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Show POLYGAMY IN IDAHO Jack Neil, the Idaho vetoer, has recently issued a special message to the legislature, censuring that body for having disregarded his former recommendations respecting the suppression of polygamy and the punishment of its practicers in Idaho, and urging such legislation upon the subject as only the most voracious "Mormon" hater would ever have the hardihood to suggest. This fanatic, in his zeal to suppress an institution of religion, shows a malicious bigotry that would have shamed the darkest ages of religious persecution and intolerance. By way of toadying the governor, a member named Onderdonk or Under-donkey, or something of the kind, has introduced a bill for the summary annihilation of all polygamist. A member from Bear Lake, Hon. (Honorable) J. H. Hart, has also introduced a bill for the suppression of polygamy, a kind polygamy, however, that Jack Neil and Underdonkey could not, we suppose, be possibly prevailed upon to assist in restricting. The author has courteously favored us with a copy, which we reproduce, and every line of which contains more real morality than all of Jack's messages and Underdonkey's bills put together. An Act to provide for the punishment of Polygamy, Adultery, Fornication and Licentious Cohabitation. Be it enacted by the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Idaho as follows. Sec. (Section) 1. Any person who shall cohabit with a married woman, other than his wife, shall be subject to the summary vengeance of her husband, and in default of which, shall be deemed guilty of adultery, and on conviction thereof, shall be fined in any sum not less than five thousand dollars, and shall be imprisoned in the Territorial Prison for a term not less than ten years and not more than twenty-five years. Sec. (Section) 2. Any married man who shall cohabit with any other woman than his lawful wife, whether public or private prostitute or any other unmarried woman, shall be deemed guilty of polygamy, and upon conviction thereof, shall be fined in any sum not less than five hundred dollars and not more than one thousand dollars, and shall be imprisoned in the Territorial Prison for any term not less than two years, and not more than ten years. Sec. (Section) 3. Any single man who shall seduce or otherwise have sexual intercourse with any unmarried woman, shall be deemed guilty of fornication, and on conviction thereof, shall be required to marry and support said woman, in default of which he shall be imprisoned in the Territorial Prison for any term not less than ten years and not more than twenty-five years, and shall be fined in any sum not less than five thousand dollars and not more than twenty-five thousand dollars. Sec. (Section) 4. Any single or married man who shall enter any brothel ???unreadable??? shall be found in any sense of prostitution, shall be deemed guilty of whoredom, and on conviction thereof, shall be fined in any sum not less than fifty dollars and not more than one hundred dollars, and shall be imprisoned in the county jail for any term not exceeding six months. Sec. (Section) 5. Any person who has been guilty of any of the offenses named in this act shall be thereby disqualified to sit on any grand or trial jury in which any person shall be on trial for any of the offenses named herein. Sec. (Section) 6. It shall not be deemed necessary on the trial of any person arraigned under the provisions of this act, to observe any special rules of evidence; but general rumor, common reputation and circumstantial evidence shall be considered sufficient to secure conviction for any of the offenses named in this act. Sec. (Section) 7. All acts and parts of acts in conflict with the provisions of this act be and the same are hereby repealed. Sec. (Section) 8. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage. |