The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1904-03-17
NO PROSECUTIONS
7 FOR P0IYCAMY
rrxRERs OF 1GoRMoN CHURCH
WITH PLURAL WIVES ARE
NOT BOTHERED.
List Of Presidents and Bishops to Be
Given Senate Investigators Of the
smoot Case-The Church Controls
the Votes Of It's Members.

washington, Marcn 1V.-1he teStl-
mony in the Smoot case yesterday before
the senate committee on privileges and
elections was principally along the same
lines as on the last two days. Several
oficials of the Mormon church testified
that they had plural wives and had con-
tinued to practice polygamous living
since the manifesto of 1890. The prose-
cution stated that it had no more wit
nesses ready to put on the stand on ac-
count of the failure of several summoned
oficials, of the Mormon church to ap-
pear.
Convicted Of Adultery.
Lorin Harmer, formerly bishop of
the Mormon church, gave the first testi-
mony in favor of the defense that has
been offered thus far in the eight days
of the hearing. He said he was con-
victed of the crime of adultery, and that
he believed Reed Smoot was responsible
for his arrest.
Smith Admits Interview.
Attorney Tayler, for the prosecution.
recalled President Joseph F. Smith. of
the Mormon church, to the stand. Mr..
Smith was questioned as to an interview
he gave out in 1902. Upon hearing the
interview read, Mr.. Smith admitted he
had been quoted correctly in regard to
Mr.. Smoot and had urged his election.
Officers Are Sensitive.
"The officers of the Mormon church
are sensitive in regard to charges that
plural marriages have been performed
since 1890, are they not?" Mr.. Tayler
asked.
Mr. Smith said he thought they were
very sensitive on that subject. He was
asked then whether he had taken any
steps to run down the stories that the
laws. had been violated by members of
the church.
cit is not my business to do so" the
witness replied, with emphasis.
Admit Plural Marriage.
Thomas H. Merrill. a bishop and son
of Apostle Merrill. said he had two wives
and that he had six children by the first
and four by the second wife. His second
marriage took place in the Logan temple
in 1885, he said. He said he did not know
whether marriages performed in the
temple were recorded Alma Merrill
said he had two wives, one Of whom he
married in 1885 and the other in 1886.
His wives were sisters.
Mormons Rule Politics.
Washington, March 1.-THE Reed
Smoot hearing yesterday brought out
the fact that the Mormon church insists
on controlling the votes of its members.
Andrew Jensen, assistant historian of
the Mormon church, testified that he had
never known of a prosecution of a polyg-
amist who continued to cohabit with.
plural wives he had married prior to the
manifesto of 1890.
Must Get Consent.
Senator Dubois referred to the pros
ecution of Heber ]. Grant, and the
witness said he had heard of no sud-
cases. Mr.. Jensen said it is only the
high officers of the church who are
supposed to devote all of their time to
the church, who are under. obligations
to get the consent of their brother Of
ficers, when they desire to engage in
some other business or enter politics.
Will Prepare List.
Chairman Burrows asked the witness
to furnish list. Qf presidents of the
So stakes, and he agreed to do so as
soon as he could prepare it. The chair
man indicated that he also would seen
list of the bishops of the 200 wards
This is for the purpose of bringing adj
ditional witnesses to Washington.
Critchlow Resumes Testimony.
Washington, March 1.-THE only
witness on the stand yesterday: in the
investigation of the Smcot case before
the senate committee on privileges and
elections, was E. B. Critchlow, former
assistant United States attorney for
Utah. He continued his history of the
Mormon church.
Great Tunnel Finished