The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1908-06-13
"BrOther Smith"=Tanner.

Further information in relation to the case of
"new polygamist," whose is frequently connect
ed with adventures in the forbidden land" of Nor
mondom, is given to the public by newspaper
writer at Odgen, Utah. who says
From the lips of one closely related to the late
Mrs. Sarah E. Evans, whose name linked with
that of J. Marion Tanner in secret polygamous
marriage shortly after her demise in this city, last
winter has been unfolded the story of the 'Dr
Jekyll and Mr. Hyde existence led by the notori-
Gus Tanner in his efforts to keep the facts connect
ed with his poygamouS union from the public
This crusade of suppression began according to
the informant, from the day the unlawful ceremony
was performed by former apostle Matthias Cowey
up until few days before Mrs Evans drew her
last breath, when Tanner wrote to F1oriiia Burgess,
the ifteen-year-o adopted daughter of the woman,
to destroy all of his letters in Mrs. Evanss possess
ion.
This the girl neglected to do and when the per-
sonal effects of the dead woman were examined
letters from Tanner in which he addressed her
his wife found. Those letters taken
possession of by her brothers. Will Taylor and John
Taylor, who live at Lehi.
They only prevented from prosecuting Tan
by the earnest request of T. R. Cutler, it said,
although David Evans, brother-in-law of Mrs.
Evans, demanded that Tanner be brought before
the bar of justice for his polygamous practices
The letters are now supposed to be in possession
of T. R. Cutler who agreed to act as executor of
of Mrs Evanss estate, after the refusal of Tanner
to serve requested in the instrument
The wedding ceremony is said to have been
performed by former Apostle COWley, who had pre-
vously been forced to resign from the apostles
quorum because his polygamous practices be-
came too raw" for the church leaders to
look The marriage occurred at Lehi, at the home
of Mrs. Evans, about year after the death of her
husband, Prime Evans prominent attorney of that
town.
From that time on, Tanner a frequent visitor
at the home. Numerous trips to Colorado
taken together, and they boldly went among the Nor
mon residents of Alberta, Canada, where Tanner
masqueraded under the of Brother Smith"
The last few months of Mrs. Evans life are
known to have been unhappy She is known to have
sold real estate in Lehi for $4,000, which amount was
turned over to Tanner to pay his half a tract
of land purchased jointly with former Apostle Cow
ley. He secured Mrs. Evans the position of in
structor of the domestic science in the Weber stake
academy and from this city she frequently wrote
him asking that the deeds to the property in Alberta
purchased with her money be turned to her. but
her relative declares that Tanner never complied
with her request The worry incident to this trans
action what fastened her DEATH according to
those familiar with the facts.
The latest previous public information in rea-
ton to Mr.. Tanner said that he had been directed
to take up his residence in Mexico, where all poly
gamists sent when their cases become so motor
ious to embarass the fve-ply poygamist head of
the church and the poygamous apostles