Three Brides in One Day

In a federal territory, a man went through secret ceremonies at his church's temple building and, on a single day, married three women one after another. He was prosecuted for bigamy on the basis that he married the second woman while his first wife was still living. Several prospective jurors who believed plural marriage was divinely ordained were excluded. At trial the second woman testified against him, including about the earlier marriage. He admitted marrying her but disputed that the first marriage had been proved. The prosecution relied on her testimony and on his own admissions. The man argued that if the first marriage was in doubt, the second woman was legally his wife and could not be allowed to testify against him to prove it.