| Show LEGAL WIVES 1 LEGAL wives in all ah the states and and ter i be inform informed edAs to th their fir rights as ao witnesses i in cacs ar arising is isug under the laws of the united states deraps this may not be orpo of so much ili importance to ancher e except 1 ig utah and because only io in those territories territories pries is it probable that any attempt will be made to lorce them to testify when ih the la law excludes their testimony there are ignorant co com in and malignant prosecutors who have often exceeded the bounds of the ahe law and ad who mi might ht presume on of legal of map many v ladies adies so the p public bublic should 4 bi be posted on this matter the first section of the new act of Oon congress gress which became alow without the 11 presidents residents that in any proceeding oi oi examination before a grand jury a judge justice tiep of a united states commissioner nak or a court in ili any prosecutions for bigamy polygamy or unlawful cohabitation aldez any statute of the united stages f he lawf lawful ul husband or wife of the person accused shall c alb a competent witness wit nebs and may be called but shall nat be compelled to to testify in such proc proceeding eLding examination or 01 without the consent ox of the wife aa tae case may be ind and such witness shall not be pefe peem toi testify asto any or communication made imade dy by either husband Jus and band or wile wife to each othia during the exis existence tenee of he mirria ge rela i elation tion deemed confide fitial at common law it will be seep from this aws that the legal wi way may be calleo beffre a grand J jury or a court in a case hei husband nus band for en an offense offence against the edmunds la law but ut she may not be compelled to justify without L th the husbands consent and ahe may ie y 1411 rid be e permitted to testify at all as 11 toa to a confidential statement or wade made to her b by the he husband clu during iring the exist existence nipe oft of the e marriage mairi age cou contract tract this effectually shut the mouth 0 nth of bi every insul tiLi bublic jad ato s sec abr when he waar to 0 harass a iv wire 4 a aad adar irritate laiq heb husband by plying her with prurient questions and endeavoring to sow gow tye me seeds ot of ji between married persons t is a mast tt from om which ti e h some spiteful attorneys atto ineys can cannot atol ter cle cayer it Is a rebuke to the erces zealously officials official who p ava used the terrors of the law in didar to frighten lawful wives into malting making statements that capald be pd tp wnm aim ibale their ab tap t is labara tl 51 I 1 f from rom the torture whick I 1 legal elenos have taken delight delmot in inflict infliction in upon helpless victims s i bu le legal gal wives ints musti must understand that if subpoenaed ld they must attend alid obey the 4 umi BonS if property s berged rv d and can then establish belil g right ol 01 from giving testimony when sworn tueyl can state stat elbe the fiat at their mari marriage lago to the accused 5 and when and where the was need not bot answer any questions ds as to thelt their husbands relations together pers persona ohp or give gie an any testimony calculated ta tf nate h hife ig when he ia s hargea with bammy po unlawful cohabitation or when an indictment isi kight d him for either of those offenses T this is the th er ed fea ot thi cormon I ormon it is with both teoman la w and statutory provisions in aBd and Amei amencia ica contrary practice in utah ha acen apon a strained ed ar wd id partial 4 arial of a territorial statute statu e which every assod coating went to show was designed aebi sned in the same bame spirit as tahe ae law 0 of congress now in force ut let legal wives stand upon their T rights and let no ausba husband ad or wife te pe imposed upon by special plea pleadings diDgs or arbitrary rulings when the new jaw law is so plain that thai all may understand its language and ihunt intent |
