Redick Allred in the Penitentiary

The Edmunds-Tucker law being vigorously put in force the poligamists were advised to be on a sharp lookout or take the “underground” for the deputies were raiding the country starting in Salt Lake City. Brother George Lambert of S.L. City notified me by letter that a force of Deputy Marshals was leaving Salt Lake City for the south and to be on the lookout for them.

I went down by the point of the mountain and stayed a week with my grandson Newton H. Stevens. Nothing occurring in Sanpete I went home, but soon after Bishop Charles Dorious was arrested and bound over and from time to time others were caught. So I took the train and went to my son-in-laws’, George Mills, where he was section boss, with his family on Sevier River above Leamington and staid with them a month and then returned home on the sly. The Chief Marshal was on the train but we did not make each other’s acquaintance.

Soon after I hitched up a team and took my wife Lucy with her bed and trunk and went north for a couple of months on the “underground” visiting with my brother William and his folks in St. Charles, Bear Lake Valley. While there we went with them to Soda Springs for a few days’ outing. I remembered passing these noted springs in 1847 on our way home from California after our discharge from the army.

This trip proved to be a pleasant affair for we staid every night with relatives or old friends except one and then we were royally entertained and the next day our host sent his son to help us up the steep mountain without charge. While stopping with my niece Mary Layton on the “Range” above Kaysville a train came into the settlement in the middle of the night to take the remains of President John Taylor to Salt Lake City—he having died in exile keeping out of the Marshal’s way. I drove back to the city and attended the funeral of Prest. Taylor.

I returned home in October 1888 and on the way I met Bro. Folsom who told me to go home in the night and said, “Don’t tell anybody you saw me.” The fact was no polygamist was safe in sight. When I got home I found my wife Amilla’s baby quite sick—so kept nearby and visited my folks often. The child died as also its older brother both only about one year old—the first Frank, 9 months, and Jeddie one year. My boys were keeping sheep and so I thought I would go out with them for awhile. I visited President Peterson and I proposed visiting my brother Reddin a few months as a safe policy, but he said “no” I want you to stay nearby so you can run in once in awhile because your help is not competent without you. I said my folks wanted me to resign and I said I would if it was not for one thing. He said, “What is that?” I said it would damn me and he said, “Why?” I said President Kimball said if a man was called on a mission and would not fill it he should apostatize. He said not if he was honorably released, and I am willing to release you for you have had a hard field. He called the High Council together and gave me an honorable release, and although I had some opposition to contend with, I honestly labored to do my duty and I had the pleasure of knowing that I had the confidence of the Priesthood over me, and when I settled up with the Presiding Bishop agent there was due me $16.00.

1887—While this was going on my son Charles was sent to the penitentiary, so I resolved to go with him if staying at home would put me in the hands of the Marshal. I was glad I did for he told me that every act of his life should be to redeem himself (his after life proved it). I remained at my home in Spring City, but kept up my visits to my young family on the farm in Chester. [In] 1888 Judge Jacob Johnson told me there was a warent out for me, and said he had told me so I could get out of the way if I did not want to meet it. I told him I thanked him but I would stay at home for them as soon as I returned from Salt Lake City. That afternoon my brother and I started to Chester expecting to go on the City next day in a buggy, but near the farm we met 3 marshals and they kindly, without reading the warent, asked me to appear before Judge Johnson at 2 p.m. This I did and was bound over to appear in Provo, my sons Redick and Henry going my bonds. My wife, Amilla and daughter, Lydia, was subpoened as witnesses. I was to appear at any time while court was in session.

In a few days I hitched up my teams taking Amilla and Lydia to appear against me and my youngest son Wilford to drive the team back after the trial was over.

. . . I appeared before the Grand Jury and an inditement was found against me and next day I had to appear in open court where I pleaded guilty of having two wives and was sentenced to 60 days’ confinement in the “Pen”; $50,00 fine and cost of court by Judge Judd of Tennessee.

When I was called up he said, “Where are you from, old man?” I said, “Ten” and he said “Tennessee” it being his native state he was amazed. While in the “Pen” a man asked me how I happened to get so light a sentence. I said I was “a country cousin,” so he was light on me.

We arrived at the Prison after 9 o’clock at which time all was to be still—no one allowed to speak above their breath inside the prison, but outside in the office department we were serched and everything we possessed except our own clothing was taken from us—not even a pocket knife left us. Our cells were fited up with two bunks each and as we passed in the officer said, “You may choose your partner. I selected Bro. Wagstaff, and he said that is my choice and as he was a very large man, I said you take the lower bunk, and as I got up into my bunk he said, “Now, if you can’t sleep, I will stand up by you.” I thanked him and a kindly feeling was entertained between us. There were nine of us new convicts. After meditating for a while upon my first experience behind prison bars and offering up a silent prayer, I fell asleep and had a good night’s rest.

The next morning when our cells were unlocked which was done all at once by tiers, I steped out and had a good view of the emence building at that time containing over 200 “Co-habs” and “Tuffs” in 4 rows of cells two on the ground and 2 above. The “Co-habs” above and “Tuffs” below. The Warden, Arthur Pratt thus showed his kindness.

I walked around the corner alone to the long row of wash stands and there I found President Geo. Q. Cannon. We greeted each other warmly and he said, “How are you Redick, I am glad to see you, but sorry to see you here.” I said, “Not at all—I am no better than any one else.” Said he, “I would not miss it for anything.” After taking a wash we walked out in the yard, we locked arms for a prominade and had a good visit.

We often had a good time together and some of the brethren would say—“Well, you have had a visit with Brother Cannon, how does he feel? I finally began to think perhaps some of them felt that I monopolized too much of his time preventing them from enjoying his company, so I held myself aloof from him for some time, but one morning he came up and took hold of my arm saying, “I will take hold of your arm, if you won’t take hold of mine.” I told him why I had not done so, and he said, “I am better acquainted with you than any man in the Pen and we ought to be allowed to walk together.”

President Cannon went in one week before I did and he had, by permission, organized a Sunday School which was well attended by the “Co-habs” and others.

I met my son Charles the first day. He was what they called a “Trusty” and was outside most of the time and was one of the waiters at the dining table. After a day or two the warden kindly allowed Charles and I to ocupy the same cell as long as I staid there which pleased me very much. I was pleased to hear him say that although he had been wronged it was no sign that he should wrong anyone else. I had occasional visits from relatives and friends and had presents of fruits and dainties to mix with out substantial food which was very likely supplied by the warden.

When the call sounded we all fell into line and marched to our places at the long line of tabels in the large dining room and when meals were over we returned in the same order and at the sound of the call at 9 o’clock p.m. all must go into their cells and all locked up—no talking till morning. All that was heard was the night watchmen call the time every hour.

I met old friends and made new acquaintances and enjoyed my confinement very well for during the day we had free use of the yard inside the high wall upon which a guard was stationed armed and equiped. I was sentenced to 60 days but I could stay 30 days longer and thereby settle my fine and cost. I staid up the 90 days and was taken by the guards (with others going out at the same time) before a United States commissioner to pass examination. In my case commissioner Pierce decided that although I had divided property between the two families but had failed to give them a Bill of Sale, he would hold me and I must go back to prison. I said to the marshal, “Take a walk with me,” so we went up to Hyde Bros. Store and I told them I had to go back to prison or pay $90 dols. Alonzo said—“Go back to prison,” but Frank said, “We have no money to lend, but you shall not go back,” and he forthwith secured a check for the amount and I bought my freedom. I had written to my son Redick to send me money enough to pay my passage home and he wrote me to go to the Contributor office, so as I now had my liberty, I went and to my great surprize and joy I found a check for $110.00. In an hour I restored the money to Hyde Bros., with many thanks to friend Frank.

This was Sat. 21st of Dec. 1888. I visited the Church lawyer and he said if I had telephoned him he would of helped me out but it was too late then.