Salt Lake Herald-Republican | 1915-07-03 | Page 1 | Gibbs Says Eccles Told Him He Was Father of Boy Albert

GIBBS SAYS ECCLES TOLD HIM HE WAS FATHER OF BOY ALBERT 1 BOTH HE AND SCORE FOR PLAINTIFF Secretary to President of f Church Testifies Capitalist in 1900 Admitted to Him He Was Husband of Mrs Geddes I WANTED CHURCH HEAD TO TO HALT HAL T EXCOMMUNICATION Former Manager of Salt Lake Paper Declares Financier Refused Refused Refused Re Re- fused to fo Deny He Was Husband Husband Husband Hus- Hus Hus Hus- band of Boys Boy's Mother J I REFU REFUSED ED TO SIGN PAPER 1 By Staff Con Correspondent July 2 George Gcorge George P. P o Gibbs I secretary to J Joseph o seph F. F Smith president of the Mormon church a aFrank ami Frank I. I t former forme general wn mau- mau ager of the Salt Lake Tribune i in 1910 were the star w witnesses for or- or orth th the thu pl plaintiffs plaintiffs plain plain- in- in tiffs in the hearing henring before Judge lowell today of the petition of Albert Geddes through his guardians for a ashare ashare ashare share in n the estate left by bv the late hate David Eccles Mr Ir Gibbs testified as asto asto asto to a a. con conversation on he lie had with David Eccles in 1900 during luring which Mr Nr Gibbs Bai said Mr Eccles admit admitted cd the tho paternity of Ol th the bo boy Albert Geddes Mr r. r told of ot a 3 vl visit to the Tribune Tribune Tribune Trib Trib- une office e In 1910 of t David ld Eccles anti and of ot hi his request l to the edl editor tor of ot the paper paper pa pa- per the late Col William Willlam Nelson Nelson- to cease cease publishing his n name namo mo in the list hat Dtp of Dt p persons ron as ns having entered Into plural rn nt marriages s since the tho h issuance of ot the tho manifesto and o of Mr r. r Eccles refusal to to sign a statement denying that he was the husband through a a a. plural marriage of ot Margaret Geddes and of ot the continued continued contin contin- publication by the Tribune of this list list Including the namo name of ot David Eccles Eccles Ec Ec- Ec- Ec cles des after he had threatened to bring suit for tor Joseph E. E a a. contractor also was a witness s to for the plaintiff today He testified to having seen een David Dald Eccles Eccles Ec Ec- Ec- Ec cles des at the tue home of ot Mrs Margaret Geddes In October 1912 and of ot Mr Ir Eccles Ec Ec- Ec- Ec des cles calling the bo boy Albert Geddes My Myson Myson Myson son son Mrs Flora NIelson aunt of ot Mr Mrs Geddes resumed the stand for tor further cross examination when court opened this but both oth sides eidell finished with her soon after the opening of ot the session Hession and Mr Gibbs was sas called to the stand Corroborates Corroborate II Mr irs Ceddes The testimony given by Mr tr Gibbs was substantially corroborative of ot that given by Mrs Geddes In her direct ex examination ex- ex when she made reference to tu totne the visit of ot David Eccles to the this office of ot the president of f f the Mormon church churchin in her behalf to stop the th excommunication tion proceedings at Plain City then pending against her b because she would not divulge dl the name of ot the fa father father fa- fa a- a ther titer of ot her child Mr Ir testimony testimony mony also was corroborative of ot the testimony Siv given n b by Mrs Geddes of ot her conversation n with David Eccles regardIng regard regard- Ing his proposed suit against the Salt Lako Tribune and the t testimony of ot both witnesses was wag unshaken on material ma ma- tonal points on cross Near the close of ot th the examination of ofIr Mr Ir Gibbs he was a asked ke if It he were ere cre aware that Mr Mrs Goddes Geddes was to t testify falsely h at Washington In the tho Smoot In Investigation In in- to which he lie d that t the he did and when dlen ask asked wh why h ho did not go to Washington 1 to testify in thi th the Smoot Investigation tion he ho replied Bc Re cause causo I knew that David Dald Eccles was being shielded Competency q Questioned d. d Shortly after atu Mr Gibbs had taken token the stand and WAS a as un under er examination at d the hands of ot William H H. H King the i competency of or the witness was questioned questioned questioned ques ques- b by Frank J. J Gustin associate counsel for tor the this Mr Gustin held neld that as a priest 0 of the Mormon churchIr church Mr Ir Gibbs was Wa not permitted to divulge Information given him In confidence as an officer of ot the thc church as s set forth In Section Laws o of Utah of ot 1911 1 It was TIllS hold heM b by tho thu court however that the duties ditties of ot Mr tr Gibbs In the office office office-of of tho the president w were r only that of ot any other employee ec that he was w not an au of officer officer ot- ot of r the tho church and dill did riot not come under the provisions pro of ot the law prohibiting prohibiting pro pro- priests and others authorized to receive confessions from fiam members of ot the church to dluge dhue the substance Continued on Page 9 JOINTED TESTIMONY GIVEN IVEN BY SECRETARY GI GIBBS BS' BS ELLS ELS OF VISIT TO HIM IN 1900 clares Capitalist Came to See pr President Snow in Mrs t Geddes's Behalf Continued From Page 1 and wa was a a. competent witness the case During this examination Mr tr Gibbs RS as' s' s asked If Ir ho were ero not sort or of an m of ot the thc president of or tho the church which ho he replied Well ren kind of or a any any arn ny ny rn arm On taking the stand and after aUer pre pre- questions In which Mr Gibbs titled that he had be been n employed In Ine Ine e office of or the president of or the tho Moron Moron Mor Mor- on church for forty tort years ear that his hl rat service was under Brigham Young bookkeeper and that he ho had hod served der ider each of or the succeeding John Taylor Wilford Woodruff renzo rento Snow and Tol Joseph ph F. F Smith He stifled that ho he knew David Cedes Eccles DId you ou set seo se David Eccles In the rinK ring of or 1900 In the presidents president's oree of- of ce cc ee he was asked Yes It was was here that objection was Inter- Inter Bed sed by Mr for the defense I to the tho competency of ot tho the witness to toUty Uty and the subsequent overruling I the objection by Judge Howell In InC Inie ie C examination as to his competency con consumed umed con considerable time Mr bbs bb said that David Eccles In his sit lit lt to him In regard to the proceedings against Martret Mar Mar- ret tret Geddes had come to him not as al asi i of officer fleer of ot the church but only as a n. l lend nd Ho Ito said ald that th the the Information yen ven him at that time by b- Mr Ir Eccles As u of a confidential nature with the of that part which David Ec- Ec es ei authorized him to divulge If It ne- ne ty arose i Suggested n ii Compromise ater In the proceedings during durin his OilS examination s-examInatIon Mr Gibbs said Mid he heLd heid id Ld come into the case as a volunteer his only onh motive being his Inre In- In re real reit t In the bo boy Albert Geddes Gedde It also alsos 5 s brought out In examination cross at t ho he visited Mrs Bertha M. M Eccles dow of ot David Eccles on October 1 HI 14 and e suggested ted that It might be fill 11 to settle with the bo boy This h he hedared dared he had done without from any anyone one and of ot his hla own voll- voll on The objection as u to the competency Mr Gibbs to testify having hr been the examination was wag con- con wed and Mr rr r. r Gibbs here related tho the sit It It of David Eccles and the conversa- conversa n concerning the tho paternity of Al- Al rt Geddes Mr oIl Gibbs then continued I te- te testimony as 8 follows 0 e I Vl I i explained to David Eccles Eceles the tho leading up to the decla- decla tion b by President Snow of or the tho visit Ja n. n non Mormon friend of the chu church p f Snow who ho called to the attention that it was well own iown among Rmon the gentiles that plural still till were being being- entered Into ith th u In Utah and In Mexico and that ny of those going to Mexico for tor forsh n sh h purposes were wera returning and I ringing their wives with them a against l e order of or the president that thermon thermon the tho rmon people were possibly obeying letter Jetter of the law but not the tho rHo nt I ater on on during examination cross 5 Gibbs testified that the non- non rmon friend referred to was Judge e and that he ho later wrote the against plural marriages es ilch fich was wan all Issued over o President I lows low's S 'S signature Continuing Mr Ir Gibbs said S 1 The he question arose between u us a aJ as l J whether I should se see President I Ii o ow in behalf of or Maggie le Geddes or orether tether ether David Eccles should see seo him r told David that It was no use for forA forto forto A I. I to go that he had better go see i rn himself I also told him to be ared to tell ten President Snow where r ie e marriage was wae performed and b by byom om mm om and he said ald ho he didn't want to I 11 l 1 this AlBo AIRo If It wore under tinder Pre l- l I nt Snows Snow's Sno s administration but he told I then that It was under President administration David Eccles was In n a quandary as asI i I what to do but he ho decided not to S the tho president then but later Ho He Hot HoL t L t. but said ho would return what did he SR say say you ml might ht convey con l President Sno Snow f When hen he decided not to see the hut but said ho he would send fiend aner anere an- an er ere he told me to toI say I a to President low ow 0 If Ir necessary that Maggie Ged- Ged belonged to him and that he was d father tather of ot the child He told me meo meI I o that Maggie God Goddes es was pledged ed keep th tho name of the tho father tather of her lid lild a secret because if Jt It became own on it would break breal his family Was there any anything thins said sa-ld about Yes YeB I said David ld President Snow II 11 want to know all about abo tho marI mar mar- I go ge When Whon you tell him that the ther r wa waR wap performed under nt it t Woodruffs Woodruff's administration he will willI r nt mt to know why you are not living I I Mexico l as ae was waa the rule I 1 Alleged ed Marriage In Iff IPOS 0 Jr tr r Gibbs testified that President S died In 1899 The time of purported plural marriage of or David nies leR and Margaret Goddes Godde was wn In inI I Bt 1898 allowing up his testimony Mr I bs said that David Id Eceles Eccles then thea left leftS S office of or tho the president and said would send another to plead for tor I Ged Geddes ea When hen did you ou next see David Ec- Ec 17 7 I saw him a short whort time afterwards the Deseret National bonk bank corner told me mo that ho was coming up to toI I V. V mo mc and he lie Invited mo me to como come und Bund the tho corner and ea eat t. t In thet the tho st it t place however I apologized for I not doing dolnE what he had requested re regardinG regarding re- re garding Maggie Geddes Since his hi first visit to the presidents president's presidents president's dents dent's office John Henry Smith had come com to tho the presidents president's office and talked about a Plain City Cily girl who vho wa wain was In trouble T I told him him that John Henry Hen lien r ry Smith was much exercised over the caso ease and said that tho the demands demand being made on the tho girl for the tine name of or the father of or her child were more than nn any court In the land lanel would ask I asked him If It he had sent John Henry Smith and h he said No but that he lie had sent Grant and that he had a meeting with the first presidency Mr r. r Eccles knew the tue result of or the meeting meeting meet meet- ing and It was all nU right I told him that I had told the president that I knew knes' who ho was waR as the father of the child chillI and that he did not live In Plain City anti and oven even If It he did excommunicate the theIrl girl Irl the thc father tather was not under tinder the Plain City bishops bishop's jurisdiction Not of Ln LaunI Laun I 11 told David that the lie pre president If It Ithe he learned who was father of or the thc child would want to know wh why he was not in Mexico or at least his I and It was then that he said he ho was no more afraid of or the laws of ot the tho church than of ot the land and made a Jocular remark about the country was I not overpopulated and that there was room for tor him hint and her hereAfter hereAfter here After Arter the meeting of or Grant Geddes i with the first presidency was W there aletter a aletter a letter lotter written to the bishop of oC Plain CIl City Cill Yes What hat was the substance Tho The defense defenso here demanded that the letter be produced and Mr Ir Gibbs promIsed promised promised prom prom- prom prom- to hrin bring his office press copy Into court Saturday morning Mr Gibbs also testified that he was wal present present present pres pres- ent at nt the meeting and that he ho had kept his notes and rand would produce them In court Saturday Mr Ir Gibbs was then given over to the defense for tor cross examination 1 Mr Gibbs you didn't volunteer to I tell teU President Snow who was father tather of or tho the child did you ouO I 1 told toll President Snow I knew who was father of or the child and was as au authorized authorized au- au to tell him If asked When did you first tell anyone I 1 told Mrs Bertha M. M r. r Eccles In October Oc Oc- Oc- Oc tober l 1914 H and I told toM Jud Judge o King the Sunday night before I came here to testify that Is the Sunday before the trial open opened cd How did you OU come to tell Mrs Irs EC- EC cbs cleR Do you want to hear heRr the tue stor story asked Mr Gibbs I want the whole story ston replied Mr G Gustin u a t In Well when Mrs hs Neilson l was called cabled to make her depo deposition my attention was called to the Geddes Eccles-Geddes case Joel Nible came to my office orrice short- short Iv h afterwards and I asked him to ex explain explain OX- OX plain It to me This was wa soon after atter the taking of the second deposition in 1014 Joel Nibley Ible told me that the plaintiffs plain tiffs were depending on one good witness witness wit wit- ness a a. sister of ot David Eccles but she had bad been spirited away He said this was w Mrs Baird He lie said she was a most competent witness I told him I that I know a competent witness but was not authorized to name him He asked me to dig dig- him up Referred to himself Mr Nibley called c several se limes but butI I put him off orr but Nibley was anxIous anxious ious bus to find out but I didn't want to tell The competent witness I re referred referred re- re to o was u myself After Arter that L. L Nib Nib- Ie jey several elal limes again out i 1 told him that tho party did dill not want to make his name known n but I If he did decide to testify would go o In as asa asa a n. voluntary witness Later Judge King ICing came camp to the office to see sec President CW C C. W W. Penrose and after his hla talk with him asked for tor a private talk with me Did you vou volunteer as a witness Yes 1 es Who ho have liate you ou told about this did you ou say say Mrs ln Eccles and Apostle David O. O McKay Mr 11 Gibbs was questioned as to who were ere apostles apostle of the Mormon lormon church churchIn In the spring of or 1910 In order to test his hlo memory but he was unable to re remember remember remember re- re member all of ot them and promised to bring the list into court Saturday He also was questioned as to when Reed Heed Smoot was made an apostle and this he also promised to bring Into court He testified that h he i knew David Eccles most Intimately and that he David with L L. L is S. Hills was trustee of or a n bond Issue made h by the church In 1900 This was tas to show sho his standing In lii the church When hen was the letter from the presIdents presIdent's presidents president's presidents president's pres pres- ident's office sent to Bishop Bramwell Bramwell Bram- Bram well Z 7 May 17 1900 When did Grant Geddes call at the presidents president's office with reference to toIa Maggie Ia gle Gedd Geddes s