The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-04-03
POLYGAM|ST GETS
THREE YEARS IN PEN.
Cecil j. Plant Pleads Guilty and
Is Sentenced by Judge
j. A. Howell.
CASE WAS PROSECUTED AT
FARMINGT0N, THE HOTBED
1t Is Suggested That the Cam-
paign Against POlygs
Be Continued.

Cecil ]. Plant a polygamist. he having
two wives. one In California and one in
Salt Lake City. was sentenced TO three
years in the State penitentIary by Judge
j A. Howell at Pennington on Monday.
Plant does not belong to the dominant
church in Utah; he is Gentle. But he
vas guilty OF the crime I'm Utah pr5ac-
ticed In Utah by number of Latter
day Saints churchmen an over-lndulgence
In wives.
Defedant Pleaded Guilty.
II vas not until James Ware. Jr..
Sherin OF Davis county. had recited me
Facts OF Plants polygamous habits on the
stand that the defendant decided TO
Withdraw his plea OF not guilty and ad-
nit his oirense. This he did making n
plea to the court for tendency. He said he
had no intention TO break the law He
was surprised to hear that his wife was
oilNe' he believed she was dead. and
when ne married again he believed the
marriage was a perfectly legitimate one
Will Marry and Make Up.
IL was also stated by w. Tatlock,
counsel for Plant, that the defendant
nov, now desired 10 marry Mary May, the
child, now months old. his wife In
California having Instituted proceedings
for divorce, Mary May was then brought
INTO court. She Is slightly built. frail,
palc-faced woman: In answer TO Col
I1tlock she stated that II was her de
sire that the defendant be given a light
sentence. They had become reconciled
and he had consented TO marry her and
work for her support and the support OF
the child. and her whole desire was that
tho child hould be legitimatized
Polygamist Son Prosecutes.
The case was prosecuted by George
Halverson, District Attorney OF the Sec
Wiley. Attorney OF Davis county. Mr.
Wiley who is the son OF, an active and
practicing polygamist took little or no
part In the prosecution. The courtroom
was crowded, much interest being taken
In the case, And comment was freely
made that Gentle bigamist should be
prosecuted In Pennington, one OF the
hotbeds of Mormon polygamous cohabita-
ton, and the Inter are permitted TO
practice their la~less habits with Inn
PGnty o2 one Of the questions D asked
read the editorials In The Tribunc7"
Sheriff Wares Story.
The story told by Sheriff Ware was in
teresting. and the facts. as related by
him. are follows;
On the 2lst Of March, 1898. the defend
ant Plant met and married Annie J Bar
Iott at San Francisco. They lived to-
gether for several years. but some time in
1868 the defendant left California and
went to some place In Oregon. In
newspaper he observed an advertisement
OF n young lady who wanted a husband.
The young lady was Mary May of Salt
Il
respondence with her with matrimonial
intent. In December. 1904, he visited Salt
Lake and on the 24th OF that month the
couple went through what now appears
To have beer farce ceremony The
young lady, OF course. was Innocent and
so was Plant according 10 lis statement,
but he must suffer the penalty
Plants Real Wife Alive.
The couple lived at Pennington for
some considerable time. Then came the
word that Plants real wife was alive and
in Oakland. Plant went west TO ascer-
tain II his wire was really alive, and he
found her and was arrested for bigamy,
the Chief OF Police OF San Francisco hav-
ing been Informed of the facts. Then
Sheriff Ware went over 70 San Francisco
To get Plant extradited and the defendant
admitted to him his bigamst relations.
He asked about his wife in Utah and If
there WAS baby He was Informed that
there was. Subsequently he took the
Sheriff over to Oakland. saying he would
Ike to see his wife before he left. and
they visited house but they found an
other woman In tho rooms that Plants
Wife had occupied TIE woman I'm pos
session said that defendants wife had
left and gone 10 the city, meaning San
Plant was being held in Jail In San
Francisco summons in an action for di,
vorce. brought by his wife. was served
tanning a divorce would free him from
all his troubles.
Plant Changes His Plea
But his troubles were really beginning.
as he now realizes AT the conclusion OF
Sheriff Wares testimony counsel In the
case held j conference and as Judge
Howell had held that the defendants ad-
missions as to his marriage were COM
pctent and sufficient testimony on which
10 base a conviction, Col. Tatlock, coun-
sci for Plant, advised his client TO change
his pIcn and throw himself on the mercy
OF the court. which he accordingly did
The contention OF the defense was that
Il valid and subSstlng marriage must I've
proved by the prosecution. but the court
did not share In this view
Continue the Campaign.
And now Plant goes TO the penitentiary
three years OF course. he Is guilty, but
IL has been suggested that row the prose-
cltIon of polygumists has commenced
that an active campaign should be IN
aupurated There is no lack OF material.
Pennington can, doubtless. furnish over
a score of cases, and there is no use OF
selecting one scnpegoat to be Inundated
so that others may escape unpunished.