New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-03
LIED JUST FOR A JOKE.
SHOOT INQUIRY RESUMED
Angus ". Cannon, Jr., admits Tell
ing FaIsehood to Gentiles IN Utah.

OF angus M cannon former pieSIAeilL u tlC sat
Lake Stake of Mormons, in Utah. travelled from
Salt Lake 10 Washington &c inform the Senate
Committee Privileges and Elections that he
had spoken falsely in informing prominent GentIes
in Utah that President Joseph +. Smith Of the
Mormon Church had performed plural marriage
ceremonies Cannon witness in the Smoot
investigation to-day. He said he had told false
stories in regard to President Smith marrying his
cousin, Abram H Cannon. TO Lillian HamIn'
fourth wife His only excuse that he had been
drinking and thought that 70 tell such a story
would be a good joke the Gentiles referred TO-
as anything against the Mormons tickled them all
over"
Members of the committee received a communica-
ton several days ago from Z. 3. Critchow or
Salt Lake to the effect that Cannon would go on
the stand and testify that Abram H Cannon and
Lillian Hamlin were married on the high seas pc
tween Los Angeles and the Catalina Islands. and
that President Joseph F. Smith of the Mormon
Church performed the ceremony. Critchlow stated
that Angus NJ. Cannon. ir. had said he was pres
ent and Witnessed the ceremony. Consequently ar
engagements were made for the meeting to-day.
After the witness had been sworn he was asked
by Mr. TayIer counsel for the prosecution. IL re-
gard the incident. The witness said he knew
Abram II. Cannon intimately, as they had been
associated in business. He said Abram had three
wives the time OF his death. in the fall of 1886.
but there was another wife he knew about He
gave the names OF the three wives as Sarah NJ
jenkins Wilhelmina NJ. Cannon, sister of the wit
ness. and Mary E CroXan Abram H. Cannon had
children by all of them.
Did you know Abram to associate with woman
called Lillian Hamlin?" asked Mr.. Tayler.
"I know he took her riding. He used my buggy"
Did you know he engaged to her.
He did not say anything about that, He said
she had been engaged to his brother David, who
died on a mission 10 Germany. I never heard him
say that he engaged to her.
Did you tell E. W wilson OF Salt Lake, that
you saw Abram H. Cannon and Lillian Hamln
married?'
Il think did tell him"
The witness said that Wilson is well known in
Sal Lake. being cashier Of the Commercial Ma
tionaI Bank and Of high standing.
In response 10 questions, answered with the
briefest OF admissions, II drawn from the wit
that he had told Wilson within the last Two
weeks that in 1855 in Los Angeles. ten or twelve
people chartered a vessel for the Catalina Islands.
and thai in the party. in addition TO himself were
Joseph F Smith and one OF his wives Abram H
Cannon and his wife WiheIniua. sister to the Wit
ness; a man named Langford and Lillian Hamltn.
After the boat had gone distance fror2 Los
Angeles members OF the party. with TWO or three
exceptions, retired TO the cabin. and there Joseph
The witness said that after his sister. Cannou's
second wife heard what was going on she got
The witness direct examination said that later
met Critchlow and Wilson and he repeated sub
stantially the same story. When asked how he
riage ne said
Well had read the testimony which Mr.. Smith
knew that smith did know OF polygamous mar
formed himself"
TOLD IT TO PERRY HEATH
M Tayler drew from the witness the fact tina:
he also had te!ephoned 10 Perry 5. Heath and made
appointment a; the o;ice OF Tho Salt Lake
Tribune at which he told Heath the same story
ne had related 70 Critchlow and Wilson. He de-
clared that he had told other persons in regard
10 the marriages. and had except
Critchlow. and that was on the day he had re-
ceived the subpoena
Are you stin satisfied that Smith married them"
asked Senator Dubois.
OF course ! don't know that he married them.
but l think that he did was The answer.
Utah who knew ne vas starting FOR Washington
ana the United states marshal
Who told you OF the ceremony on the high
MY wife said she was satisfied that the mar
riage took place just as related
I cannot think OF any others"
deathT'' asked senator Dubois
Through his entire illness
mere ere arc ne d he,,s.
Was Lillian Hamltn there"
Part of the time
Has she a child?
Yes. a daughter"
What IS her name"
Her last name?"
ashe Of A6 aa ' esanoa esad
sister by others OF Canuons children
Chairman Burrows took the witness severely to
task for his failure TO go Wilson and Critchlow
and tell them he had told untruth. Cannon had
only one excuse. and that was that he had been
drinking and was i'll up 70 the time he vent 70 the
tae station Is not more THAN, Than six blocks from the
have informed them OF his story without trouble.
DISCUSSED TESTIMONY WITH sMoOT
At the afternoon session Cannon said he arrived
here about S a. m. to-day and met Senator Smoot
soon afterward. He said he had spent about thirty
minutes in all at Senator Smos- office He had
been directed the Senate annex by policeman
who told MIN that where committees met after
the adjournment Of Congress. Cannon said he met
Senator Smoot coming out or the building The
Senator invited him to his office where they talked
what Cannon was 10 testify TO at the hear
ing Frank . Richards counseI Tor the Mormon
Church was present. and the witness said ne
explained fully that he was drunk IN SAT- LAX, lake
and had made statements regarding the alleged
on-Hamlin wedding which were untrue on
Senator Smoot the witness sad Abram II Cannon
had in California about six weeks IN 1896 ne
in AbTam's absence He declared that neither
Senator smoot, his clerk. Mr. Badger nor Mr.
with him what his testimony was TO be. He ad-
mitted TO Mr.. Worthngton that he went on
Stories when drunk
HAS there been any feeling between you and
Nothing except OF a personal nature. or course
but have felt that there has been too much Smith
in his appoin ailments ,s -. -,
And you have expressed yourseIc pretty freely
about this 100 much smith, have you not!
cannon nom said he went to Wilson's bank to get
money and borrowed Slt or SO of wilson.
moasy 20 not d fRg IS asked charmaa
Burrows: .,-.
II was brought out that the wife who accom-
panied Abram II Cannon TO Los angeles ,tt was his
The hearing adjourned subject TO the call OF
Chairman Burrows
DISTRICT ATTORNEY GRIGsBY TO GO.