The Weiser semi-weekly signal. (Weiser, Washington Co., Idaho) 1904-1911, 1904-12-24


PROSECUTIONS A FARCE.
Mr.. Owen was recalled in the af-
ternoon and his examination was re-
sumed concerning attempts to bring
about prosecutions on charges of un-
lawful cohabitation. Mr.. Owen said
cases were instituted against the late
Lorenzo Snow, president of the Nor
mon church; Joseph F. Smith, now
president of the church; and Brigham
II. Roberts, who was elected a mem
Der of congress but denied his seat
on account of having plural wives.
Roberts secured an acquittaI 5y APP
pealing his case after conviction.
Many instances of Mormon officials
refusing to recognize informations
charging polygamy were reported to
the committee by. the witness. The
information in the case against Presi-
dent Smith was sworn to during the
past summer, and was based on admis-
sions of polygamous cohabitation
made before the senate committee
since the opening of the Smoot inves-
tigation. A Gentle County Attorney
declined to prosecute, said the wit
ness.
Mr.. Owen said that this past sum-
mer he learned of challenge made
by W. E. Borah, at one time retained
by Senator Smoot as counsel, that if
any sworn information were filed with
him charging Idaho Mormons with
being polygamists, he would prose-
cute to conviction. The witness
said he filed sworn information in
twenty cases, including the names of
Bulge, Parkinson and other promi-
nent Idaho Mormons.
FAILED TO PROSECUTE.
"Did Mr.. Borah prosecute these
personsH" asked Mr. Taylor.
No, sir. He said in speech at
Lewiston few days later that he
had received some alleged information J
but that he did not know Charles s
owen, and that he was not hunting J
'nipe in the valley; that he was hunt. {
ing the tiger in the jungle Fred c
erick t. Dubois.'' I
The witness said he was approached
when the Lorenzo Snow case was in ,
'tituted before Judge Bartch, a mem
Der of the supreme bench of Utah,
md urged to withdraw the prosecu- I
ion, on the ground that 1t was i'll adj
Used.
FINES PAID BY SUBSCRIPTION. @
In cases where conviction was Sc s
cured by Mr.. Owen in Utah the fines I
n all cases were merely nominal,
rom S25 to $3.50. and in nearly
very case the fines we're repaid by
public subscription. He said he sat
SIZED himself that action in the !;
ourts was unavailing.
Owens told of many prominent PEG
lie hiding in Canada to escape sum a
nons N n
A. o. Nelson, state Supt. of public
of Utah and a Mormon.
that he had entered upon
ampaign to stop the teaching of the
1ormon religion in public build n
ngs. His. investigations show him b
lasses are taught in 800 school h
uildings, after adjournment of u
chools. The teachers in the public o.
chools usually conduct these classes. p
Apostle Smith admitted making l
peeches political to the church SUI b.
ects in Idaho in 1902. M
EDITOR SAYS Pc. =
LYGAMY is INCREASING T
IN IDAHO.
William Balderston, editor of the i
oise Statesman, was recalled to
ientify an article in his paper oppos-
,g constitutional convention. He
lso referred to the opinion of the At :!
'rney- General of Idaho, reputed
olygamist, which opinion was rend-
red at the inquest of w. E. Borah of
oise, one of the counsel for Smoot.
The witness said that polygamists
wing in Idaho had increased, des-
lite the fact there have been few =
lural marriages within the state.
He said that up to the late cam
aign both political parties in Idaho :
ere disposed to go to Salt Lake to
get a straight tip as to which
ould get the Mormon support.
Mr. Taylor asked If thew got this
p, and received the response:
Eyes, but they never knew whether
was straight"
II was brought out by Mr.. Taylor
at the Idaho Attorney General "a a.