The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-12-16
REED SMOOT CASE
is INTERESTING
j. n. Wallis, a Principal Witt
ness, Tells OF Oaths Taken
in the Temple.
OBLIGATIONS REVEALED
OBLIGATIONS REVEALED
All Persons Who Go Through Endow-
mont House Must Agree to the
Terrible Penalty Of Mutila-
ton Tor Revelation


Washington Dec Five Witnesses
Were examined b. the senate commits
tee on privileges and elections IN the
Investigation Of protest against Scna-
tor Reed Smoot retaining his seat in
the senate.
The FIRST Witness described the obli-
cations taken by persons who passed
through the endowment house and de-
clared that every one has To submit
To mutilalon of the person if he or
She reveals what takes place during the
ceremony.
Members oG the faculty of the Brig
ham Young university testified that
they have sustained polYgamous rela-
lions since the manifesto of 1890, and
teacher IN the public schools asserted
that the church had religion taught in
such schools
Mrs Margaret Gedaes. a Mormon
woman, was examined concerning her
plural marriage ana broke down on
the stand.
The hearings Win be continued to
morroW
Revels Mormon oatns.
J. H Wallis Mormon, from salt
Lake, Utah, WAS the first witness
Mn Wallis testitic chat he joined
the Mormon church in 1851 i'm London
and came 20 the I'm ted States in 1880
I settling i'm t'tah. where he had a son
/ who came 10 this country i'm 1881 Mr.
Wallis said he had three wives, but not
more than one al time. He knew
, Apostle George Tcas,l;tle and also Ma
rioB Scoles in London
questioned IS To his belief the Wit
ness said usually he never believed
fully in he celestial marriages to the
dead aia -four times bad stood as proxy
for -four marriages of living women to
| dead men. He married his present Wife
in the temple. Explaining the marriages
in the temple. Nh Wallis said ii is nee
essary 10 take the endowment before
marriage and in this Way had passed
through the endowment house twenty
times at least. The ceremonies, he
said had always been substantially the
same and each one consumes about two
hours
/ Nh Wanis sad he had a distinct
4 recolleciiou OF the ceremonies within
/ the lCmple, and that he is able to de
/ scrl +: rh@n just rs they took place. He
I w. r:t 4 10 give the oaths taken by
thoS. 10 participated and this he did,
+ 1oH,''.~~ with description OF the Sc
( crct SIS executed by each person.
Nearly all of the obligations We're that
those who took parr would not reveal
anything hey saw or heard on peril OF
mutlation of the person, and every one
who passed the temple. said the wit
ness, was compelled to agree To the con-
ditions laid down by the priests.
Terrible Penalties.
The penalties agreed To We're given by
MI Wallis as follows
Thai the throat he cut from ear to
car and The tongue be torn off
That the breast he cut asundei anG
the heart and vitals be torn from the
body
That lie body be ert asundor al The
middle and tne bowels cut out.
That ii demanded NE will give all we
possess to The support of the church
The next Obligation VAS one of chas-
tty, in whiet the oblig llor agreed not
To cohabitatr with AMY person not given
him or l"r hy the priests.
Anothe obligation Was one that we
would never cease to inportune high
heaven Ia avenge the blood of the
prophets upon the nations oil the earth
or the inhabitants of the earth. | don't
just remember which said the Wit
ness.
This vas followed BY q quotation
from The scriptures think .Revela-
lions { 2, '1'h" souls of those stain
cried aold on the affairs for ven-
;seanCe
Mr Taylor for the Professionals. did
not ask for "A description of the core
monie: but turned the witness over
To Mr.. Wor,hingtou for cross cNanaina
tcu. MI WCrthington obtained from
MIR Malls The statement that he had
given notice TO his bishop several
months go OF his severance from the
church.
Considered Them a Joke.
Mr.. Nails, when questioned ny Nh.
Worthinetol told the committee that
he had always considered the obliga-
tions in the light of a joke and that
he thought MANY others had rnnsil =