The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-17

Tayler in a futile effort to draw from
Mr.. Nicholson the proper name of the
other book referred to and some reason
why it had not been brought in re-
Spouse to the subpoena issued by the
senate committee. Senator McComas
then asked the witness and likewise
was unsuccessful.
You are the keeper of this other
book, are you not?" he asked.
'Well, not the particular one"
But you know where it is?'' the SEN
ator persisted.
II suppose I do was the response.
"Then why did you not bring it?''
Because 1 did not want to-
Mr.. Nicholson then gave a long ex-
PLANTATION of the character of the book
in an effort to show that the subpoena
of the senate committee could not be
held to call for any records except those
of legal marriages, which had taken
place within the temple. He described
the second book as a record of sealings
of people who go into the temple, hav-
ing been married outside, to receive a
blessing. This blessing, he said, was
in the form of a seal and such records
are not put in the marriage book.
Are these records in the book you
have here of the sealing of a man to
a plural wife, when he already has a
legal wife ?" asked Senator McComas.
mo, SIR said the witness. "and,"
he added, IT am satisfied there never
has been any such cases in this period
Records which he brought with him
are those of marriages of people who
under the law have right to marry.
The witness would not admit he knew
where to find the book of sealing of
living persons previously married.
Chairman Burrows attempted to as
certain where this book was kept and
also some name by which it could be
designated. The chairman asked a
series of questions which were not an
swered freely and in the end he set
tied back in his chair with the re-
mark that he had no more questions
to ask. moment later, however, he
returned to the attack.
"You admit that there are other
record books and that they are kept
in the temple. 1 want you to tell US
why you did not bring them" he
said.
ct had no authority to do so,'' said
the witness. Then he told Mr.. Tayler
that he could not bring the records
without the consent of the president of
the church.
After half an hour more of search
ing questions, in which all members
of the committee joined, Mr.. Nichol-
son stated that the book of sealing
could be identified by the name
Sealing of persons not married in the
temple" He gave also the names of
his assistants whose duties are to
actually record the ceremonies in the
book. He said, too, that the books
could not be reno red without the
consent of the head of the church, and
the head of the church could not give
them up without a vote of the church.
Mr.. Tayler took charge of the exami-
nation again and bringing out the fact
that the witness believes the records are
still within the temple asked:
IF you were told by President Smith
not to bring the books, you would re-
fuse to touch them would your"
yes, sir"
.'And if the sergeant at arms of the
senate should call on you with a war;
rant and demand the books and arrest
you and put you in Jail, if you did not
give them up, you would still refuse to
give them up, would you?"
Yes, sir"
Mr.. Nicholson stated that the book of
marriages he had brought with him con-
tains the record of 6.638 ceremonies. He
said the book which he had not brought
is not so large as this one and does not
contain more than half many entries.
Suppose" said Mr.. Worthington, "a
couple who were not married, should