THE DOWNFALL OF MORMONISM.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2763, 26 December 1871, Page 3

THE DOWNFALL OF MORMONISM.

A late Californian paper is just to hand, and from it we take the following A telegram from Salt Lake, October 21, states The jury in the Hawkins case came in last night with a sealed verdict, which, on being opened this morning, was found to be guilty. The court room was crowded, an 1 the announcement created much sensation. The counsel for the prosecution moved the Court to take defendants into custody, winch motion was stoutly resisted by the defendants’ attorneys. The prosecution, however, was firm in its demand that the case should take the ordinary course, and the United States Marshal accordingly was directed to hold Hawkins as a prisoner. Time was allowed to prepare a motion for a new trial, and arrest of judgment. The penalty of the Utah statute for the crime of adultery is imprisonment not exceeding 20 years and not less than three years, or by line of not over 1,000 dollars, or both fine an I imprisonment, at the discretion of the court. This is a test case, and virtually places all polygamists at the mercy of the first wife, who under the act, is the only party who can institute proceedings against the husband. The case was contested on both sides with great determination. The charge of Chief Justice M'Kean to the jury last night is spoken of as being eminently able, A later telegram on Oct. 24 reports : —la the Hawkins case this morning, the defendants aked to be released, for the reason that the verdict was not in accordance with the statute, as it failed to specify the nature and extent of punishment. This was overruled, and at the request of the counsel the sentence was deferred till Saturday. ihe case of Sarah A. Cooke v. Brigham Young is still on trial. There is some excitement among polygamists as to Hawkins’s fate. The court room this morning was thronged with women. Hawkins himself appeared wholly rinconcerned. He was remanded to prison at Camp Douglas. The Mormons talk of peace, provided Brigham is not subjected to imprisonment. They say Brigham would submit, but that his followers will never allow it. The latest Californian papers state that Hawkins, a leading Mormon, had been convicted of immorality, and sentenced to three years’ imprisonment, and to pay a fine of 500 dollars. Warrants Lave been issued against Brigham Young,and also several Mormon officials, for wilful murder, one of the avenging angels or bannites employed by them to assassinate Gentiles have turned informer.