Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1904-03-16
The smoot Case Brings Out a Great
Deal of Sensational Evidence
MoRMoNs STILL PoLYdAMIs1s
AS the investigation Advances II
Becomes rlore acd More Evident
That the Saints Are Pretty Tough
Sinners.

cut. The fact that pOiygamy is stlIl aH
organic part of the doctrine and ,prac-
tice of the Mormon religion has been
prominent all through the investiga-
ton. Prominent witnesses, high up in
the councils of the church, have testl-
fed with more or less relish under the
fire OF questions put them, that plural
marriages are still the rule OF the faltn,
and that many if not most of the offi-
cials of Mormonism are living III direct
and fragrant violation Of the laws or
the United States.
After having Joseph H. Smith, presi-
dent of the Mormon church, on the
stand for nearly five hours before the
senate committee on privileges and
elections, which is investigating the
right of Reed Smoot to sit as a senator,
both the prosecution and the defense
announced that they were through
with him and another witness was
called. This was Mrs. Clara Mabel Ken
nedy, who told some secrets of the
Mormon church which if not broken
down, will prove as important as the
statements by President Smith that he
and other officials have been persist
ently cohabiting with plural wives in
violation of the law.
Mr.. Tayler asked for detailed
schedule of Mr.. Smiths children born
since 1890, and over the protest of Mr..
Smith Chairman Burrows directed that
the question be answered.
Mr.. Smith gave list of children by
the wives in the order in which he mar
ried them. The list is as follows:
BY Julina-Edith and Rachael.
BY Sarah-Aseneth and Jaennetta.
BY Edna-Martha and one child
which died.
By Alice-Fielding, Jesse and An
drew.
BY Mary-Silas, Agnes, James and
maybe Calvin.
He said he did not know the age OF
the last named.
Chairman Burrows inquired: Chow
rsany children have you now?"
"Forty-two,' was the answer, "2l
boys and 81 girls, and l am proud OF
every one of them"
Senator Overman said that he had a
pamphlet saying that Jesus Christ was
a polygamist. Turning to Mr.. Smith
he asked: "Is that what your church
teacheS?"
"No, sir" was the response. What
we teach is that Jesus Christ was de-
scended through long line of polyga.
mists through David and down to
Abraham" With that MI. Smith left
the stand, having been the only wit
ness in the five days the hearing had
progressed.
The prosecution then called to the
stand Mrs. Clara Mabel Kennedy OF
Sewer county, Utah. who testified to
having been married into a plural
marriage since the manifesto of 1880.
She said the ceremony had been per-
formed by an apostle Of the Mormon
church. Mrs. Kennedy said she was
born in Albany, q years ago, of N Dr.
mon parents. The family moved to
Diaz, Mexico, when she was about four
years old, where she lived until she
was II years old. when she was mar
ried to James Francis Johnson, who
already had one wife, Mrs. Kennedy
said she met the first wife and they
had "a slight interview" about join
ing into the family as second wife. The
first wife gave her consent to the ar
rsngement.
According to arrangement Mr.. and
Mrs. Johnson and baby and the witness
drove from Diaz to Jaurez, Mex. to be
married. They remained there two
weeks before the ceremony was per-
formed.
"Where were you married? asked
Mr. Taylor.
"At the home of A. c. Mcdonald, the
counselor to the first president OF the
state" (meaning the Mormon stateJ,
said the witness.
"When?"
MAY 19, 1896
WHO married you?
Brother Young"
do you mean Brigham Young, the
apostle?"
Eyes, sir"
The witness was asked by Mr.. Tayler
if she had seen Apostle Young before
and she said she had in Diaz and
Jaures two or three times and that she
could not be mistaken. She could not
identify picture of Young, however
Mrs. Kennedy said she lived with
MIR. Johnson about five years, part OF
the time in the same house with the
first wife and part of the time away
from Mr.. and Mrs Johnson. She said
she has two children by Mr.. Johnson,
one Of which is now living. She sep
arated from Mr.. johnson at the end OF
five years and about a year after that
. married Mr. Kennedy.
"Why did you separate from your
husband?" Senator Foraker asked.
'sWell, could not stand the pressure
any longer" she replied.
what do, you mean by could not
stand the pressure?'" asked Chairman
Burrows.
Were you not treated right?'
mo, sir, was not" she said.
Would you have stayed if you had
been treated right? 1t was not be-
cause you were opposed to Mormon
ism?" was asked.
81 am a Mormon STILL she said.
Though am not very good one"
"The prosecution called to the stand
Mrs. Emma Matthews, Of Marysville,
Utah, mother of Mrs. Clara Mabel
Kennedy. She has been a plural wife,
but is not now.
Mrs. Matthews said that she had had
no objection to her daughter becoming
Johnson's plural wife. She remember
ell well the marriage of Johnson to her
daughter. and fixed the date definitely
at May, 1894. 1t was brought out that
Apostle Teasdale had advised her
against allowing her daughter to be-
come plural wife, on the ground that
i; was against the law of the. Church.
Mr.. Merrill was temporarily recalled
and questioned by Senator Dubois, who
asked: "Mr Merrill, do you still uphold
the doctrine of polygamy?"
mo, SIR was the reply.
"But you practice it?"
81 do"
Francis NJ. Lyman. an apostle OF the
Mormon Church and the prospective
successor of Mr.. Smith as president OF