The Saint Paul globe., 1905-01-24
MORMON WOMAN OF
EIGHTY DEPOSEs
Tells Smoot Investigators the
Endowment Ceremony Re-
mains Unchanged

WASHINGTON DC, Jan. 22.-The
senate investigation into the protests
against Senator Reed Smoot will be
closed this week. The cross -examina-
ton of the respondent terminated ear
lier than expected and several other
witnesses for the defense were examin-
ed. 1T was announced just before adj
journment that onl va few more wit
nesses would be put on the stand. Ex-
cept for some documentary evidence,
the investigation may conclude tomor-
row. Chairman Burrows remarked that
it was necessary to get through with
the arguments also this week, as Mr..
Tayler, counsel for the protestants, win
assume his duties as federal judge in
Ohio Tuesday next. The ross-exami-
nation of Senator Smoot resulted in an
absolute refusal to testify in regard to
the endowment ceremonies. He also
asserted that:it was not his business to
call to account President Smith, of the
Mormon church, because Mr.. Smith
had admitted to the committee that he
was living in violation of the laws Of
the land. Three other witnesses re-
fused to divulge. the character of the
endowment ceremonies.
Chairman Burrows asked Senator
Snoot if he taught and preached. his
faith. He did occasionally.
DO you teach polygamy ?'7 ssFA 81
II do not
DO you preach against polygamy
or unlawful cohabitation ?''
Il never have. do not know why
should. 1t is not a tenet of the faith.
1t has been suspended and I think it
would not be proper for me to bring
it up
The chairman inquired concerning
the uncertainty of the Interpretation of
the manifesto as to whether it applied
to both plural marriages and polyga-
nous cohabitation. Senator Smoot
said the people were uncertain, but that
President Woodruff had interpreted it
as prohibiting poIygamous cohabita-
ton. He said he understood that the
revelation commanding the promulga-
ton of the manifesto against polygamy
was the result of pieadings by-Presi-
dent Woodruff for the command of God
concerning his wishes on that subject.
Cannon Not Trustworthy
Maroni Gillespie, patrolman in Salt
Lake, Utah, testified that Angus M.
Cannon, who testified in relation to the
alleged marriage of .Abram Cannon and
Lillian Hamlin, could not be believed
under oath. He testified also that j.
FL. Wallis ST., who told the committee
of the endowment house oaths, had
been arrested on the charge of drunk
enness. Gillespie said he was present
in court when Wallis pleaded guilty
Wallis had testified that he never had
been arrested. The witness refused to
diyulge the endowment oath. The other
two witnesses who also refused were
John M. Whitaker and Ole f. Stowell
of Brigham City. second councillor to
State President Kelly
j. U. Eldridge, county clerk for Salt
Lake county, testified that III. S. Tan
ner was defeated for judge by Mormon
votes because of the circulation of a
rumor that he had taken several plural
wives since the manifesto.
Mr.. Worthington offered an affidavit
from Mrs. Bethsheba Smith that she
took the endowments under the prophet
Joseph Smith, and that the. ceremony
has remained unchanged since that
period. He also presented an affidavit
to show that Mrs. Smith was over
eighty years old, and unable. to come
to Washington. He suggested that a
commissioner be appointed to go TO
Utah and take her deposition, -