Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-02-07
SHOOT ON TRIAL Startling Testimony To-
 Day.
 PROSTATE WOLFE Former Teacher in Brigham Young College Says One Oath Called for Blood of the Prophet
 on This Nation.

Washington, Feb. 1-Hearlngs Ill the case of Reed Smoot were resumed to-day before the committee on privi- leges and elections. The investigation of the protests against the Utah sena- tor, retaining his seat continued through two sessions of congress and to-day marked the beginning of meet ings which the committee is likely to hold intermittently throughout the present session. The first witness was Professor Walter M. Wolfe, for merly teacher of geology in Brigham Young college at Logan, Utah., and an apostate of the church. John G. Car lisle of New York conducted the pros ecution and A. s. Worthington of this city defended the senator.
 Professor Wolfe testified that he had been a Mormon until January 1st of this year when his connection was severed through failure to comply with the demands for tithes. He was asked to tell what he knew of the al- legged plural marriage of Professor Benjamin Cuff and Florence Key holds, both teachers at Provo. This case occupied a prominent place in the former hearings. He told of Mor- mon expedition to Mexico. Professor Wolfe said he had been informed at that time by Cuff that he was married to Florence Reynolds and that they lived together on that trip. President Smith, he said, referred to Florence as Sister Cluff."
 Twelve times," answered Professor Wolfe when asked how many times he had been through the endowment house or temple, he explained, as the endowment house was torn down many years ago. ....
 Did you take any obligations or oaths when you went through?'
 Every time," he replied. Asked to detail them he said there had been obligations of chastity, sacrifice and vengeance.
 What do you mean by vengeanceT' asked Mir Carlisle. Do you mean there was a promise of pledge given to avenge something?" :.s-3.g. '',,' .,1
 The witness then said that this oath had been taken: You and each of you do covenant and pray, and never cease to pray God to avenge the blood of the prophet on this nation."
 The oath. he said. was taken stand ing, and at the conclusion each one taking it was required to bow their heads and say T dO."
 After giving many other details of the ceremony he was asked concerning trial had by the board of Brigham Young academy as to the reasons for a long absence of Cluff from the Mex ican expedition. The witness said Apostle Reed Shoot was among those flu attendance and that he heard testi- mony given by the witness himself that the reason for Cluf's absence was that he was living apart with q plural wife.
 Another plural marriage was spoken of by the witness. This was between Ovena Jorgenson, a student at Brig ham Young Academy and Brother Okey. Professor Wolfe said the girl came to his house and gave as an ex- cuse for an absence from school that she had gone to Jaurez. Mexico, and had been married in polygamy. This had been with the consent of Stake President George c. Cannon. The girls came back to the school and graduated in the class of 1900, said the witness.
 On further examination conducted by Chairman Burrows. Professor Wolfe said that in southern Utah and New Mexico polygamy is talked with some freedom. He quoted Apostle John Henry Smith as having said con- corning the manifesto: Tt is a trick to beat the devil at his own game.- He quoted John Wilson of Logan. q prominent Mormon. as saying: "The manifesto enables the church to ex- clude men who ought not to have more than one wife and gives worthy men an opportunity to take plural wives" :" Roth of these statements. the witness said. were made in his church.
 "To the best of my knowledge" said Professor Wolfe. ''polygamous cohabi- tation has increased very materially utnaa I-fab rraS adu,ftfad aS a 1ta4a =