prosecution for what he revealed
 When assured that his plural marriages under the statute of limitations could not be used as evidence against him, he answered most of the questions asked The same frankness was not apparent, however, when the witness was pressed to reveal the nature of the oath he had taken in the endowment house. Like other witnesses, he declared that the sacredness of that oath prevented him from proclaiming 1t to the world.
 
 than that given by President Smith early in the investigation He answered all questions of a personal character, but every admission was made reluctantly, and replies to questions in regard to his numerous marriages were as near mo- nosyllabc as 1t was possible to make them
 Brigham Roberts was recalled by the defense when the senate committee on r,ri ixyi1 nd tgation of the protests against Senator Reed Shoot. MT. Vancott drew from the witness a review of the elections of Utah to show that the democratic successes or the state were due to the silver craze, and that the Mormon church had not pajgtained .& vaccillating policy between the two political parties as had been in ferred by the testimony given by MT. Roberts yesterday.
 Calvin Cobb Examined. Calvin Cobb, publisher of the Boise Statesman, was examined In regard to the polygamy in Idaho and the influence of Mormons on the politics of the state. He said there Is no statute against poly gamous cohabitation, though several un- successful efforts had been made to en- act such statute. All of these measures, he said had been decided in the legisla- ture, which is about one-third Mormon. In regard to the Mormon influence in the state, MT. Cobb said that the chalrmen of the state organizations of both parties goes to Salt Lake before every campaign and both come back and say everything has been fixed "all right" He said that after the election one or the other usual ly felt that things had not been "all right"
 Mir Cobb related the efforts before the legislature to have called constitutional convention to enact an amendment to re- peal the Iaho test against Mormonism. The resolution was defeated several times and finally Apostle John Henry Smith visited Boise and soon after the resolu- tion was adopted.
 Counsel for the prosecution examined MT Cobb in relation to the influence Nor mons are alleged to have attempted to bear for the retention of Senator Shoot. This was shown said MT. Cobb, by delegation of the Idaho legislature which called on w. E. Borah, candidate for senate and asked him what would be his attitude as a United States senator if the case of Senator Shoot should come up Counsel for the defense opposed the introduction of this testimony on the ground that what Mir. Borah told MT. Cobb was incompetent. MT. Taylor ex- pained that he wanted to show that Borah declined to commit himself in re- gard to MT. Smoot and on that account was not elected to the senate. The com mittee adjourned at noon without action having been taken. MT. Borah is now one of the counsel for Mr. Shoot.
 Cannon Called on Stand.
 At the afternoon session Angus M. Cannon was called to the stand. He said he has lived in Salt Lake since 1S49, but had been blessed in the Mormon church when he was years old. He is 70 years old and now holds the position of patriarch in the Mormon church, hay ing been designated for that position by President. Joseph F. Smith about two weeks ago. Patriarch, the witness said ranks next to the twelve apostles in dig nifty. MT. Cannon said that for twenty eight years he had been president of the Salt Lake stake of Zion.
 The sensation of the hearing occurred when MT. Taylor examined MT Cannon in regard to his various marriages Mir Taylor asked the witness when he was first married and he answered:
 "On July IS. 1s5s."
 ITO whom?'
 Sarah Maria Mousely."
 "Who next?''
 Mir Cannon stood up and his voice shook with great emotion as he said
 "I beg an opportunity to explain and to ask a question or the cna1rman DefOre I proceed Nine years ago I was brought into great trouble. I was prosecuted and sent to prison because I acknowledged the mothers of my children as my families. I was given the opportunity of deserting my families or going to prison. I went to prison.
 Six Months in Prison.
 q was sent to prison for eight months and served six months when the su- preme court took up my case and I was released. While I was in prison I said to my associates who called to see me: You could not come here in honor; could not stay out in honor
 For a long time I have lived within the law as far as it was possible to do 50 in the face of the obligations to my fam ilies I have not paraded my families. but in honest pride have nourished them.
 ''The press of the country has carica- tured President Smith for the testimony he gave in regard to the plural families. and If am asked to make similar exhi- bitions of my families I appeal for pro- tection from any consequences that may |