The Story of the Mormons, from the Date of Their Origin to the Year 1901Linn, William Alexander
History
The Story of the Mormons, from the Date of Their Origin to the Year 1901
Linn, William Alexander
Latter Day Saints -- History; Utah -- History
The Mormons began to depart at once, and in ten days nearly all had
left. Lee, who acted as guide to General Wilson, and whose wife and babe
were at Adamondi-Ahman, says:
"Every house in Adamondi-Ahman was searched by the troops for stolen
property. They succeeded in finding very much of the Gentile property
that had been captured by the Saints in the various raids they made
through the country. Bedding of every kind and in large quantities was
found and reclaimed by the owners. Even spinning wheels, soap barrels,
and other articles were recovered. Each house where stolen property was
found was certain to receive a Missouri blessing from the troops. The
men who had been most active in gathering plunder had fled to Illinois
to escape the vengeance of the people, leaving their families to suffer
for the sins of the believing Saints."*
* "Mormonism Unveiled," p. 89.
We may now follow the fortunes of the Mormon prisoners. On arriving at
Richmond, they were confined in the unfinished brick court-house. The
only inside work on this building that was completed was a partly laid
floor, and to this the prisoners were restricted by a railing, with a
guard inside and out. "Two three-pail iron kettles for boiling our meat,
and two or more iron bake kettles, or Dutch ovens, were furnished us,"
says Robinson, "together with sacks of corn meal and meat in bulk.
We did our own cooking. This arrangement suited us very well, and we
enjoyed ourselves as well as men could under such circumstances."*
* The Return, Vol. I, p. 234.
Joseph and Hyrum Smith, Rigdon, Lyman Wight, Caleb Baldwin, and A. McRea
were soon transferred to the jail at Liberty. The others were then put
into the debtor's room of Richmond jail, a two-story log structure which
was not well warmed, but they were released on light bail in a few days.
A report of the testimony given at the hearing of the Mormon prisoners
before judge King will be found in the "Correspondence, Orders, etc.,"
published by order of the Missouri legislature, pp. 97-149. Among the
Mormons who gave evidence against the prisoners were Avard, the Danite,
John Whitmer, W. W. Phelps, John Corrill, and Colonel Hinckle. There
were thirty-seven witnesses for the state and seven for the defence. As
showing the character of the testimony, the following selections will
suffice.
Avard told the story of the origin of the Danites, and said that he
considered Joseph Smith their organizer; that the constitution was
approved by Smith and his counsellors at Rigdon's house, and that the
members felt themselves as much bound to obey the heads of the church as
to obey God. Just previous to the arrival of General Lucas at Far West,
Smith had assembled his force, and told them that, for every one they
lacked in numbers as compared with their opponents, the Lord would
send angels to fight for them. He presented the text of the indictment
against Cowdery, Whitmer, and others, drawn up by Rigdon.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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