The Missouri PersecutionsRoberts, B. H. (Brigham Henry)
History
The Missouri Persecutions
Roberts, B. H. (Brigham Henry)
Latter Day Saints -- Missouri -- History -- 19th century
Passing through Diahman the prisoners were allowed to purchase two
horses of the guard, giving some clothing for one, and their note for
the other. The third day out from Gallatin three of the guards and the
sheriff got drunk and went to bed. The sheriff, previously having shown
the prisoners the mittimus made out by Judge Birch, now also informed
them that Birch had told him not to take the prisoners to Boone County.
After exposing the plan that had been laid for their escape by the
authorities, the sheriff assured the prisoners that he should take a
good drink of whiskey and go to bed, and they could do as they pleased.
Accordingly when all the guards but one were asleep, that one, who,
by the way, was sober as well as awake, assisted them to mount their
horses and escape. Ten days later they arrived among their friends in
Illinois. The Prophet in a signed summary of the persecutions endured
by himself and his people in Missouri says:--
Before leaving Missouri I had paid the lawyers at Richmond thirty-four
thousand dollars in cash, lands, &c.; one lot which I let them have,
in Jackson County, for seven thousand dollars, they were soon offered
ten thousand dollars for it, but would not accept it. For other
vexatious suits which I had to contend against, the few months I was
in the State, I paid lawyers' fees to the amount of about sixteen
thousand dollars, making in all about fifty thousand dollars, for
which I received very little in return; for sometimes they were afraid
to act on account of the mob, and sometimes they were so drunk as
to incapacitate them for business. But there were a few honorable
exceptions.
Among those who have been the chief instruments and leading characters
in the unparalleled persecutions against The Church of Latter-day
Saints, the following stand conspicuous, viz.: Generals Clark, Wilson
and Lucas; Colonel Price, and Cornelius Gilliam; Captain Bogart also,
whose zeal in the cause of oppression and injustice was unequalled,
and whose delight has been to rob, murder and spread devastation
among the saints. He stole a valuable horse, saddle and bridle from
me, which cost two hundred dollars, and then sold the same to General
Wilson. On understanding this, I applied to General Wilson for the
horse, who assured me, upon the honor of a gentleman and an officer,
that I should have the horse returned to me; but this promise has not
been fulfilled.
All the threats, murders and robberies, which these officers have been
guilty of, are entirely overlooked by the executive of the State; who,
to hide his own iniquity, must of course shield and protect those whom
he employed to carry into effect his murderous purposes.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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