| 49 TIMES AND SEASONS
"TRUTH WILL PREVAIL"
Vol. 1. Whole No. 4.] COMMERCE, ILLINOIS, FEBRUARY, 1840 [Whole No. 4.
A HISTORY, OF THE PERSECUTION, OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST, OF LATTER DAY SAINTS IN MISSOURI.
CONTINUED.
The Governor, D. Dunklin, was disposed to bring the mobbers to justice; consequently, ten or twelve, witnesses were subpoened to attend the February term of the circuit court Capt. Atchison was ordered to guard them over to Jackson, and back, with his company of Liberty Blues. The attorney Gen. was also ordered, or requested, by the Gov. to attend the court, to assist the circuit attorney, in the investigation. The witnesses were guarded over to Independence, and after having been there a short time, they were visited by the circuit attorney, accompanied by the attorney General. They informed the witnesses, that such was the excitement prevailing there; that it was doubtful whether any thing could be done to bring the mobbers to justice; that if any should be convicted, they would only be fined in some trifling sum, not to exceed $5, at most, just enough to answer the law. And they advised the witnesses not to go before the grand jury, intimating at the same time, that they might be in danger.-The witnesses replied, that they had been ordered there by the court, and they supposed, that they were still subject to the court, or to them, the attornies [attorneys]. As to the danger, in going before the grand jury they feared it not: they were ready and willing to go and testify to the truth. The attornies [attorneys] left them, and in a short time after, they were informed by Capt. Atchison, that the Judge, Mr. Ryland, had sent him word, that the witnesses and guard, were not wanted there any longer; Capt. A. paraded his men, as soon, and as well as he could for the crowd, and immediately marched off, the witnesses following him. All hopes were now given up of ever bringing that people to justice; their hatred towards the saints, appeared to be unabating; they frequently sent over word to Clay co. that they were coming over to drive them from that place; they even went so far, as to circulate a paper in Clay county, the object of which was to obtain volunteers there, to assist them in driving the saints away.-In Clay county however, they had but a few friends, (for some time,) and could not obtain many signers.
A wealthy farmer, by the name of Arthur, living in Clay county, who was then friendly to the saints, and who was in the habit of sending flour and whiskey into Jackson to sell, (it generally being higher there than in Clay, in consequence of the Indian trade,) sent over one of his negroes and team with a load, sometime that fall or winter, they were stopped on the road by some of the good people of Jackson, who mounted the load, and with axes cut the barrels to pieces, and wasted the flour and whisky upon the ground.
In 1834, if we mistake not, an inoffensive Br. by the name of Ira J. Willes went into Jackson co. to hunt for a lost cow; he was taken by some of the ruffians residing there, who, after stripping off his clothes, whipped him unmercifully. For the credit of Missouri, we would state that he was taken from the house of a Justice of the Peace; this is an ensample of upper Missouri peace makers. The same year, Br. Lewis Abbot, a very peacible [peaceable] man, went to Jackson to see a man who owed him; on his way he was discovered, and overtaken by some of that lawless banditti, who beat him with handspikes, no doubt with an intent to kill, for that was what they swore they would do; but his life was preserved, and he escaped out of their hands. Thus have that people, unceasingly abused, and persecuted the saints whenever they could get an opportunity.
Governor Dunklin appeared willing to guard back the saints to Jackson co.
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