The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-11-24
ADMITS TO COUNTRY
He IS LAW BREAKER
Tells Nation Again That All
That Has Been Charged
Is True.
FRANK ADMISSION THAT
HE HAS DEFIED LAW
Gives Lie to SmOOt and Other
Apostles Who Said He Was
Law-Ahider.

Joseph +. Smith, president of the
Mormon church, pleaded guilty before
Judge NJ L. Ritchie IN the District
court Friday TO the charge Of cohabitiug
with four women in addition TO his law
full wife, and was fined $500 and costs,
which he paid by depositing his per-
sonal check with the Clerk OF tho
Court.
The fine is the largest permitted by
the law; but Judge Ritchic might. had
he seen fit, imposed an additional sem
tence of six months i'll the county iai.
In declining 10 impose the Jail sentence,
however, Judge Ritcbie took occasion to
warn the offender at the bar that the
| next time he was before him for sen.
tencc on such charge much more
severe penalty would be inflicted. He
did not ssk the culprit TO make any
promises Tor the future.
Contradicts His Own Testimony.
| Before sentence was passed, President
S. Richards, be permitted to read 10 the
! court statement which he had him
self prepared. This was done In tho
statement President Smith declared that
he had not interpreted the Woodruff
manifesto as requiring him to abandon
or discard = his wives.
District Attorney Loofbourow con-
tradicted this statement, and asked that
a jail sentence be imposed upon the
defendant President Smith, he point,
ed out. had testified under oath in tine
famous cscheat eases that he had inter
preted the Woodruff manifesto to pro-
hibit polygamous living as well as the
establishing of new polvgamous rela
tions. Mr.. Loofbourow asked that Jail
sentence be imposed in order that an
example might be made of the spiritual
leader of a flock vino was setting an
example of law-breaking
Lacks Dramatic Features
The punishment of President Smith,
if snch it is 10 be called. smacked rather
of the surreptitious than of the drama
tic. During the forenoon Attorney Rich
ards, representing the prophet, went be-
fore Judge George G. Armstrong, who
presided in the criminal department Of
the District court. and asked Judge
Armstrong. Just as The Tribune pre-
dicted Friday morning would be done,
to transfer the case TO another court.
Judge Armstrong granted the request
tro ~ tn Tnl
During the noon hour. when nobody
was about except court attaches, Presi-
dent Smith, accompanied by his attor-
ney and his son, Joseph T. Smith, Jr.,
slipped quietly into Judge Ritchicfs
court. where District Attorney Loot
bourow had already informed the court
that the case had been transferred to
him by Judge Armstrong. When the
Smith party appeared, the case was TAX
en- up Immediately,
Valves Reading OF Complaint.
''May the court please said Mr..
Loofbourow. in the case of the State
of Utah w. Joseph T. Smith, case No
16lS tho defendant is here present in
court, as is his attorney, Mr.. Richards,
and ] ask that he be arvaigned at this
time -
Mr.. Richards here interposed. of
the court please, he said. 'fwe waive
the reading of the information. The
statute requires the plea should be en-
tered i'll person under certain circum-
Stances
President Smith waited no longer. ''I
plead guilty he said. ''Before rend-
erng decision in the case | wish TO
present few short statements, which,
if you will permit, will be read by my
Attorney
Justifes His Polyganny.
Attorney Richards then read the fol-
lowing statement which President Smith
had prepared,
May t please tho court: desire respect
fully to present brief statement In my be-
hOlf. My 6rst marriage was contracted In