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Show L - 270 - felony to preach, teach, or inculcate the doctrine of Polygamy , punishable with a fine of five hundred ( ~ 500.00) Dollars and imprisonment two years in the Penetentiary , at hard l abor, which under the convict sy stem of this · state, is something terrible. We were -all in ignorance of the existence of the law until the case was sprung on us as were also the best lawyers in the state. After consultation with the Brethren, we concluded to waive examination before the magistrate, who is a perfect ignoramus, and carry it i mmediately before the Judge of the Circuit and criminal court, an a writ of 11.Habeas Corpus" which we shall make out to-day . It seems that the Prosecutor for this county , J . w. Simerly, also a member of the Legislature is the instigator of the case on the grounds that his own father was about to become a convert to Mormonism, he, and Ellis the Minister, are working together, the latter being the chief witness . It is the intention to secure good counsel , and make an effort to declare the law unconstitutional , failing in that , we will try to release the Brethren on the plea of not guilty under the law , which they say they are not . We, of course, realize that they are in jeopardy and that we may fail , but no effort shall be spared to save them from the ter rible ordeal that stands before them . They are destitute of means , traveling without purse or script, and we shall be compelled to ask that means be forwarded us to defend them . Five hundred ($500 .00) dollars will be possibly none too much for the emergency which we shall be pleased to recei ve as soon as convenient , as our mission fund will not stand too much strain just now . We have written Elder Nathan Tanner, now in this State, and shall secure his services to aid in protecting the Brethren. The Elders in the State are being notified t hat they are in danger, and must take steps to protect themselves . There does not seem to be any particularly vindictive spirit manifest here at t he present , but on the contrary a feeling of disgust among the more intelligent part of the community that such a law exists . • |
