17 minute read
The Prison Experience of Abraham H. Cannon
Utah Historical Quarterly
Vol. 53, 1985, No. 3
The Prison Experience of Abraham H. Cannon
BY WILLIAM C SEIFRIT
ON MARCH 17, 1886, ABRAHAM H. CANNON was to appear for sentencing at 10:30 A.M. before Judge Charles S. Zane upon his conviction on a charge of unlawful cohabitation one month earlier. Extra guards were in the courthouse; spectators entering the courtroom were searched for concealed weapons; a company of soldiers from Fort Douglas was at the ready. Unusual security for a mildmannered twenty-seven year old polygamist? Indeed it was. The extra security was not in place because of Abraham's sentencing but because the territorial government anticipated that his father, George Q. Cannon, would appear for his own trial on that morning. When George Q. failed to appear Abraham was all but forgotten and had to sit alone in the marshal's office until 4:00 P.M., at which time he was escorted to the penitentiary by prison guard Ed Janney.
Abraham went to the territorial penitentiary in a wagon accompanied only by a guard. It may be interesting to compare the fashion in which several other polygamists arrived to serve their time for "conscience' sake." Just ten months earlier, in May 1885, Abraham's uncle Angus M. Cannon had described his own journey from Salt Lake City to the Sugar House prison:
George Q. Cannon's journey to prison in 1888 was somewhat less processional, but two trips were required:
The accommodations provided at the prison were not commodious enough to hold the furnishings brought by the elder Cannon, so certain other arrangements were made. Later that same day "Bro. Wilcken brought an iron bedstead and a wire and woollen mattrass; but they filled up the cell. By putting the wire mattrass on the floor and making the bed on the floor, I did very well."
Journeys to the prison by polygamists probably had no set pattern. But one convicted polygamist experienced unique circumstances when he tried to serve his time. According to Abraham's journal, an elderly gentleman named John Murdock had been convicted of unlawful cohabitation and was sentenced to thirty days. Judge Blackburn granted Murdock's request for a brief stay in order to take care of some business matters. The judge made out the commitment papers and gave them to Murdock; the papers instructed the marshal to admit "the bearer." Then,
Abraham's solo ride to the penitentiary with a guard may have been one of the more typical journeys for convicted polygamists.
The Salt Lake Daily Tribune took editorial notice of Abraham's sentencing in a brief comment near the bottom of the page that contained scores of column inches devoted to George Q.'s nonappearance. Abraham's headline read: "A Loaded Cannon: A Small Piece of Smoothbore Artillery is Silenced by the Court." The lead sentence read: "Abraham Cannon, the polygamous, fanatical son of a fanatical, polygamous sire, was called up to receive sentence. . . ."
Press sensationalism and lavish processions to the penitentiary aside, one must ask the question how had Abraham arrived at this point. The single most informative, and most readily available, source of information concerning Abraham H. Cannon is his journal. Beginning with his mission in 1879 and ending several months before his death in 1896, Abraham kept a daily record of his life; the journal of his prison experience was faithfully recorded and provides rich and extensive detail of his prison term. In addition to daily prose entries the journal also contains Abraham's cash account with the warden, a scaled sketch of his cell with the placement of the double-occupied bunks and the names of those who slept together, and a roster of all the men with whom he served time. The roster includes each man's name, date and place of birth, charges, sentence, and many autographs of his fellow prisoners. This prison journal is the basis for the following account of the five months he served in the Utah Territorial Penitentiary. It may be helpful to examine the events immediately preceding his prison term.
Abraham's life up to the moment he was sentenced and sent to prison had been promising but not especially noteworthy. Like many men of his period he had married polygamously, served a mission, and had successfully begun a business career. He also served as one of the First Seven Presidents of Seventies. He had married Sarah Ann Jenkins on October 17, 1878. On October 16, 1879, he married his cousin Wilhelmina Cannon (Angus's daughter). Sarah had presented him with two children and Mina three by the time he was tried, convicted, and sentenced.
Abraham's trial on February 17, like his later sentencing date, was bound up with his father. The morning of Abraham's trial happened also to be the time when George Q. Cannon was returned by the marshal and U.S. troops from his putative "escape" attempt across the Nevada desert. Abraham was present when his bruised and bloodied father was granted bonds in the amount of $45,000 on several charges of unlawful cohabitation. After seeing his father safely on his way to the Cannon farm, Abraham rushed back to the courtroom for his own trial.
So certain was U.S. District Attorney W. H. Dickson of the conviction that he advised Franklin S. Richards, Abraham's counsel, that if Abraham would promise to cause no trouble (i.e., go underground), sentencing would be delayed for a month.
Abraham rose, pled not guilty, and took the stand in his own defense. When asked by Dickson if Sarah and Wilhelmina were his wives, Abraham replied, "They are, thank God." Without retiring the jury found him guilty. On Dickson's motion sentencing was delayed for thirty days.
Life was interesting for other polygamists as well. Abraham noted in his journal that Henry Dinwoody had allowed Dickson to report to the court that he, Dinwoody, had obeyed the law for the previous eighteen months and expected to so continue. He was released from custody. That same evening the Deseret News reported that Dinwoody denied making or authorizing any such statement. Dickson brought him back to court, and he was sentenced to six months imprisonment.
But enough of scene setting; when Abraham arrived at the penitentiary he joined nearly fifty other polygamists in Cell No. 3. Cells 1 and 2 housed "all the worst characters," according to Abraham; and Cell No. 2 also contained the medium class, "among whom are some of our brethren."
The cell occupied by Abraham and the other polygamists measured 20 feet 6 inches by 26 feet 6 inches and was 12 feet high. The walls were lined with three tiers of bunks; each bunk held two men for sleeping. Lorenzo Snow and Aurelius Miner were privileged to sleep alone.
Having been acclimated physically to his new home, Abraham was informed that he was to be initiated just like any other "fresh fish." Oluf F. Due, floor manager for that evening's initiation, gave Abraham a choice of singing, dancing, standing on his head, or making a speech. Abraham elected to make a brief address; when he finished the prisoners serenaded him in an impromptu concert.
Thus initiated, Abraham was plied with numerous questions about news from the outside, as the marshal had forbidden newspapers for some time prior to Abraham's arrival. At 9:00 P.M. the guard signaled lights out, and the prisoners were forbidden to talk or move about until 5:30 the following morning.
Breakfast was served at 8:00 A.M. in the dining hall, a room 45 feet long and 20 wide. It was furnished with fixed tables along the walls and moveable tables in the center. Later that first day Abraham learned that for three dollars a prisoner could purchase a seat along the wall and make use of a small shelf for pocket articles and utensils. He had Rudger Clawson make the purchase for him.
Meal fare was simple. For breakfast he got a piece of tough meat, two potatoes, and two pieces of bread. The midday meal was soup and bread, and the menu varied but little for the evening meal. As the weeks wore on either the food improved or Abraham became accustomed to it, because on April 10 he was moved to comment in his journal: "Our food received here in the 'Pen' is quite wholesome and the only fault I can find with it is that sometimes the potatoes are not boiled near done, and there is not enough bread."
Food problems were not entirely solved however; the coffee had become unusually bad, and Abraham's explanation is startling:
Early morning rising, meals, and lights out were the fixed points in the days of prison life for Abraham and his fellow inmates.
The prisoners divided themselves into two groups, "toughs" and "cohabs." At the time of Abraham's imprisonment toughs outnumbered cohabs by approximately two to one. There was little intermingling of the two groups in the open yard or during meals. The single most significant exception to this self-imposed segregation was the informal prison school conducted by toughs and cohabs for those of either groups who wished to attend.
A source of continuing irritation to all the prisoners were the frequent and apparently arbitrary changes in prison rules. Facial hair was sometimes allowed and sometimes not. Frequently men were required to have their heads close cropped and beards removed — often within a week or so of being released. Visiting day was supposed to be the first Thursday of each month, but most of the prisoners seemed to have visitors whenever such presented themselves. Once the men had become accustomed to frequent visits, the marshal would suspend the privilege. Some of the guards intruded themselves into visitors' conversations; others left the prisoners and visitors entirely alone. Newspapers were banned periodically; on a few occasions, however, sympathetic guards (or visitors) would smuggle in newspapers. Abraham himself noted the absence of fresh news: "I never realized until now what a great blessing it is to have the news to read daily." Still another irritant to the prisoners, toughs, and cohabs alike was the periodic suspension of the privilege of receiving food and sweets from the outside. This was especially objectionable to the prisoners because of the routinely bland prison food.
Conversely, for those housed in minimum security, there were privileges available to those who could pay for them. For example, Abraham was able to pay for another prisoner, John Keddington, to heat water and prepare his bath for him. Occasionally additional milk could be purchased from the outside.
For the first three weeks or so of his prison term Abraham had had to wear ordinary civilian clothes. When, on May 4, he received his custom-tailored black and white striped suit he expressed a certain mild pleasure: "In these clothes I feel perfectly at home, as a person looks like an odd sheep in the yard without them."
It should be noted that during this period at least it was the U.S. marshal and not the warden who set policy at the prison. A careful reading of Abraham's prison journal reveals that all major, and most minor, policies and decisions concerning prison operations emanated from the marshal; Warden G. N. Dow was the civilian representative of the chief law enforcement officer in the territory.
Abraham's prison life was not without its happier, more pleasant moments. July 4, 1886, fell on a Sunday so the inmates held their celebration on Monday. They had put together a fairly elaborate program for the day (although they had earlier decided not to have a reading of the Declaration of Independence). The twenty-eight number program began at 8:30 A.M. and was interrupted at 9:55 by the surprise entrance of the Eighth Ward Choir; the choir's appearance had been arranged by Marshal Frank H. Dyer. At 1:00 P.M. a dinner was served, provided by ZCMI and other firms and individuals and prepared by Salt Lake City restaurateur Samuel F. Ball who just happened to be available since he was serving his own sentence for unlawful cohabitation. Athletic contests and games occupied the prisoners for the remainder of the afternoon. The evening consisted of additional inmate entertainment under Abraham's supervision.
The prisoners had been so agreeably treated by Warden Dow and Marshal Dyer on this day that Abraham was moved to note: "We have received very many kindnesses from those who have us in charge which I very much appreciate." The only event that marred the day in Abraham's opinion was a successful escape attempt by one of the toughs, a man named "Nosey" Banks who was serving time for burglary. Banks worked in the prison tailor shop and during the July 5 activities borrowed a pair of boots and a shirt from John Bergen, stole Lorenzo Snow's new suit of clothes, and escaped in the crowd.
During his imprisonment Abraham enjoyed an almost endless stream of visitors. Indeed, there were but few days for which he noted no visitors. Visits from business associates were as common as visits from his family members. For example, on March 23 Ben Rich visited Abraham to negotiate the publication of two pamphlets; Edwin Parry and Walter J. Lewis visited him in the afternoon to report on affairs in the Juvenile Instructor office.
Visits from his wives were few and tentative at first, possibly because they realized that they were the reason he was in prison. They did visit as often as they could obtain passes and frequently brought their children as well. What is important to note is that while they may have visited Abraham on the same day they did not travel together. Whether they agreed between themselves how to schedule their visits or whether it was chance that kept them apart is unknowable from Abraham's journal.
On May 2 Abraham visited with James Dwyer, Alice Dinwoody, John Midgely, Mrs. Edith Knowlton, Phoebe Taylor, Lon McEwan, H. B. Clawson, and George Romney. In addition, Robert Aveson inquired about printing some manuscripts; and Abraham's wife Mina and her children visited.
Such a large number of visitors was unusual. His visitors generally came in pairs or trios. Family members often combined business activities with their visits. When George M. Cannon visited, for example, Abraham sent Mina a $250 check by him and asked him to obtain some stock in Zion's Benefit Building Society for her. On another occasion, when Mina herself was visiting, he gave her a check for $300 to invest. Family members often brought Abraham word from his father on the underground concerning business ventures. On one occasion Abraham had been persuaded to sell a half interest in his Ogden bookstore; John Q. brought word from George Q. that Abraham was not to sell any portion of the business.
Abraham's business activities were apparently only slightly restricted because of his imprisonment. His business correspondence was nearly as voluminous as when he was in his office, and he saw nearly as many people in person as when he was free. When necessary he could communicate with his father on major business decisions through his brothers. Regarding most of his business interests, Abraham was only slightly inconvenienced by being in prison.
Imprisonment probably enhanced Abraham's editorial input to the Juvenile Instructor. While in prison he wrote at least eight articles for that magazine, and he apparently was able to proofread more copy and to do so with fewer interruptions than he could on the outside. He also created a catechism for the Book of Mormon that was later published by the Juvenile Instructor.
While Abraham's journal is not explicit on the point one may infer that all the prisoners were left generally to their own devices with respect to "leisure time" activities; he made no reference to any institutionally planned activity for inmates. There are references to a prison ranch, tailor shop, and kitchen; but how prisoners came to be occupied at these sites is not explained.
Crafts were popular among the inmates, and as Abraham noted: "Quite a number of the prisoners are very ingenius [sic] workers in hair and wood; bridles, picture frames, small ships, etc., being manufactured in great abundance." Indeed, one prisoner's oil paintings so attracted Abraham that he bought them. He paid Frank Treseder $4 and $6 respectively for exterior and interior views of the penitentiary. Abraham's "Cash a/c with 'Pen' " shows that he purchased other items fashioned by the prisoners, among them a flesh brush, a tin box, gilded horseshoes, a bit, a fan, etc.
Other interests attracted Abraham during his prison term. He dabbled in phonography, studied Spanish briefly, learned to play chess, participated occasionally in physical fitness exercise classes conducted by Rudger Clawson, played football and handball a few times, and looked in on the prison school conducted by William Johnson of maximum security. Abraham was impressed that "the school is doing very well, and some of our brethren have learned to read and write while here." Abraham was moved early in his prison term to pay the costs for schooling two young toughs named R. B. Whit and T. Carr. The total cost for three months of schooling was $1.50.
Other activities that occupied the prisoners' time included raffles of crafted items and Sunday church services. Abraham's cash account reveals he bought chances in several raffles one of which was to assist Nephi J. Bates pay his transportation costs away from the prison to his home. For that purpose Bates put up his watch and chain; Abraham won and returned the items to Bates who was reluctant to accept them. Abraham explained his action in this manner: "This is the first time in my life that I ever won anything on a game of chance, and I believe the Lord permitted it only because of the object I had in view of returning it to Bro. Bates."
Church services were generally looked forward to by the prisoners if for no other reason than such events provided fresh faces and voices to experience. Abraham was generally in attendance, but only occasionally were the sermons to his liking. He did comment favorably when ministers brought singers, and he was apparently impressed by the ladies of the Women's Christian Temperance Society who brought flowers and scriptural verses for each of the prisoners.
As mentioned earlier, the cohabs ritualized the initiation of fresh fish; such new prisoners were required to provide some sort of impromptu performance for the amusement of the other prisoners. Other exercises (called valedictories) were conducted when a cohab was about to be released. During evenings when no one new came in and no one was preparing to leave the prisoners would occasionally have musical contests. Cornet players in Cells 3 and 2 would engage in a kind of duel; sometimes the contests were conducted by individual or group singing. Somehow the men filled in the time available to them.
Abraham's relations with the other prisoners, toughs, and cohabs alike seem to have been generally good. On one occasion he avoided a potentially nasty confrontation by apologizing publicly for having thrown food at a man. On another occasion a prisoner gave him some craft gifts out of simple admiration. During the initiation of fresh fish and when the men celebrated one of their number leaving, Abraham was occasionally called upon to sing. The prisoners seemed to like best his rendition of "Rocked in the Cradle of the Deep."
Abraham's treatment by Warden Dow was apparently evenhanded and evoked no complaints or criticism. He entered in his journal comments such as "treated me in a gentlemanly manner" and "gave us a good dinner today of mutton, mashed potatoes and pie." Following his exit interview with the warden, during which Dow commented favorably on his observance of prison rules, A- braham wrote in his journal: "I was pleased to know that my actions were worthy of his approval. And my feelings towards him are of the kindest."
One of the most interesting and important experiences that Abraham would have in prison occurred in mid-May 1886. Gov. Caleb West had visited the cohabs on Sunday, May 9, and talked for a while with Lorenzo Snow, Abraham, and others. The governor and his staff returned on Thursday, May 13, to meet with all the cohabs in the dining hall and make the following offer: ". . . if you will all or any one of you sincerely promise to obey the law I will use my influence and guarantee to get you released from this place." Governor West went on to remind the cohabs that the Supreme Court had declined to rule in Lorenzo Snow's segregation case and that therefore endless charges of cohabitation could easily be proven.
The discussion Abraham had with Governor West during this meeting illustrates the impasse with which each side struggled:
AHC: "I then arose and asked the Governor what we would be required to do with our wives and children which we now had, in order to comply with the law.
CW: "Mr. Cannon, you have intelligence enough to know, if you sincerely desire to do so, what will be required of you in this matter.
AHC: "I do sincerely wish to know, for so many constructions have been placed upon this point and I am at a loss to know what is required.
CW: "Well... I am here only to make this proposition and not to interpret the law; but if any promise sincerely to obey the law, they will be released and need not come here again."
None of the cohabs volunteered to make the required "sincere promise." Many of the toughs, however, when they heard of Governor West's proposal, thought that he had addressed the wrong crowd.
Several days later Abraham was named to a committee to draft a formal, written response to Governor West's offer. Their reply was several days in the writing and finally was ready on May 24 for submission. The essence of the cohabs' reply was that their obligation was to a higher law and to their families and that making the promise that the governor and the courts desired would mean abandonment of their wives and making bastards of their children. All the cohabs then in prison signed the letter to the governor except John Keddington; he was close to the completion of his sentence and believed that signing the letter might jeopardize his release.
The governor's offer and the cohabs' response received wide coverage in the press. Abraham had been misinformed as to the Daily Tribune's editorial response to the cohabs' reply to Governor West's proposal. He wrote in his journal that the "Salt Lake Tribune in commenting on our reply to the governor says that the article was written by Presidents Taylor and Cannon, and, being sent here, we were serfs enough to sign it. This is quite complimentary to [those of] us who prepared the paper." What the Daily Tribune's editorial comment actually contained was, in part:
Abraham spent several days engrossing individual copies of the cohabs' response for the use of several of the brethren who wanted to take them home and frame them.
The remainder of Abraham's summer in a cell was largely uneventful. He served his time and devoted himself to reading, studying, and writing for the Juvenile Instructor.
At 5:00 A.M. Tuesday, August 18, Abraham left the prison yard and, by prearrangement, was met by his brother John Q. Upon arriving in the city Abraham visited his wives briefly, checked in at the Juvenile Instructor office, and visited with the families of three men with whom he had been imprisoned: Royal B. Young, George C. Lambert, and Rudger Clawson. He offered their families words of consolation and solace.
The following day he was back at work in the Juvenile Instructor office and in the evening resumed his regular meetings with the First Seven Presidents of Seventies. His life was back to normal.
His journals for the later years of his life provide no indication that either his business career or church offices suffered by his having been imprisoned.
Was Abraham H. Cannon "rehabilitated" during his five-month stay in prison? Probably not. There is no indication that rehabilitation was either necessary or available. Moreover, he would twice more commit the offense for which he was originally imprisoned. Less than five months after his release he married Mary Eliza Croxall in Mexico (January 11,1887); he married Lillian Hamblin in June or July 1896 just weeks prior to his death.
Did Abraham consider himself to have been punished? It is difficult to know for certain exactly how he felt about his prison experience. His journals in later years contain but infrequent mentions of his prison term, and those only concern meeting people with whom he served time or who worked there as guards. Rather than punishment Abraham probably viewed his prison experience as yet another test his God had placed upon him. His last journal entry prior to leaving the penitentiary is instructive on this point: "I can truly say that I have tried to set a good example in study, work and morals, and the Lord has wonderfully blest me."
For full citations and images please view this article on a desktop.
