New-York tribune., 1908-04-05
By JOHN L. COWA n


corners were polygarnists. they protested
with more VIgor than dsCret0n but Il was then too
late Such of the islanders who could not oe driven
away We're killed. and before the close OF Io47 The
occupation OF Big Beaver Island was complete
Then came the pretended discovery ot the famous
EJree tablets. These otrang asserted. were tablets
Of the law of God delivered the ancient Israt,es
and preserved bV the Lost Tribes By the terms
of these commandments all prophets were per
ultted four wives each. and the dlsclples We're
allotted three. In all other respects. however the
social system enforced IN the new community Wa-
rlgIdly moral The use ot -ntoN-ar-s Was strictly
forbidden. and temperance IL al things was made
Attracted by the fame Of orranz.- personality.
the bait of poygarny. and The evident prosperity
Of the island community converts u the teachings
Of the prophet We're numerous The new COM
rnunitv at first called the City pt james. ou-
the name was soon changed t. ; james The
whole island was organized Iut9 4 kingdom. and
Strang took the title and exercised the authority ot
King \ tithIug system was instituted tt- the sup
port of the poor: and publishing house was
established. from winch many ''ySr NeT5 lasut,-.
most of which We're written oE -he htn- 4 weekly
newspaper. called The Northern Islander. "as
started Il pr2sPered 50 well tta- + Na- rh'n1e-
mulgated In addition % his other activities the
King wrote many magazine and neF ,pape- articles
on ethnol1gIc and other subjects These We're &C.
cePted and published by some ~ The leading per-
odicals Of the day attracting considerable a-renr""
on account of the ripe scholarship and depth
Of research displayed l. Is evident tha-
King James was a very eNcra5r lln4ry init-
vIduaI Had he chosen more reputable
calling than that ot PLAYING King he might
have won lasting reuoNr
OF course the mouar. hi u Big Beaver
Island was soon heard II AZ " tsllngtor-
There il was regarded as S. ulethlng 0I "A l'lr.
which II would be uuNrsc and ,upott- Z.
dignity by taking official cpgnlZtnce ~ II
b. and by the doing, and pre-enst.ns ot the
new court Of 81 James II The North"eS,
became q national scandal. /. was evident
that King James ot Big Beaver Island cook HIM
self with great seriousness IT, continue % ignore
him became II. longer possible Accordingly. the
Warshtp Michigan instructed - -a- ~ the I'rt
Of 81 Tames take the .mpruier- King captive.
and carry hm of to Detroit - answer a the charge
of treason before the United States l,u--
lie protested against the outrage o. ms royal
person. but made resistance
King lanes conducted his .N- defense with
craft that showed that he had forgotten none 1t
the legal lore of earlier wears and hat lc had let
slip none If the arts by which he had been wont
t. charm tuc.He jurymcu The plea he made IN
his onu behalf was a masterpiece 1T evasion ot the
real ISSUE and of dramatic rhetoric Votunug the
persecution 10 which he Was being subjected for
cuusccue $ sake He claimed that religious hlgotrV
and Intolerance was the sole cause II ms Vru9ecu-
ton posed as q patient and long suffering martyr.
and entered eloquent plea that he and his follow
er5 be permitted 10 worship God according
To- the dictates ot their own clu7clcutro
These tactics won the day. - 10 mIutul tty'n2
ut the accusations against him never could
- IT., was acquitted. and returned III triumph
"a L, his island kingdom
- But tht restoration a.t NOT restore 4. tre
kIu. the prestige hr had lost bE hl- arrest.
uprs umeut and trial His disciples A--