MORMONISM IN THE EAST.

Colonist, Volume II, Issue 124, 28 December 1858, Page 4

MORMONISM IN THE EAST.

The following outrageous and disgraceful case was heard before the magistrate at the Thames police-court, lately :— Hannah Brown, an elderl)*- women, dwelling at No. 4, Stafford-terrace, Com-mercial-road, appeared to answer a summons, which charged her with assaulting and beating Mrs. Elizabeth Watson. Mr. Young, solicitor, who appeared for the complainant, said that Mrs. Watson had been a Mormonite for three years, and was for some time considered one of the most promising of the " Latter Day Saints," but in consequence of having discovered the disgusting tricks of the Mormon gionMr. Yardley; Religion! Are there any Mormons in this quarter ?—Mr. Young: Oh, yes, sir: there are some half-dozen places called chapels of the present—-I mean Latter Day Saints—sinners they ought to be called, sir—where these people meet to inculcate their pernicious doctrines among the ignorant. The husband of the defendant had also been a Mormon, but gave it up. The defendant had been jealous of Mrs. Watson ever since, and finding her talking to Mr. Brown, attacked her with great fury, scratched her face, and beat her. Mr. Yardley asked the complainant if she lived with the defendant's husband ?— Mrs. Watson replied in the negative, and said: I was a Mormonite three years. Mrs. Brown is a Mormonite. Her husband was ordered by the elders to walk with me, to instruct me in the principles of Mormonism, and to rob my husband and to go to Utah, for the good of the church. Mr. Yardley: I thought all the Mormons had gone to Utah.—Mr. Young: No, sir; there are troubles in Utah, and Governor Cumming and the United States army have taken possession of the place. There are plenty of Mormons left here. Mrs. Watson: Well, I was Cut off from the church because I would not rob my husband and leave him, and the defendant's husband was cut off from the church because he was not successful in teaching me how to rob my husband, and could not induce me to leave my husband and go to Utah to marry one of the elders there.

Mr. Young: Those are the principles, of Mormonism ?—Mrs. Watson: Yes sir; I was taught that to rob my husband, leave him, and commit adultery was to glorify the church. Mr Young: The Mormon church, you mean ?—Mrs Watson : Yes, sir. Well, sir, I found out the baseness of the Mormon doctrines, and I would not leave my husband or rob him, and the defendant has been persecuting me ever since. Last Saturday evening I was speaking to Mrs Brown's husband, he having first accosted me, when Mrs Brown came up and called me a great many infamous names, struck me with her fist, and scratched my face. She threatened to kill me, and I had much trouble in getting out of her way. Mr Yardley: Did you voluntarily leave the Mormonites ?—Mrs Watson : I did, sir; the elders of the church wanted me to go into their apartments and be initiated into the mysteries o£ Mormonism; but I would not, and have been peisecuted ever since by Mrs Brown and her friends. The defendant said that Mrs Watson did not voluntarily leave the church of the Latter-Day Saints (a laugh), but was publicly expelled and cut off, and had ever since been in the habit of meeting her (Mrs Brown's) husband and walking about with him. Mr. Yardley: Is not that according to Mormonism ?—The Defendant: No, sir, it is not. Mrs. Watson was cut off from the church, and my husband was publicly cut off from the church, and they have been in the habit of meeting each other. Mr. Yardley: Is that any reason you should scratch the complainant's face?— Mrs. Brown: I watched her, the hussy. She shook hands with my husband, and kissed him. Mr. Yardley: Is that contrary to Mormonism?.—The Defendant: It has nothing to do with Mormonism. Mr. Yardley: Then lam much misinformed on the subject.—The Defendant: Yes, you are, sir. The complainant: The meeting was accidental. I kiss her. husband, indeed!—the wretch who wanted me to rob my husband, and go into the apartments of the elders! Not I, indeed. Mr. Yardley: I would recommend you to renounce Mormonism if you wish to keep your husband to yourself. The Defendant: It is nothing to do with Mormonism. Mr. Yardley: I have nothing to do with Mormonism. With respect to the morality of it I say nothing. The Defendant: I have a large family of nine children, and have had twelve, and 1 won't let my husband go with her.—The Complainant: I don't want the old man. Mr. Yardley: Well, Mrs. Brown, it does appear she was excessively familiar with your husband on Saturday last, but that is no reason you should scratch her face, but a good reason for scratching his face. ''■ " V 2._y The Complainant: I can assure you, sir, many women have been induced to rob their husbands and leave them, and go into the apartments of the elders, there to lose all that is dear to virtuous women, by the Mormons. lam sorry I had anything to do with them. Mr. Yardley: I don't recognise Mor- ' monism, and I must not have a breach ofthe peace committed. Mrs. Watson had better * not shake hands with Mr. Brown if she meets him again. As there was some aggravation, I shall fine Mrs. Brown Is. only, but if she molests Mrs. Watson again, I shall bind her over in heavy sureties to keep the peace.