| 147 the sheriff, the result of an altercation. From what we can learn the difficulty between them did not arise on the "Mormon question," but because Deming was supposed to be friendly to the "Mormons," and Marshall was an "anti-Mormon," the event was made to do service in agitating public feeling against the "Mormons."
On September 10, 1845, the "anti-Mormons," who had sworn to expel the "Mormons" from the State, because of alleged outrages, began burning houses in the vicinity of Green Plains, Hancock County. It is reported that as many as one hundred or one hundred and twenty-five houses were burned within a short time. About the time of these burnings Sheriff Deming died. He was succeeded by J. B. Backenstos, who was elected at a special election. Sheriff Backenstos undertook to suppress these disturbances, and issued a proclamation to the rioters to desist; but to this they paid no regard. He then endeavored to raise a posse to enforce the law, by calling on the citizens who were not Mormons, declaring that he thought it best "to have the Mormons remain quiet." This they did until the sheriff, failing to obtain a force outside, called on the citizens of Nauvoo, when they responded and with them the sheriff "succeeded in dispersing the rioters." 2 Not, however, until the sheriff and his posse had killed two men; namely, Franklin A. Worrell, a lieutenant of the "Carthage Greys," and Samuel McBratney, did they disperse. Backenstos, and O. P. Rockwell, one of his posse, were subsequently indicted for the murder of Worrell, but acquitted on trial.
Governor Ford again sent General Hardin with a force of militia to quiet disturbances. On September 27, 1845, General Hardin issued a proclamation to the people of the county enjoining them to keep the peace and to obey the laws and constituted authorities. On October 1, 2, 1845, there
2 Sheriff Backenstos states: "It is proper to state that the Mormon community have acted with more than ordinary forbearance, remaining perfectly quiet, and offering no resistance when their dwellings, other buildings, stacks of grain, etc., were set on fire in their presence, and they have forborne until forbearance is no longer a virtue."-Fullmer's Expulsion, 19; Bancroft's History of Utah, p. 209.
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