The Savannah morning news., 1904-03-10
MORE MORMONS
GIVE EVIDENCE
MANY HAVE PLURAL WIVES
THIS WAS BROUGHT OUT In THE
TESTIMONY.

n Bishop of the Mormon Church.
TWO Mormons Stated That They
Each Had Two Wives who Were
Sisters--More witnesses Wanted.
Washington March 9.-Several Off
Gals of the Mormon Church were to-
day put on the stand in the Senator
Reed Smoot case, before the Senate
Committee on Privileges and Elections,
to testify that they had plural wives
and had continued to practice polyga-
nous cohabitation since the manifesto
of 1890. The large number that have
continued that practice formed the
feature of the evidence brought out.
Just before adjournment for the day
the committee held an executive ses-
sion for the purpose of having read
the unprintable testimony in the Teas
dale divorce case.
The prosecution stated that it had
no more witnesses ready to put on
the stand on account of the failure
of several officials of the Mormon
Church to respond to the summonses
issued for their appearance. Presi-
dent Joseph F. Smith was asked to
use his influence to have the wit
nesses put in an appearance, and he
promised to get into communication
with them, if it was possible to do so.
Loren Harmer, formerly a bishop of
the Mormon Church, was on the stand
to-day and gave the first testimony
in favor of the defense that has been
offered thus far in the eight days of
the hearings. He said he was con-
vcted Of the crime of adultery and
that he believed Reed Smoot was re-
sponsible for his arrest.
President Smith was recalled and adj
mitted having urged the election of
Reed Smoot as senator in an inter
view. Mr.. Smith said ne was acquaint-
ed with Benjamin Clough, Jr., presi-
dent of the board of faculty of the
Brigham Young Academy, and that
he is reputed to be a polygamist. Mr..
Smith was questioned as to whether
he would investigate charges against
church officials of violation of laws,
and said that was not his business,
but the duty of lesser officials.
Ceremony Called sealing"
Chairman Burrows asked in regard
TO the marriage ceremonies performed
in the church. He asked if the mar
rage for eternity only was not called
sealing"
They are all called sealing" was the
response.
rs this sealing for eternity ever per-
formed for living persons?"
Il believe 1 have heard of one or two
such cases." said the witness.
Are any polygamists ever sealed for
eternity?"
No si:."
Does this service of sealing for eter-
nit 11a ric nf ga tb
tation?"
No"
rs the practice ever exercised as a
rght?"
Not that 1 know off,
Chairman Burrows asked if polygamy
was taught in the book of Mormons.
and Mr.. Smith answered that it was
emphatically forbidden.
Mr.. Smith took the book and read
verse which declared that when the
Lord wanted His seed propagated, he
would command it. This. the witness
declared, justifies polygamy when
person is commanded by the Lord to
enter that state. He said the COM
mands come to individuals as revela-
tions from the Lord.
Have you received any individual
revelatons?" asked Senator Dubois.
Il can't say that l have" the wit
ness replied.
Speaking of the endowment oath, Mr..
Smith said in. reply to Mr.. Tayler that
the obligation is the same as it has al
ways been, but that it was not an
oath; 1--WE abjure oaths."
Warrant for Smith.
Mr.. Smith said that he was absent
from Utah during the prosecutions
under the Edmunds act; that he was
not, therefore, prosecuted. was there
warrant out for your" asked Sena-
tor Dubois.
II can present it to you now" re-
sponded the witness with some snap.
1t was returned to me-"
Mr.. Smith said he considered that
conditions in the state of Utah justified
him in the course he has pursued. "On
the other hand" he said, I'VE have
agreed not to solemniZe any more plu-
raj marriages, and 1 don't believe, ne
added, bringing his clenched hand
down on the table, that that UNDER
standing has been violated.
Replying to questions relating to his
former testimony concerning Apostle
Ieasdale's plural marriage since 1890,
Mr.. Smith said it was his understand
Ing from Mr.. Teasdale himself that at
the time of that marriage Mr.. Teas
dale was sealed for eternity to an ell
oerly woman who had been his house-
keeper. Mr.. Teasdale understood, said
the witness, that the woman was in
no sense his legal wife when he mar
ried Marion Scoles.
His relation with her was just as
chaste as with his sister,"
Precisely So" the witness replied.
he added that he had personally
known Of two other cases of sealing
Tor eternity" and that the church seal
ed both for time and eternity.
His wives Are Sisters.
Andrew Jensen, assistant historian Of
me church, said he had two wives
Who were sisters, and that they both
iived IN the same house, though he
iiVes with the first. Mr.. Jensen said
ne was not sealed in eternity to the
mother OF the two wives.
Lorin Harmer said he was a bishop
Tor fve or six years, but had been
sent TO the penltentlary In 1899, upon
,onyiction OF unchastty. and lost his
good standing. He said he has two
wives. He said he had lived also with
Ellen Anderson. but never as her hus-
bhnd. lie said she had two children
ny him, one since he had returned
from the penitentiary.
Mr, Hammer was asked II Senator
rinoot had anything 10 do with his
HIfest II think he caused g." he
hhiq, "fe was counsellor az that
iiue - the president 81 the state,