| 412 from Bro. John Scott, of the Herald Office, announcing that on the 26th Bro. Lawrence Conover, secretary of the Board of Publication, bookkeeper and, accountant of the Herald Office, had absconded with funds of the office to an amount not known.
This made it necessary that Bro. Blakeslee or the Editor should return at once to Lamoni. Neither could leave Washington until some understanding as to when an interview with the Secretary of State could be had. This was accomplished the next day, March 1, and Bro. Blakeslee left for Lamoni, by the way of Kirtland, Ohio, the same evening. Bro. Zenas H. Gurley and the Editor followed him on the morning of the 6th as soon after the interview had been accorded as it was practicable to leave. Bro. Gurley left us at Davis City, and we arrived at home, the 9th, at ten in the evening.
We found Brn. Blakeslee, Phineas Cadwell, and W. W. Blair all anxiously waiting. Bro. Curwen had come and waited as long as he could, and had gone to attend to the affairs of the firm for which he travels.
The interrupted receipts, entries, and orders for Herald, Hope, Advocate, and books, had been taken in hand by Bro. Blair, at the direction by telegram from Bro. Blakeslee, and were being brought into order and regularity. Telegrams had been sent to banks, and others where necessary to curtail further losses where they were liable to occur; and an effort made to secure some trace of the fleeing man.
Upon our arrival Bro. George A. Blakeslee, president, called the Board together, and measures were adopted to provide for the emergency and secure the conducting of the Herald Office affairs, without delays or stoppage.
Wild and conflicting rumors are afloat in every direction; but the Saints will do well to go slow to hear and believe what they hear. As soon as it can be done, a clear report of the loss will be made.
No one need to feel alarmed, all that can be done will be done. The loss is not an irretrievable one; except the lose of esteem and confidence in which the secretary was held. He had by a very commendable deportment won his way into the confidence of all connected with the office; this confidence he has rudely and cruelly betrayed, and this he can not retrieve. He might have wrought more injury than is now discovered, and though he has robbed the office and the church of moneys, and soiled by betrayal of trust the good name of those connected with the office, he alone can be the ultimate sufferer from these acts.
The affairs of the office will go on, the Herald, Hope, Advocate will come out in their time; books will be sent as ordered, and all the business continue, with all the accuracy and despatch possible.
The annual conference for 1883 convened at Kirtland, Ohio, in the Temple, April 6, and closed on the 15th. Joseph Smith and W. W. Blair presided; E. L. Kelley, secretary, assisted by R. M. Elvin and Heman C. Smith.
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