At half-past one, p.m., I was called to sit as justice of the peace, with Alderman George W. Harris, on the case of Webb _v_. Rigby, for forcible entry and detainer. During the trial the court fined Esquire O. C. Skinner twenty dollars for insulting a witness, and would have fined him ten dollars more for his contempt of court, but let him off on his submissive acknowledgments. The trial closed about one o'clock on Friday morning. _Friday, 31_.--At ten, a.m., I opened court for trial of Amos Lower, for assaulting John H. Burghard. After hearing testimony, fined Lower $10. Spent the afternoon at Mr. Lucian Woodworth's in company with Brother Hyrum, Heber C. Kimball, Orson Hyde, Wilford Woodruff, and Brother Chase, with our wives; had a good time, and feasted on a fat turkey. {318} CHAPTER XVII. EULOGY OF LORENZO D. BARNES--THE BEGINNING OF AUXILIARY ORGANIZATIONS IN THE CHURCH--IMPORTANT ITEMS OF DOCTRINE PROCLAIMED AT RAMUS--THE GENERAL CONFERENCE OF APRIL 6TH, 1843. _Saturday, April 1, 1843_.--Called at the office about ten a.m., for "the Law of the Lord;" and about noon I heard read "Truthiana" No. 3, from the _Boston Bee_. At two p.m., I started in company with Orson Hyde and William Clayton for Ramus. The roads were very muddy. We arrived about half-past six, p.m., and were very joyfully received by Brother Benjamin F. Johnson, where we slept for the night. Elders Brigham Young and John Taylor went to La Harpe. The _Times and Seasons_ contains a well written editorial upon the signs of the times. (See vol. 4, page 153.) _Minutes of a Conference at Augusta, Lee County, Iowa, April 1st, 1843_. James Brown was appointed the presiding Elder of the Augusta branch, which numbered eighty-four members in good standing, including two high priests, eleven elders, four priests, two teachers and one deacon. Twelve persons united with the branch. Seven elders, two priests and one deacon were ordained. One of the elders was a Lamanite of the Delaware tribe. A resolution was unanimously passed to uphold the first presidency and follow their counsels, and to use their utmost endeavors to build the Nauvoo House as well as the Temple. A number of discourses were preached during the conference, and several persons requested baptism at the close. Elder P. P. Pratt writes: {319} _Letter of Elder Parley P. Pratt Eulogizing Lorenzo D. Barnes, the First Elder to Die while on a Foreign Mission_. Alton, April 1, 1843.