| Show G C LAMBERT AND H W naisbitt SENTENCED in the third district court this afternoon brothers george C lambert and henry W naisbitt who have been convicted of living with and acknowledging their wives received the judgment imposed by chiet justice zane the first called was GEO C LAI dBERT w who 0 in ans answer er to a question stion of t the e court on as to whether hether he g c ha had anything to say before sentence was as passed began to rea read the follo following ing sta statement ment but was several times interrupted by the court who exclaimed III 1 I dont care about hearing such a discourse as that with your honors permission I 1 would like to say a few words before receiving the judgment of the court for the first time tiffie in my life I 1 stand convicted of an offense never before have I 1 even been accused of any breach of law or order I 1 have been convicted of unlawful cohabitation with my wives I 1 congratulate myself that my offense is nut not more heinous that no such charge can be sustained laed against me as was some time since preferred against the man who arrested me and who still retains his liberty that of indulging inducing in illicit intercourse outside of then the marriage Carriage relation I 1 would far rather go ta prison or even suffer death than be thus guilty nor am I 1 an exception in this respect for such Is generally the case among the latter day saints their religion enjoins the strictest chastity and t they ey ind are taught to defend virtue W with th te their ir I 1 I 1 1 11 C cording to a pertab high judicial uan the com common u offense of tho the latter day saints consists in great part if not chiefly in flaunting their polygamous opportunities or relationship in the face of the world of this I 1 am I 1 have lived a very quiet unobtrusive life the prosecuting attorney mr dickson was for many months one of my nearest neighbors and his assistant mr varian has lived within a few rods of my home for a much longer period yet I 1 venture to say their moral sensibility was never shocked by anything I 1 ever said or did in fact I 1 doubt whether they ever anew knew anything about my domestic relations until an apostate neighbor wormed informed upon me quite recently you may not regard it as any palliation of my offense off enss but bot I 1 may say that although I 1 would much prefer to retain my liberty and be able to labor for the support of my family I 1 have never sought to evade this issue I 1 have met it squarely and when wanted for trial offered the testimony upon which I 1 was convicted and now your honori honor I 1 stand here to receive my sen sentence teace with only this to add in marrying two wives I 1 believed I 1 was obeying a divine requirement no appeal has been made to my reason to convince me that chati 1 am in error and force is not likely to do so I 1 have never deceived or ill treated my wives and they have never complained of their lot in marrying them and treating them as honorable wives I 1 am not conscious of having injured any one and yet for this I 1 am c convicted though hough my life has not been perfect I 1 can say as paul said when before his accusers 1 I have lived in all good conscience before god until this day and inthe in the I 1 language of another apostle I 1 may add whether it be right in the sight of god to hearken unto man more than unto him judge ye ve I 1 I 1 court Is it your intention to obey the law of the united states in reference to poly polygamy gain y and unlawful cohabitation in the future mr lambert I 1 prefer not to make any promises court you do not know what 3 you ou will do in the future mr lambert no sir I 1 know what I 1 have done in the past the court then proceeded to pass the usual sentence six sax months imprisonment and a fine of and costs HENRY W NAISBITT next came forward he said that he would like to state what he be thought wae we re extenuating circumstances court the abe court does not care to hear a discourse such offenses as Ply polygamy gamy and unlawful cohabitation will not bear martyrdom mr Nals naisbitt bitt then went on to state the circumstances of his case and how he accepted the doctrine of plural marriage as divine it being taught in the bible and practiced by the great worthies of the past abraham jacob and others he had haa made a covenant with his wives and could not babak it if his wives desired a separation he might answer the court as to them but otherwise he could not when this was concluded the court said you will not promise then and mr naisbitt replied xo no sir air I 1 will not the court then imposed the fi full 1111 penalty six months imprisonment imprison men and a fine of and costs in closing the court exclaimed 1 I hope you yop people will get to understand after a while that these laws must be obeyed the two bret brethren took up their abode inthe in the penitentiary this after among those honorable honorable gono rable men who are were there imprisoned for conscience sake |
