Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-04-22
Mormon Patriarch Before Sen
ate Committee Investigate
ing Reed Smoot Case
CANNON TELLS OF PRISON TERM
Begs Opportunity to Explain Punish
ment Inflicted Upon Him Because He
Would Not Desert His Families -
Declines to Reveal Nature of oaths
of the Endowment House,

Washington, April 22-Angus NJ.
Cannon one of the pa'triarchs of the
Mormon church, and for twenty five
years president OF one of the largest
Mormon stakes in the world. was the
principal witness before the senate
committee on privileges in its investl-
cation of the protest against the seat
ling in the senate OF Reed Smoot.
Mr. Cannon is 20 years old, and has
lived in Salt Lake city since 1S49. He
was blessed in the Mormon church
when he was years old.
His testimony, which was given re-
luctantly. and was dragged from him
under a protest that he be protected
from any criminal inability of prosecu-
ton for what he revealed, was almost
entirely of a personal character. When
he was assured that he was safe under
the statute of limitation, he answered
most OF the questions. but he was not
so frank when pressed to reveal the ma
ture of the endowment house oaths.
Like other witnesses he said they were
too sacred to proclaim to the world.
Patmarchs. Mr. Cannon said, ranked
next to the twelve apostles In dignity.
first married.
July is, 1885," was the reply.
ITO whom ~
Sarah Maria Mously."
Whom did you marry next?"
Tells Of Prison Term.
The patriarch, trembling with emo
ton, stood up. His voice shook as he
said:
Il beg an opportunity to explain and
to ask a question OF the chairman be-
fore proceed. Nineteen years ago
was brought into great trouble. l was
prosecuted and sent to prison because
acknowledged the mothers OF my
children as my wives. | was given the
opportunity of deserving my families OF
going to prison. went to prison.
Il was sent to prison for eighteen
months. when the supreme court took
up my case. and was released. While
| was in prison said to my associates
who called to see me: You could not
come here in honor; / could not stay in
honor
For long time / have lived within
the law as far as it was possible to do
So In the face of the obligations to my
families. I have not paraded my fami-
lies but in honest pride I have nourish-
ed them.
THE press Of the country has Carl
catured President Smith for the testi-
nlony he gave in regard to plural fam
lilies and If am asked to make similar
exhibitions of my family APPEAL for
protection from any consequences that
may be the result of the testimony. !
will answer all questions in regard to
myself or the church, If ! am assured
that / will not be placed in peril by i'ea-
son of that testimony
Married Two Wives at Once.
Assured that he was safe, Mr.. Cannon
answered the question concerning his
second marriage as follows:
oro Anna Amanda Mouseey.
"When?''
"A,t the same hour I married Sarah
Maria Mousley, and by the same cere-
mony."
ITO whom were you next married 2
40 Mrs. Clara C. Mason, dn 1875.
Mr.. Cannon added that he had mar
ried Martha Hughes in 1884 and Maria
Rannion and Johanna C. Donnellson in
1886 and had not been married since.
AN his wives are living.
Asked ff he remembered a prosecu-
..don against him in 1886, for polygalny,
the specific case being that OF Matte
Hughes, Cannon said he remembered