The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-12-14
REED SHOOT TRIAL
FIVE WITNESSES EXAMINED BY
 SENATE COMMITTEE.
Two, Members of Faculty of Brigham Young University Tell of Their Polygamous Relations Since
 Manifesto.

Washington, Dec. 13.-Five witnesses were examined today by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections in the investigation of protests against Senator Reed Shoot retaining his seat in the Senate.
 The first witness described the obli- gations taken by persons who pass through the endowment house and de- clared that every one agrees to sub init to mutilation of the person if he or she reveals what takes place during the ceremony. 4ss
 z Two members of the faculty of the Brigham Young University testified that they have sustained polygamous relations since the manifesto of 1890 and teacher in the public schools as- serted that the church had religion taught In Such schools.
 Josiah Hickman, teacher in Brig ham Young University testified that he was married first in 1884 and again in 1900. The first wife died. in 1900. For ten years he said he lived with two wives and had children by both of them. The witness said he went through the temple with his second wife two or three years ago and they were sealed, but no legal marriage had taken place.
 He said he had taken no steps to conform to the law in relation to mar riages. Then. as you understand 1t. you are not legally married to your present wife?' asked Mir. Taylor.
 No sir; not so far"
 You said not so far" said Mir. Van Cott, one of the attorneys for Mir Shoot What did you mean by that?' |. MT. Hickman explained that he had been a little negligent, but that he and his wife had decided that they should be married. He said of the fifty or sixty teachers in the university he was morally certain that only two, Mir. Brimhall and himself had been poly gamlsts.
 On cross examination Mir. Hickman said he believed in plural marriages at the time he was polygamously mar ried to his present wife. but has not believed in them since the manifesto which he regarded binding upon all members of the church as tho express ed will of Cod
 Mir Shoot. in a conversation since the investigation has begun. had ex- pressed to him the opinion that there would be no more plural marriages.
 Witness Broke Down.
 Mrs. Margaret Geddes of Salt Lake City said she was born in Glasgow, Scotland. where she was converted to the Mormon faith and went to Utah twenty years ago She became the plu- ral wife of William Geddes in Logan, Utah, the same years. She said sine did not live with her husband much as ishe remained in Oregon. his other wife living in Blaine City. She had four children. Her husband died in Oregon and she then went to her husbands first wife and there baby was born. She broke down crying as she gave this testimony.
 It was brought out that her husband died thirteen years ago and that her youngest child is five and a halt years of age. She said she had not been married second time. and refused to give the name of her youngest child's father. She broke down again as she told the committee she has no one to look after her, and that she sat in the waiting room from a. m. until day light after arriving in Washington this morning. r.. jss#
 Arthur Morning. a teacher ill the pub- lie schools of Utah. said he had been called on to conduct religion classes in his school of twenty pupils. He read letters from Box Elder Stake Pres idency. instructing him how to outline the Mormon class of work. One letter was dated about a year ago and anoth- CT in September. 1904. Mir Morning said he is not a Mormon himself. Mir. Taylor offered in evidence passages from the books of Mormonism sent to all grades of the schools. They were largely composed of sketches of tine church and the apostles including Sen ator Shoot. Senator Hopkins asked Mir. Taylor what he expected to prove by that.
 We are proving" said Mir. Taylor that the Mormon church is teaching it's religion at public expense, and that the lessons are largely composed of biographies of men.who are notorious polvgamists.