The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-01-20
Patriarch Of Mormon Church Is
Accused of Reprehensible
Conduct.
SAID TO HAVE BEEN
SEALED TO THE WOMAN
Also Is Said to Have Procured
Property by Questionable
Methods.

Charging that Joseph e. Taylor a
sealed and married to Rachel Susan Da-
Wis. under the doctrine OF the church.,
about tho year 1898. and lived with her
as his plural wife from that timo until
her death, March 81 191o In a secret
and clandestne manner. and that the
marriage was unlawful and that Taylor's
influence over her WAS such that her
Judgment became perverted, and that she
became unable 10 direct her own thoughts
and life. and was solely under his con-
troll David j. Davis, brother of the dead
woman and administrator of her estate,
and Edwin T. Woolley, administrator of
the estate or her father Moses Davis
deceased. petitIoned the Third district
court Thursday afternoon to order Tay-
lor TO deed TO the administrator of the
estate OF Moses Davis certain property
which. II Is alleged he fraudulently Sc
cured through his influence over Rachel
Susan Davis. and make n complete ac
counting of all property, which he Is al
ieged TO nave unlawfully taken possession
OF at her death,
The petitioners ask the court to con-
solidate the hearing In the estates OF
Moses Davis, Rachel Susan Davis and
Phoebe Ann Davis. and on all property
ALLEGED not only to have been wrong
fully detained by Taylor. but on all prop
erty alleged TO have been wrongfuIly ac-
quired by him, and against the rights and
demands OF the administrators Of each
estate and other persons interested.
Allegations of Petition.
The petition rccitcs that Moses Davis,
at the time OF his DEATH was the owner
or property at Sl4 First avenue, which
property was held In trust in the name
.hn1
deposited TO his credit in the Deseret
National bank and $4,000 held In trust by
Taylor. Tho petition says that Rachel
Davis was the owner of considerable
tnat at her death Taylor took possession
OF all real and personal property be-
longiin ing TO her and In her possession be-
longing to her fathers estate. and that
he now holds possession and claims to
be the owner. Further & Is charged
mat Taylor has not accounted FOR the
nc ne held In trust at the time OF Daviss
death: but instead has unlawfully ac~
aulred possession OF Il.
Says He Was Adviser.
The petition goes on to recIte that
about the year 1898 Taylor was a coun-
sel3r In the presidency OF Salt Lake
stake OF the Mormon church. and for
huential member of the church. About
that time. IT is alleged THAI Tavior be-
came the spiritual adviser or Rachel
sealed and married to her under tho doc
trine and teaching as he taught and be-
ieved, and as he Influenced her to ac-
ceDt and believe.
The petition says that Moses Davis, |
lather OF Rachel Davis. was converted 10 |
The Mormon faith about 1898 and when
ne re- came to Utah had in the peIghbor-
National bank. At that time the father
made his home with his son. David J. |
PAWS one OF the petitioners. and It is
,,harged that Taylor influenced the aged |
With the daughter. Rachel
turtner. through Taylor's influence.
which is averred to have been wrongful |
md secret part OF the old mans money
vas taken from the bank and Invested
n the property on First avenue. and
Iome OF II is alleged to have been drawn
ina delivered to Taylor. 1t Is alleged,
Deeds to Property.
Through Taylor's influence It also is
llleged that warranty deed to the prop
'rty on First avenue was executed to
he daughter and that the deed was
lever delivered. but was withheld from
ne n pub puolie ere records; This deed is alleged
PAWS at the time OF his death. March
4. 1909. but was placed on record the
lay following his death. AT 1880 p. m.
which occurred at the Latter-day Saints
lospital at 2:30 o'clock In the afternoon
Taylor filed deed to the property on
'irst avenue. the petition says. and II
lleges that the deed held by Taylor
vas secured through unlawful, secret,
eceitful and pernicious methods by rea-
on OF his high position In the church
md by reason OF his living unlawfully
nd cohabitating with the woman In vio-
alton OF all laws, temporal and spirit
al,
Accounting Is Asked.
The petitioners declare that at his
urance policy in the Travellers Insur-
nee company, Of Hartford. Conn This
oliey was made paya BILE. one-third each
o David J. Davis. Rachel Susan Da-
is and Phoebe Davis. From the ad-
illustrator OF the estate OF Phoebe Da-
is, deceased. it Is alleged that Tay-
,r endeavored TO acquire her share Of
he insurance policy, In addition to Sc
uring that OF Rachel Susan Davis al !
eyed to be his plural wife.
The petitioners desire that Orson p
tunnel be appointed by the court as an
ccountant to thoroughly examine all pa
ers, titles transactions and records per
0 the court. They further ask that an
rder be issued by the court to compel
'aylor 10 deed over to the adrinIstra-
DIT OF the estate OF Moses Davis all
roperty alleged to have been unlawful ;
2 taken and now held In his possession
nd make complete accounting to the {
etitioners. I
Mr. Taylor was called UP by The Trlb- !
ne Thursday night and asked II he de-
red to make statement respecting c
ne charges embraced In the petition. He I
aid:
Il only need few words. 1t is all a