The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-12-20
EVIDENCE IN FULL.
Land Case Tried in a Bishops Court
in Utah.

Washington, Dec. 19-ApostIe John
Henry Smith of the Mormon church
was recalled as the first witness today
in the Senator SmooI investigation,
and was crOss-eXamined by A. S.
WOrthingtOn. counsel for Mr.. SmOOt
Apostle Smith said he had known A.
Z. Mcdonald CwhO died during the
present year,. who was charged by one
witness with having performed a plu-
raj marriage in Mexico.
Had Never Heard of It.
sg. had come to the attention of
President Lorenzo Snow that McDOn-
az ks6 5SS2 exercising the right to
marry or sSsl pSgs0TI5 q plural mar
Tiages,' said the wssSeSs- President
Snow instructed me TO call Mcdonald
TO account. I went to Mexico but did
not learn that any plural marriages
had been performed. l never heard of
any president of the church author
izing plural marriages since the mani
festo.'
Denial was made by the witness that
the Mormon church owned a majority
Of stock I'm the sugar manufactures
Of Idaho. He was examined concern
ing his participation i'm politics in
Idaho and his testimony chiefly was
in contradiction of the testimony Civ
en- by Chairman Jackson of the Idaho
day He denied that he had said that
there had been revelations that GER
tain political tickets should be sup
ported.
John Henry in Politics.
Apostle Smith, however, admitted
taking part in bringing about the re-
peal of the territorial test Oaths which
practically excluded Idaho Mormons
Ia zai no h-I 10
liticaI speeches in Idaho in 1907, but
appealed to the voters as a citizen and
not as a member of the Mormon
church.
When Mr.. Worthington concluded
his crOss-eXaminatiOn Senator Dubois
asked Apostle Smith is an apostle
could take a plural wife now and re-
tain his standing.
Unless psrchance he were handled
by the laws of the country" was the
response.
You mean that some Gentle would
have to make complaint"
mo, sir If submitted to his council
think it would deal with him. know
I would
Pressed for more definite answer.
the witness said if the fact of a plural
marriage should be demonstrated in
the courts, an apostle contracting such
a marriage would lose his sraEding.
Case OF Lillian Hamlin.
Attorney Tayler, for the protestants.
examined Apostle Smith concerning
his knowledge Of the alleged marriage
OF Apostle Abraham Cannon and Lii
lisn Hamlin, charged by witnesses to
have been performed By President 10
seph Smith on the high seas. near Los
Angeles. in 1896.
The witness said he went 10 Presi-
dent Smith and asked him IL he had
performed such a ceremony. and tn
reply was that he had not He admit
ted that if the president Of the church
had wanted to perform a ceremony OF
that kind he would be al liberty 10 do
sc. But I believed him absolutely"
concluded the witness.
Apostle Smith said he had made in
qUiry as to who performed the cere-
mOny. but obtained no information On
the subject. The witness said ne had
serious doubts whether Abraham Can
non had married Lillian Hamlin.
Then what is the explanation YOU
made TO Yourself as 10 the status of
your brother apostle and Lillian Ham
linz he was asked.
No Concern of His.
He said ne had not concerned him
self on the moral question, as Abra-
ham Cannon was dead.
If you knew President Smith had
performed a plural marriage cere-
mony, then what would you dO2"
i would go before a grand jury and
give my testimony"
Then your only interest would be
to see that the guilty person was pun
ished? What about the effect upon
the church,"
1.-THE church would have to take care
OF itself"
The witness said he would take no
action in such a case unless he saw
the ceremony performed.
Apostle Smith said there was much
contention between members Of the
church on the subject Of the legality
OF plural marriages, until polygamy
was prohibited by the church i'm Pres
ident WOOdruffs manifesto. 6
Mormon Colonies.
Chairman Burrows drew from the