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Source: Church History Vol. 2 Chapter 33 Page: 743

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743 the hearing was continued till Saturday the 29th, and they were remanded to jail. Several of our citizens had permits from the Governor to lodge with them, and visit them in jail.

"It now began to be rumored by several men, whose names will be forthcoming in time, that there was nothing against these men; the law could not reach them, but powder and ball would! The Governor was made acquainted with these facts, but on the morning of the 27th he disbanded the McDonough troops and sent them home, took Captain Dunn's company of cavalry and proceeded to Nauvoo, leaving these two men and three or four friends to be guarded by eight men at the jail; and a company in town of sixty men, eighty or one hundred rods from the jail as a corps in reserve.

"About six o'clock in the afternoon the guard was surprised by an armed mob of from one hundred and fifty to two hundred and fifty, painted red, black, and yellow, which surrounded the jail, forced in-poured a shower of bullets into the room where these unfortunate men were held, 'in durance vile,' to answer to the laws of Illinois; under the solemn pledge of the faith of the State, by Governor Ford, that they should be protected! but the mob ruled!! They fell as martyrs amid this tornado of lead, each receiving four bullets! John Taylor was wounded by four bullets in his limbs, but not seriously. Thus perishes the hope of law; thus vanishes the plighted faith of the State; thus the blood of innocence stains the constituted authorities of the United States; and thus have two among the most noble martyrs since the slaughter of Abel sealed the truth of their divine mission, by being shot by a mob for their religion!

"Messengers were dispatched to Nauvoo, but did not reach there till morning. The following was one of the letters:-

"Twelve o'clock at night, 27th June,

''CARTHAGE, Hamilton's Tavern.

"To Mrs. Emma Smith, and Major-General Dunham, etc.:-The Governor has just arrived; says all things shall be inquired into, and all right measures taken.

"I say to all the citizens of Nauvoo, my brethren, Be still, and know that God reigns. Don't rush out of the city-don t rush to Carthage; stay at home, and be prepared for an attack

(page 743)

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