Letter from a Mormon Editor.
The Police Gazette had a letter from Salt Lake signed "One who was once a Mormon Editor," which says.—
But a short time ago I had an interview with Lucinda Stratton, a "Spiritual" of Heber C. Kim-ball. She formerly lived in Ohio, where herself and family were respected, loved and esteemed by all. But a Mormon preacher, or missionary entered her once happy home, and taught her pernicious doctrines which lured that peaceful family to this city. Mr. Stratton was murdered in one month after he reached here, because he cried out strongly against the plurality wife sys-tem. His wife died soon after, and then their only child was in the hands of this destroying band—only fifteen years of age, yet beautiful and accomplished much beyond her years. But not long was she to enjoy the calm, innocent retro-spection. The tempter was there in almost every form, the destroyer in one. That man is Heber C. Kimball, whose white hair tells his years of crime to be over half a century. His harem is filled from the elite and educated of many once happy homes. He has fifteen "spiritual,” and forty-two illegitimate children! Sisters have mar-ried the same man, and their offsprings both call him father, and both sisters claim him as their hus-band.
We send you with this letter an ambrotype of a young female, who lived two years in the State of New York, but was decoyed from home and friends to become a being of shame and crime.—Her name we shall not disclose, as her family are enjoying the respect and esteem which are due them in that State. She has become a sort of a queen in the harem of one Johnson, and seems to enjoy the life she leads, regardless of the fu-ture. She has more iron firmness and determin-ation, when once aroused, than any women in Utah. A short time ago another brother became enamored of this fair but frail wanton woman, and while Johnson was absent to a settlement a-bout sixty miles from the city, he went to broth-er Johnson's and tried to persuade his "spiritual" to leave her lord and go and live in his house, where he had but five wives, while Johnson had nine.
But she promptly refused to go, and plainly I told him not to come there again. Not for any virtuous scruples, by any means; but she did not like him, and enjoyed herself with Johnson. But this brother would not give up the chase so easi-ly; he went again, and Brigham with him, to see her. The Prophet told her that it was the will of the Lord that she should be divorced from her former husband, and be “sealed" up to this broth-er; but she told the Head of the Church plainly that she would do no such thing, and that they might leave her house. This from a woman, and, to the Prophet who feels himself almighty and powerful, made him angry. He told the brother who had come with him to "take a kiss and then they would go." The other did as he was bid, or at least attempted to do so when she flew at him like a wild cat, scratching him in the face and tearing his shirt bosom entirely out! The lov-er could make but a feeble show against this woman, and soon called to Young to "take her off.''
When he was released he presented a truly laughable sight. The "claret" was running pro-fusely, and the prints of her nails were visible on every part of his lustful visage. Young was so full of laughter at the sight that he was laughing as he passed our boarding house, while our whip-ped brother was by his side, with coat buttoned up to the throat to hide the loss of shirt and col-lar.
As it has been my misfortune to have been a Mormon Elder I am well acquainted with the hein-ous crimes of this infatuated people. I shall write its history of villainly, for in no other way can I do duty to myself and the whole American peo-ple.
I should have left this priest cursed land long ere this, but my repugnance to the spiritual wife system has long since "marked" me as one who "shall never go from the hive" with the secrets I hold. To attempt a departure from the city would insure my certain imprisonment, and perhaps death.
