| Show THREE MORE i I 1 bau ball jones and smith sent to the pen because they wont Pron promise flae I 1 the court gets on its dignity aben answered in its ita own fashion fanton some foolish quibbling today to day was the time set for pro judgment against three cormons mormons Mor mons convicted of living sith ith and acknowledging their wives john P ball of the second ward thom thomad C 5 joney jones of the tenth ward aud and john Y smith of the third ward the first called was the venerable JOHN P BALL who feeble and trembling with age stepped forward and aad stood squarely facing the judsie judge to the question of the court HS as to his future intentions he replied 1 I cant say anything any about it court you cant say anything about it cant you say whether ou intend to obey the laws against polygamy and unlawful mr ball I 1 embraced the principle of celes celesital dal marriage 15 years ago believing ll evit it to be a command com Mancl of godana I 1 firmly believe it to be so now I 1 cannot promise to disobey any law of god court it is not for you to say what laws you will or will not obey if you break the tee law you must take the consequences mr ball that I 1 am willing to d do 0 the court then imposed the full penalty six months in the penitentiary and ana a line of aud and costs the name of THOMAS C JONES a white haired gentleman whose a appearance pe arance showed that he was well it advanced I 1 in n y years ears was next called after r reciting e c bilig the fact of the conviction of th the e accused cs ed the court said Is it your intention to obey the law la in the future mr jones the law of god court so you yon dont intend to obey the law against polygamy and unlawful mr jones not an unjust law sir court it is not for you to say what laws are just and what are unjust are you a native born or naturalized citizen mr jones naturalized court co urt you took oath that you would support the constitution and laws jaws of the united Stat states ets mr jones the law of god is above the laws of the united states tue the higher law includes the lesser court tho the people of the united states have said the law against polygamy and unlawful cohabitation must be obeyed mr jones god is above the united states court you committed perjury when you took thy the oath to support the constitution ution and laws and ana believed in the practice of unlawful cohabitation mr jonesi jones I did nothing wrong I 1 do not believe in unlawful cohabitation but in lawful cohabitation lawful under gods law the highest lay law court you do not understand what you are talking of mr jones oil oh yes I 1 do it is you sir who do not understand and the people court angrily you fiust have respect forthe for the court sir or you wili hlll receive an additional punishment for contempt you cannot defy the law and treat the court with contempt mr jones 1 I have not defied the law nor treated the court with court do you ou know what tile the penalty alty is for this offense lense of mr ar jones yes sir the court then proceeded to pass sentence to the full fall extent of the law six months and costs JOHN Y SMITH then came forward to receive the j judg u dg ment of the court coart and some foolish wrangling took place the court asked Is it your intention to obey the laws of your country mr smith my intention has a ways been to obey the law court Is it your intention to 0 bey it in future mr smith As aa far as I 1 know I 1 do not know what I 1 will do in the future court do you yon intend to obey the law mr smith I 1 bel belie vein levein polygamy and in supporting my wives an and children court dodou do you intend to obey the law against polygamy and unlawful cohabitation mr smith I 1 desire to obey all the laws of the united states I 1 have I 1 tried ried to obey the law in the past court that is not an answer to my question will you obey it in the future mr smith I 1 do not know what I 1 will do court you have three wives will you live with your lawful wife and her alone mr smith I 1 intend to support my wives and family it if I 1 break the law I 1 will pay the penalty court you say you have been obeying the law ing mr r smith yes for a year past court do you recognize this law as hk hil her than th the e ch church arch mr smith I 1 believe the law to be supreme I 1 would render to caesar the things that are an court you intend sincerely and honestly to obey the law mr smith I 1 do not know what I 1 will do court have any of your friends been talking with you yoli mr smith no my friends have urged me to obey the law court I 1 suppose you do not intend to murder you could coald promise not to steal mr smith I 1 do not intend to I 1 have never stolen but could not promise court you have no confidence in what you believe or in yourself you are not a good citizen you say you cannot promise to obey the law mr smith I 1 do not intend to commit any crime coart As you do not intend to promise to obey the law you yoa will be sentenced to imprisonment in the penitentiary for the term of six months and to pay a tine fine of and costs ol 01 of prosecution and stand committed until the flue fine and costs are paid I 1 should be very plad glad if irmen men of your class would promise to exercise leniency toward any man who honestly intended to obey the law but as you will make no promise you will receive no ben edt befit those upon whom judgment was passed were sent to the penitentiary today to day |
