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Source: Church History Vol. 2 Chapter 9 Page: 168 (~1838)

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168 'Mormon' leaders were a set of horse thieves, liars, counterfeiters, etc.; 'and you know they profess to heal the sick, cast out devils, etc.; and you know that is a damned lie;' that the members of the church were dupes, and not too good to take a false oath on any common occasion; that they would steal, and he did not conceive property safe where they were; that he was opposed to their settling there; and if they suffered the 'Mormons' to vote, the people would soon lose their suffrage; 'and,' said he, addressing the saints, 'I headed a mob to drive you out of Clay County, and would not prevent your being mobbed now:' when Richard (called Dick) Welding, the mob bully, just drunk enough for the occasion, began a discussion with Brother Samuel Brown by saying 'The Mormons were not allowed to vote in Clay County, no more than the damned negroes,' and attempted to strike Brown, who gradually retreated, parrying the blow with his umbrella, while Welding continued to press upon him, calling him a damned liar, etc., and attempting to repeat the blow on Brown.

"Perry Durphy attempted to suppress the difficulty by holding Dick's arm, when five or six of the mobbers seized Durphy and commenced beating him with clubs, boards, etc., and crying, 'Kill him, kill him, and God damn him, kill him,' when a general scuffle commenced with fist and clubs, the mobbers being about ten to one of the saints. Abraham Nelson was knocked down and had his clothes torn off, and while trying to get up was attacked again, when his brother, Hyram Nelson, ran in amongst them and knocked the mobbers down with the butt of his whip. Riley Stewart struck Dick Welding on the head, which brought him to the ground. The mob cried out, 'Dick Welding's dead, by God; who killed Dick?' And they fell upon Riley, knocked him down, kicked him, and hallooed, 'Kill him, God damn him, kill him; shoot him, by God,' and would have killed him, had not John L. Butler sprung in amongst them and knocked them down. During about five minutes it was one continued knockdown, when the mob dispersed to get firearms.

"Very few of the brethren voted. Riley, escaping across the river, had his wounds dressed and returned home.

(page 168)

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