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Show THE SUPBEXECOOBrDEClSIOX. We publish today the fuU text of the decision of the Supremo Court or the United States IntbeBassett appeal case. The chief point involved in-volved In this Important cause was the admissibility or a legal wile's testimony against the husband In a trial for polygamy. Under a provision in the Utah Code of Civil Procedure, an exception excep-tion is male to the rule of law against such testimony, to the effect ef-fect that the husband or wife may testify against the other, "in a criminal action or proceeding for a crime committed by one against the other." This provision, when taken in connection with provisions in the criminal code and with well known rules of the common law, was clearly meant to apply to acts of violence, or crimes against the person committed by the husband or wife upon the other. But the Utah courts, pursuing a policy of special proceeding against persons accused of infractions of the anti-polygamy laws, construed the pmvifionto signify any unlawful act of the husband that might be offensive and Injurious to the wife, and tli us make it apply to polygamy. The Supreme Court of the United States sustains the liw and the practice and the precedents of centuries, cen-turies, and reverses the ruling of the Utah courts. It adopts the arguments and Is guided by the authorities which were so Btrongly presented by Hon F.S Richards, counsel for tho plaintiff in error, and in doing so complies with bis request that the law be construed without special reference to a practice prac-tice sought to be suppressed, and which now offers no reason for extraordinary measures. During the presentation of bis case, Mr. Richards showed that by the recent action of the "Mormon" people in reference to polygamy, the necessity for strained constructions construc-tions nf the laws affecting them bad been removed, and It was now only needful that the laws be administered adminis-tered in their ordinary course, and according to precedent and common Interpretation. The attorney for the Government admitted this, and did not ask the Court for a pecial construction con-struction to meet a special case, and the Court bat evidently modified the spirit In which it has treated the "Mormon" question in former instances. in-stances. , The decision Is of great importance, import-ance, not only to the appellant Jwt to the people or Utah generally, and 1 the end of controversy on this much disputed question. |