The Bourbon news., 1904-03-11
MORMON SECRETS.
Mrs. Clara NJ. Kennedy Testifies
in the SmoOt Case.
Her Testimony Showed That the Nor.
mon Officials Have Practiced
PoIygamy in Violation Of
the Law For Years.

Washington, March S.-After having
Joseph F. Smith, president of the Nor
mon church, on the stand for nearly
five hours Monday 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 an
nOunced that they were through with
him and another witness was called.
This was Mrs. Clara Mabel Kennedy,
who told some secrets of the Mormon
church which, if not broken down, it
will prove as important as the state
ments of President Smith that he and
other officials have been persistently
cohabiting with plural wives in viola
ton of the law Mrs. Kennedy said
she was married by Brigham Young,
an apostle of the church, to James
Francis Johnson, a polygamist, since
the manifesto of 1890, and that she
has had two children by that hus-
band. The marriage was performed
in Mexico, according to the witness,
at the home Of high official Of the
church.
Before President Smith left the
stand Mr.. Tayler questioned him in
regard to the ages of several of the
children and Mr.. Smith answered: 81
am not in the habit of carrying birth
records about with me-
Both the prosecution and the de-
through with Mr.. Smith for the pres
ent. but before he was allowed to
leave the stand Chairman Burrows in
quired: 'How many children have
you now, Mr.. Smith,"
'Forty-two," was the answer. "21
boys and 21 girls, and I am proud Of
every one Of them"
AS Smith started to leave the stand
Senator Dubois again stopped him and
asked the ages Of President Woodruff
and President Snow at the time of
their deaths.
than 20 when the manifesto was is
sued" said Senator Dubois. "You have
testified that both oDeyed the Saw in
regard to polygamous cohabitation
and have not practiced it since that
time" 81 think it likely"
Senator Overman said that he had
a pamphlet saying that Jesus Christ
was polygamist Turning to Mr..
Smith he asked: SIS that what your
church teaches?''
''No, sir," was the response. what
we teach is that Jesus Christ was de-
scended through a long line of polyga-
mists through David and down to
Abraham"
Mrs. Clara NJ. Kennedy testified to
having been married into a plural
marriage since the manifesto of 1890.
She said the ceremony had been per
formed by an apostle of the Mormon
church Mrs. Kennedy said she was
born in Albany, N. Y, 81 years ago
and went with her parents to Utah
when she was two years old. Her
parents were Mormons and she was
brought up in that faith and had been
taught the propriety of plural mar
riage, and in fact. never had known
any different life until after her mar
riage. The family moved to Diaz,
Mex, when she was about four years
old. where she lived until she was II
years old, when she was married to
James Francis Johnson, who already
had one wife. Mrs. Kennedy said she
met the first wife and they had "a
slight interview" about going into the
family as a second wife The first
wife gave her consent to the arrange
ment,
According to arrangements Mr.. and
Mrs. Johnson and baby and the wit
ness drove from Diaz to Jaurez. Mex,
to be married. They remained there
two weeks before the. ceremony was
performed by Apostle Brigham Young.
Mrs. Kennedy had two children by
Mr.. johnson and five years later they
separated.
Senator Hoar asked the witness if
she had received any form of mar
riage certificate from Apostle Young
and she replied that she had not.