| 142 "Resolved, unanimously, that fifty delegates be sent to the surrounding country to inform the people of the designs of our enemies now concocting in their secret and public meetings, so that the honest part of the community may unite with us to prevent stealing and secure peace.
"Resolved, that these proceedings be published in the papers at Nauvoo, with a request that others papers copy them. DANIEL SPENCER, Chairman.
"JAMES SLOAN, Secretary."
-Times and Seasons, vol. 6, pp. 774, 775.
The Deputy Sheriff of Hancock County also made the following statement to the public which vindicated the Mormons from the charge of thieving:-
"TO THE PUBLIC.
"Nauvoo, January 17,1845.
"As much has been said concerning stealing and secreting property in this city, for the purpose of giving an impression abroad that Nauvoo was a grand depot for concealing stolen property, and that the Mormon community was concerned in it, I will state, that so far as my knowledge extends concerning the matter, I have ascertained that stolen property has been brought by way of Nauvoo, from the country, and then crossed over the Mississippi River to Iowa, and back into the Territory some ten or twelve miles, where the thieves have some friends to conceal stolen property.
"There seems to be a connection of these friends thirty or forty miles back into the country on this side of the river, who, with five or six in this city, seem to have a line for running stolen property through Nauvoo to the Territory of Iowa; and I have good reason to believe that those in the country on this side of the river, those in the city, and those in the Territory, are one clan; but they are not Mormons. nor have the Mormons any fellowship with them.
"I have taken pains to go with a person from the country, with a writ, and have searched every house suspected, till the person was satisfied, and till I was satisfied myself that no such property, as claimed, was in the city.
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