The brethren at Independence did their best to follow the advice given in the governor's letter. They caught one, McCarty, while in the act of breaking in the doors of Gilbert and Co.'s store, and throwing the contents into the street, and went to issue a warrant against him; but Samuel Weston Esq., would not issue it, and McCarty was freed. He immediately turned around and sued Brothers Gilbert, Phelps, McLellin and others for assault and false imprisonment and they were sent to jail. Several of the brethren then went to Lexington to see the circuit judge, while two others called on Mr. Silvers, who refused to issue a warrant, for his craven heart feared the mob. This he afterwards acknowledged. The brethren who went to Lexington were more successful. They obtained a warrant after some delay, but by the time they reached Independence it was perfectly useless, for the whole country was up in arms, and all the Saints could do was to protect their wives, children and themselves from utter extermination. The mob declared that no warrant should be served, for they would kill the man that dared attempt it; neither should there be any civil processes at law, for those who dared commence them should _die_. On one occasion when the brethren tried to issue a peace warrant, and the justice of the peace refused, the governor's letter was read to him when he replied, "I don't care a d--m for that." Thus were the courts of law closed against us, and justice descended from her lofty seat to mourn in sackcloth and ashes. But what more could be expected? for at the head of the mob were found the judges, lawyers, justices of peace, sheriffs and their deputies, constables, jail keepers, and county clerk. Every attempt made by the brethren to obtain assistance enraged the mob to a greater degree, and none could remain in their midst and feel that life was safe. While Brothers Gilbert, Morely and Corvill, were being conducted back to jail by the deputy sheriff after meeting with the brethren and persuading them to leave the county, a number of the mob overtook them, and although the deputy sheriff told his name, and the names of his prisoners and called on them in God's name not to fire, yet two of them raised their guns and fired at Brother Gilbert, the one snapping and the other missing fire. This was caused by the rumor that had reached Independence concerning the battle. It was said that twenty of the mob had been killed and a number wounded, the news flew through the county as on the wings of the wind, and men who were peaceable before, now rushed into Independence determined to massacre the Saints. It was indeed a scene of wild confusion.