Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-01-28
COLD, AUSTERE, UNaELENTING.
How Mostyn Owen Looms Up as a Gen.
trail Figure 10 the Midst of the
Picturesque AssembIagc
Special corresnondence.

Ihose VINO nave come TO Washington In
response to subpoenas have Invariably
uttered an exclamation Of surprise
when conducted to a room about the
sligo OF the, Salt Lake Theater lobby.
The accommodation for witnesses COW
ers some 80 chairs. Though the hear
ings open at 10 each morning, these
seats are promptly pre-empted by half
past nine-and always by the self
same ladies'.
The first question OF every new wit
ness on entering the room Is the same
Who are those women" Though most
of them have been present practically
every day since the investigation OPP
ened, no one seems able 10 answer the
query,
MRS. MosTYN OWEN
Mrs Charles Mostyn owen seems the
center of the group, which is composed
mainly OF aged austere looking women;
most Of them past so. Next Mrs. owen
sits day by day venerable old lady,
her deep black bonnet OF Salvation
Army style set of by n coil of rope of
snow white hair, circling her forehead
Beyond this precisely attired old lady
women, who betoken New England
type Of the old-day school Few ever
emit a smile move a facial muscle or
stir during the long hours OF the case.
Occasionally a frown Of scorn or
sneer evlnces a disposition 10 manifest
itself, but this Is quickly controlled and
the rigid, stern expression returns.
ARE "REFoRM" WOMEN.
These ladies, In general way. are
said TO be the representatives OF vari-
Gus religious reform. and denom'na-
tional societies; doubtless on hand TO
see that the interests Of the land are
not subverted by the wicked inNux
from Utah, AZ the polished oak table,
about II feet In length sit the invest-
eating committee, with Senator Rur-
rows at the head Sometlmse the COM
mittee, as represented consists only OF
Chairman Burrows but generally he is
aided by Senator Dubois There two
are the regular participants With Seua-
tor Overman as frequent visitor and
the other members occasionally
FRIDAY OWEN.
on one side Of the other end Of the
table are Attorney Tayler and his fac
totum, Charles MOstyn owen. The lat
ter sits like faithful man Friday TO
supply pabulum From grips, bags, bum
dies, pockets, records. owen draws bis
material, the fruits OF his raids into
Utah aud Idaho. Opposite Tayler sit
Van Colt and Worthlngton, counsel for
Senator Smoot. and grouped In cor
nor are the witnesses who have been
brought from points remote TO give
testimony IN the cause celebre." II
Is significant fact that OF all the
spectators daily IN the room, not one
IN 10 are ever men.
SENATOR sMooT
Late interest has concentrated itself
In the testimony Of Senator Smoot
During the entire investigation preced-
ing his taking the stand, Senator
smoot has quietly sat In q retired cor
ner, listening without comment to the
progress OF the case which means TO
him more than any other one event Of
his life, Never interfering, never
whispering to friends or making the
falntest suggestion to counsel, he has
apparently been ms little concerned
as any individual IN the whole cham
Der, A casual visitor, unacquainted
with the nature OF the gathering, would
probably pick Senator Smoot as the
last one I'm the room about whom the
cause revOlved. This modest retiring,
calm attitude has made the daily au-
dlence yet more curious 20 see the man
In action This curiosity was gratlned
when without previous announcement
Senator Smuot was called TO take the
winners stand The sudden call was
unexpected by the senator himself. aud
was due TO the failure OF other Utah
witnesses 10 present themselves within
the time named In their subpoenas,
HIS PLAIN TESTIMONY.
Senator smoot had been suffering
some days from an acute attack of In
digestion aud was at the start both
haggard and plainly III. Nevertheless
in cool, frank, composed and confident
way, without assumption OF the least
superiority TO any other witness and
with no trace of nervousness, he pro-
ceeded to detail the history Of his life,
HIS connection with the church his
political relations and his attitude to
public affairs. He surprised his own
friends and not least his own counsel
by the imperturbnble, easy and yet
modest way be outlined the events
which led up to the present investlga-
ton. Under cross-eXaminatiOn he
appeared even more easy, composed and
clear than under direct examination.
Upon every side were heard oxclama-
lions OF surprise at his frank, concise,
un0quiYOcal answers TO questions
framed with evident intent TO trap
him. OF oil the numerous witnesses
OF different ages, professions, religions
and political affiliations II Is no lnvii-
ious distinction to say that none spoke
with such freedom and such uuhaltmg
frankness, Whatever their preju-
dices even his enemies concede that he
has proved a man Of remarkable lib
crafty, tolerance Of opinion, wide Vi
sion ana independence very anti
thesis " all that he has been repre-
scented In the charge brought against
him by the protestarts Of the ease,
WITH KEENEsT ACUMEN.
During the senator's testimony tho
fun investigating committee occupied
their seats and scrutinlzed with all the
acumen OF men trained In the legal
profession his words, his demeanor. his
montRl attitude. While It Is unques-
tionably true that practically every
ono had drawn his conclusions before
Senator Smoot went on the stand, no
one can say he has not helped himself
wonderfully.
GANGREENDD PREJUDICE
As 20 the other witnesses who have
been here while ganRreened prejudice
VIII be loath To accord them any cred
IT, yet even the opposition here has
commented on their fairness. The rec-
ord Of practically every witness sum.
moned In Senator Shoots favor was
ransacked IN order TO dlscredit his tes-
tlmony but through the list OF judges,