792 



UTAH. 



George only the last two being finished. Three 

 fourths or more of the Mormon adults, male and fe- 

 male, have never entered into the polygamic relation, 

 yet every orthodox Mormon believes in polygamy as 

 a divine revelation. There is, however, in Utah and 

 several of the States a sect styling themselves the 

 " Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day 

 Saints, commonly called Josephites, who discard 

 polygamy as a spurious revelation, but who give full 

 faith and credit to all the other so-called revelations 

 given to the u Prophet Joseph." These u Josephites " 

 are comparatively few in Utah. 



Polygamy Cases. Several indictments for po- 

 lygamy were tried during the year. In the 

 case of the United States vs. Kudger Claw son, 

 the charge in the indictment was, that on Aug. 

 1, 1882, the defendant married Florence Ann 

 Dinwoodey, with whom he is still living as his 

 wife, from whom he has not been divorced, 

 and that on June 1, 1883, he married Lydia 

 Spencer. The second count charged unlaw- 

 ful cohabitation under the "Edmunds act." 

 Of this trial the commissioners say : 



The jury had been selected under an act of Con- 

 gress applicable only to Utah, which would ordinarily 

 result in the empaneling of a jury approximately com- 

 posed of half Alorraons and half Gentiles, provided 

 there were no challenges. But in this case, in pursu- 

 ance of a provision of the "Edmunds act," each juror 

 was asked, " Do you believe it right for a man to have 

 more than one living and undivorced wife at the same 

 time? " Each and every Mormon in the box a few 

 with hesitation, but nearly all with promptness an- 

 swered, "Yes, sir." All such were successfully chal- 

 lenged for cause. The list of jurors drawn tinder the 

 act of Congress for the year 1884 having been exhaust- 

 ed by these challenges, and there being fewer than 

 twelve remaining, an open venire was issued ; so the 

 panel was completed, consisting ^of twelve all being 

 non-Mormons. A protracted trial ensued, resulting 

 in a disagreement of the jury. A new trial was be- 

 gun on the succeeding day, at which the attendance 

 of the second wife as a witness was secured. This 

 trial resulted in a verdict of guilty on both counts of 

 the indictment. The sentence was a fine of $800 and 

 four years' imprisonment in the penitentiary. The 

 trial of this case has caused a profound sensation 

 throughout this Territory. The defendant and his 

 two wives, together with many of the witnesses, be- 

 long to the better class of Mormon society. He is the 

 son of a bishop. Among all the witnesses examined 

 and there were many, including the immediate rela- 

 tives of the parties, the president, and other high 

 officers of the church every one except the last wit- 

 ness, the second wife, disclaimed all knowledge of 

 the marriage. 



Following this trial there was another con- 

 viction for polygamy in the case of Joseph H. 

 Evans, on the evidence of his second wife. He 

 was sentenced to a fine of $250, and imprison- 

 ment in the penitentiary for three and a half 

 years. ID another case, that of John Connelly, 

 there was an acquittal upon evidence tending 

 to show that the prosecution was barred by 

 the statute of limitations. 



The case of Clawson was taken for review- 

 to the Supreme Court of the Territory, where 

 the conviction was sustained; and thence to 

 the Supreme Court of the United States, which 

 in 1885 affirmed the decision of the Territorial 

 Court, holding that the constitution of the 

 juries under the "Edmunds act" was legal. 



Recommendations by Commission. Among the 



recommendations by the commission for con- 

 gressional action are the following: A law 

 giving the first (or legal) wife the right of 

 dower as at common law; that the number 

 of elective officers in the Territory be re- 

 duced, and the number of officers appointable 

 by the Governor be correspondingly increased ; 

 that the confirmatory power be taken from 

 the council and given to the commission ; that 

 the provisions of the law of 1874, relative to 

 juries and the mode of selection, be revised 

 either by providing for a greater number of 

 jurors, or by authorizing an open venire when 

 the names in the box have been exhausted. 

 The commissioners regard it as "not unlike- 

 ly that finally the Federal Government will 

 find it necessary to take into its own hands all 

 civil power in this Territory." 



Denominational Churches and Schools. On this 

 subject the commissioners say : Honorable 

 mention is due to the many Christian denomi- 

 nations that have established colleges, schools, 

 and churches in Salt Lake City and many other 

 parts of the Territory. Among these are 

 churches or schools maintained by the Presby- 

 terians, Methodists, Congregationalists, Episco- 

 palians, Baptists, Catholics, and perhaps others, 

 all or nearly all of which has been accom- 

 plished within the last fifteen years. One or 

 more of these churches and schools may be 

 found in nearly all the principal cities and 

 towns of the Territory, and are chiefly sup- 

 ported by the benevolence of the people and 

 the churches of the States. The denomina- 

 tional schools now number 79, with an aver- 

 age daily attendance of nearly 6,000 pupils, 

 many of whom are the children of Mormons. 



Mining. The value of the bullion product of 

 the Territory in 1884 has been stated at $8,- 

 389,836. Another statement is as follows: 



4,840,987 pounds refined lead $169,484 54 



6.023,893 pounds unrefined lead 980.418 12 



5,669,488 ounces fine silver 6,128,047 04 



5.530 ounces fine gold 110,60000 



63,372 pounds copper 6,837 20 



Total export value $7,889,836 90 



Computing the gold and silver at its mint 

 valuation, and other metals at their value at 

 the seaboard, would increase the value of the 

 product to $9,201,508. 



Elections. The general election for county 

 and precinct officers was held on August 4. 

 The election for delegate to Congress occurred 

 on November 4. Both elections were preceded 

 by revisions of registration under direction of 

 the commissioners, by which it is believed all 

 polygamists were excluded from the privilege 

 of voting. A few non-Mormons were chosen 

 precinct officers ; the other officers elected in 

 Augu?t were Mormons not living in polygamy. 

 Of 40,743 persons registered, only 20,453 vot- 

 ed at the August election. In November, 

 of 41,858 registered, 23,361 votes were cast. 

 Of these, the Mormon candidate, John T. 

 Caine, received 21,130 ; Ransford Smith, Gen- 

 tile, 2,215; and 26 were scattering. Mr. Caine 

 has never practiced polygamy. 



