Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-02-09
.SMOOT CASE
IS ON AGAIN
Former Teacher Of Theology in
Mormon Institution, is the First
Witness Called to Testify.
Tells Of the Oaths Taken in the En-.
downent House-That Norman
Manifesto,


the case of Senator Reed Smoot were
resumed today before the senate com
mittee on privileges and elections.
The investigation of protests made
against the Utah senator retaining his
seat continued through two sessions of
congress. and today marked the begin
ming of meetings which the commit
tee is likely to hold intermittently
throughout the present session.
The first witness was Prof. Walter
N. Wolfe, former teacher of theology
in Brigham Young's college at Logan.
Utah, an apostate of the church. John
G. Carlisle, of New York, conducted
the prosecution and A. S. Worthington,
OF this city. defended the senator
Tells Of Plural Marriages.
Prof. Wolfe testified that he had
been Mormon until January l, when
ms connection was severed through
| failure to comply with the demands
for tlthes. He was asked to tell what
he knew of the alleged plural mar
riage of Prof. BENZ. Cluff and Florence
| Reynolds. both teachers at Provo. This
case occupied a prominent place in
| the former hearings. In detailing what
he knew of their relations. he told of
Mormon expedition to Mexico. He
had been informed at that time by
Cluff that he was married to Florence
Reynolds and that they lived togeth-
er on that trip. President Smith, he
saM. referred to Florence as Sister
Cluff."
Twelve times answered Prof.
Wolfe, when asked now many times
he had been through the endowment
house or temple. He explained that
the endowment house was torn down
many years ago. did you take OBJ
legations or oaths when you went
there?" asked Mr.. Carlisle.
Every time" he replied.
Asked to detail them, he said there
had been obligations Of chastity, sac
rifice and vengeance.
what do you mean by vengeance?'
asked Mr.. Carlisle. do you mean
that there was promise or pledge
given to avenge something?"
The witness said that this oath had
been taken:
You and each of you covenant pray
and never cease TO pray God to aven-
ge the blood of the prophet on this
nation"
The oath. he said, was taken stand
ing. and at the conclusion each one
who took it was required to bow his
head and say:
II do"
Smoot Was Witness.
After giving many other details of
the ceremony, such as the manner of
annOinting, he was asked concerning
tr:o I, ~
Youngs academy as to. the reasons
for long absence of Cluff from the
Mexican expedition. The witness said
Apostle Reed Smoot was among those
in attendance and that he had heard
testimony given by the witness him
self that the reason for Cluff's alb
sence was because he was living apart
with plural wife. Another plural
marriage was spoken of by the wit
ness. This was between Ovena JOr-
genson, student at Brigham YOungs
academy, and Brother" Okey, with
whom the girl became enamored, ac-
cording to confession she is alleged
to have made to Professor Wolfe He
said the girl came to his house and
| gave as an excuse for absence from
school that she had gone to Juarez,
Mexico, and mad been married in poly
gamy. This had been with consent
OF Stake President Geo. @. Cannon.
| The girl came back to school and
graduated in the class of 1900, said
the witness. On further examination
conducted by Chairman Burrows, Pro-
fessor Wolfe said that in southern
Utah and New Mexico polygamy is
talked OF with some freedom. He quot
ei Apostle John Henry Smith as hav-
ing said concerning the manifesto:
1T is a trick to beat the devil at his
| own game"
| He quoted John l.. Wilson, of Log
an, prominent Mormon, as saying:
The manifesto enables the church to
exclude men who ought not to have
more than one wife and gives the
worthy men an opportunity to take
plural wives
Both of these statements. the wit
ness says, We're made in his church.
ITO the best of my knowledge"
said Prof Wolfe. "pOlygamous cohab-
itation has increased very materially
since Utah was admitted as state
On cross examination Mr.. Worth
ington produced the original charges
brought against Cluff by Prof. Wolfe,
and other members of the Mexican
expedition.