The question of jurisdiction was brought before the court, and James Ferguson, Hosea Stout, and J. C. Little, Mormon lawyers, loudly demanded that the Judge should decide in their favor. Ferguson, backed by an armed mob, told Judge Stiles, in open court, that if he dared to decide contrary to their wishes, he "would take him from the bench d--d quick"; that the boys were there to do it, and he, with others, by threats and intimidations, finally compelled the Judge to adjourn his court. Judge Stiles then appealed to Brigham Young, as Governor of the Territory, to sustain him, and protect him in the discharge of his duties. In reply, he was coolly told that "the courts had already cost him [Brigham] too much trouble; that the boys had got their spunk up, and he would not interfere." He advised him, "if he could not sustain and enforce their [the United States] laws and institutions, the sooner he adjourned his court the better." These proceedings had a tendency to bring the Judge into disrepute with the Mormons. Thomas Williams, a lawyer, had his office with Judge Stiles, on Main Street. Williams, though a Mormon, was an independent man, and had openly opposed Brigham on some question of politics. He had also denounced some prominent murders, and was becoming obnoxious, and even dangerous, to Brigham and his compeers. The Prophet once said to Williams's father and mother: "If Tom don't behave himself better, and stop causing me trouble, I must attend to him." Soon after, Williams apostatized, and started for California, intending to remain, and send back for his family. He met the fate of Babbitt. He was waylaid and killed by "Indians" on the Plains. It is well understood at Salt Lake that these were white Indians, and that Williams was put to death by order of the church authorities. The records of the United States District Courts were in Judge Stiles's office. He, and Williams also, had a good many law books, which were private property. Brigham asserted that the records were suffered to "lie around loose," and suggested to the boys that they had better be cared for. This was sufficient, and "the boys" proceeded to "'tend to it." James Ferguson, Hiram B. Clawson, and several others, repaired to the office of the Judge when he was absent, and stationing one of the number to watch, they gathered up the records of the courts, first of all, and conveyed them to a fire-and-burglar-proof-safe, belonging to Young, and under the control of Clawson, who was his confidential clerk and son-in-law.