| 358 which must have been a palace, compared to a court room where dignity and mercy were strangers, and naught but the wrath of man in horrid threats stifled the ears of the prisoners.
"The same night the prisoners, Gilbert, Morley, and Corrill were liberated from jail that they might have an interview with their brethren, and try to negotiate some measures for peace, and on their return to jail about two o'clock Tuesday morning, in custody of the deputy sheriff, an armed force of six or seven men stood near the jail and hailed them. They were answered by the Sheriff, who gave his name, and the names of his prisoners, crying, 'Don't fire, don't fire, the prisoners are in my charge, etc.' They however fired one or two guns, when Morley and Corrill retreated; but Gilbert stood with several guns presented at him, firmly held by the sheriff. Two, more desperate than the rest, attempted to shoot; but one of their guns flashed, and the other missed fire. Gilbert was then knocked down by Thomas Wilson, a grocer in the village. About this time a few of the inhabitants arrived, and Gilbert again entered jail, from which he, with three of his brethren, were liberated about sunrise without further prosecution of the trial. William E. McLellin was one of the prisoners.
"On the morning of the 5th of November the village began to be crowded with individuals from different parts of the county, with guns, etc., and report said the militia had been called out under the sanction or instigation of Lieutenant Governor Boggs, and that one Colonel Pitcher had the command. Among this militia (so-called) were embodied the most conspicuous characters of the mob, and it may truly be said that the appearance of the ranks of this body was well calculated to excite suspicions of their horrible designs. Very early on the same morning several branches of the church received intelligence that a number of their brethren were in prison, and the determination of the mob was to kill them; and that the branch of the church near the village of Independence was in imminent danger, as the main body of the mob were gathered at that place.
"In this critical situation, about one hundred of the saints
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