The Decision in the Polygamy Cases.
The decision rendered by the U.S. Supreme Court on the 23rd would probably be more intelligible to our readers generally if they were familiar with the status of each of the several cases involved. That this may be understood we here produce the oath taken by each of these appellants. The difference between the cases of Mildred E. Randall and Mary Ann M. Pratt—the decisions of the lower courts, in which were reversed by the recent ruling—and those in which the rulings of the Utah Courts were sustained, will be apparent on reading them.
Oath of Mary Ann M. Pratt.
Territory of Utah, County of Salt Lake.
I, Mary Ann M. Pratt, being first duly sworn, depose and say that I am over 22 years of age, and have continuously resided in the Territory of Utah more than six months, to wit: more than thirty years ago last past, and I have resided in the Third Precinct of Salt Lake City more than six months next preceding the date hereof, and still reside therein; I am a native born citizen of the United States of America, and am the widow of Orson Pratt, Senr., late deceased, who died prior to the 22nd of March, 1882, and after a continuous residence in said Territory of more than thirty years. My name is on the last registry list of voters of said Precinct, and I am a taxpayer in said Territory. I am not and never have been a bigamist or polygamist, and have not, on or since March 22nd, 1882, cohabited with any man.
Mary Ann M. Pratt.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this thirteenth day of September, A.D. 1882.
[Deseret News, Apr. 8, 1885]
[transcribed and proofread by David Grow, Apr. 2006]