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"The Madam" MIDWAY IN THE anti-polygamy crusade a counter-attack was launched which cooled, temporarily at least, the enthusiasm of some of the "cohab hunters." The opening shot in this counter-attack was the arrest of a deputy United States Marshal named Oscar C. Vandercook on a charge of violating a city ordinance covering lewd and lascivious conduct. The federal official was arrested when he alighted from a train from Brigham City, where he had headed the search resulting in the arrest of Lorenzo Snow. Vandercook offered no resistance to his arrest by the city police on a warrant issued by Alderman Adam Spiers upon a complaint filed by B. Y. Hampton, city license collector. He declared it was a "trumped-up" maneuver by the Mormon city administration and police to intimidate those engaged in the apprehending and prosecution of suspected Edmunds Act violators. According to historian Whitney, the arrest, and others immediately thereafter, resulted in considerable consternation, if not intimidation. Whitney's account continued: At the time set for the trial of Deputy Marshal Vandercook, the Police Court was thronged. The news of the arrests had spread like wild-fire. Not only was general interest awakened; but in some quarters absolute consternation reigned. This was 95
