Ripley County democrat. (Doniphan, Mo.) 1905-1920, 1906-02-23

Washington, Feb. Hearings In
the case Of Senator Reed Smoot were
resumed Wednesday before the COM
mittee on privileges and elections The
Investigation Of the protests against
the Utah senator retaining his seat
continued through two sessions OF con-
gress. and Wednesday marked the be-
ginning Of meetings which the COM
mittee Is likely To hold internationally
throughout the present session.
The first witness was Prof. Walter
N. Wolfe, former teacher Of geology In
Brigham Young college at Logan.
Utah, and an apostate Of the church,
John G. Carlisle, OF New York. con-
Quoted the prosecution. and A. s,
Worthington. Of this city, defended the
senator.
Prof. Wolfe testified that be had been
Mormon until January /. this year.
when his connection was severed
through failure to comply with the de-
mands for tlthes.
An Alleged Plural Marriage.
He was asked to tell what he knew
Of the alleged plural marriage of Prof.
Benjamin Cluff and Florence Reynolds,
both teachers at Provo. This case oc-
cupied a prominent place In the former
hearings In detailing what he knew
Of their relations he tod Of a Mormon
expedition TO Mexico. Prof. Wolfe said
he had been informed at that time by
Cluff that he was married to Florence
Reynolds, and that they lived together
on that trip. Precedent Smith. he said,
referred to Florcnce as Sister Cluf."
Twelve times" answered Prof.
Wolfe, when asked how mary times be
had been through the endowment
house or temple" he explained, as the
endowment house waA torn down many
years ago.
Did you take any obligations or
oaths when you went through? asked
Mr.. Carlisle.
Every time" he replied.
Asked to detail them, he said there
had been obligations Of chastity. acri-
ace and vengeance.
what do you mean by veugeance!"
asked Mr.. Carlisle. DO you mean
there was a promise or pledge given 10
avenge something?"
The oath of Vengeance.
The witness then said that this oath
had been takenc "You and each OF you
do covenant and pray, and never cease
to pray, God to avenge the blood or the
prophet Of this nation" The oath, ne
said, was taken standing, and at the
conclusion each one taking It was re-
ouired to bow his head and say, i DO
After giving many other details OF
the ceremony, such as the manner OF
amounting, he was asked concerning a
trial had BY the board OF Brigham
Young academy as to the reasons for
a long absence Of Cluff from the Mexi-
can expedition. The witness said Apos-
tie Reed Smoot was among those In
attendance, and that he had heard tes-
timony given by the witness himself
that the reason for Cuffs absence was
because he was living apart with Q
plural wife.
Plural Marriages.
Another plural marriage was spoken
of by the witness. This was between
oyena Jorgenson, student at Brig
ham Young academy. and Brother
okey, with whom the girl became en-
amored. according TO q confession she
Ia alleged to have made to Prd. Wolfe.
He said the girl came to his house ana
gave as an excuse for an absence from
school that she had gone to Juarez,
Mexico, and had been married in polyg-
amy. This had been with the consent
of State President George Q. Cannon.
The girl came back to the school ana
eraduated In the class Of 1900 said the
witness. -.
"To the best Of my knowledge said
Prof. Wolfe, "polSgamous cohabitation
has increased very materially since