History draft; handwriting of Jonathan Grimshaw, , , James Ure, and Robert L. Campbell; 76 numbered pages plus several inserted pages; CHL. This manuscript covers the period from 1 January 1844 to 21 June 1844.
was at the upper landing. When I came up, called the passengers to come and see the meanest man in the world; stopped him, and told the passengers that it was who was the meanest man in the world. attempted to draw a pistol, but silenced him, and kept them all down.
reported that last evening <while on the hill, just before the police arrived,> said, while speaking of the printing press of the “Nauvoo Expositor”, if they lay their hands upon it or break it, they may date their downfall from that very hour; and in ten days there will not be a Mormon left in . What they do, they may expect the same in return. Addison Everett also heard him.
Jason R. Luce reported that said, while the press was burning, that before three weeks, the would be strung to the ground, and he would help to do it; and Tallman Rolf[e] said, the would be strung to the ground within ten days. Moses Leonard also heard him, Joshua Miller being also present.
Bryant <(Merchant of )> said, before he would see such things he would wade to his Knees in blood.
It is reported that runners have gone out in all directions to try to get up a mob, and the mobbers are selling their houses in and disposing of their property.
Wednesday June 12th.This morning <At 10 A M, in my ; at half past one> I was arrested by on the following writ:— of (see file) J. P. seal.”
I offered to go and be tried before any Justice of the Peace in , <After the officer got through reading the writ, I referred him to this clause in the writ “before me or some other justice of the peace of said County”, saying we are ready to go to trial, before , or any Justice in the precinct ,> according to the requirements of the writ; but swore he would be dam’d but he would carry me <them> to <before who issued the writ, and seemed very wrathy. I asked him if he intended to break the law, for he knew the privilege of the prisoners, and they should have it, I called upon all present to witness that I then offered myself ( did the same) to go forthwith before the nearest Justice of the Peace; and also called upon them to witness whether the Officer broke the law.>
I felt so indignant at his abuse in depriving me of the privilege of the law <statute of > in going before “any <some> other Justice”, that I determined to take out a writ of , and signed the following petition:— “State of (see file) Clerk, M. C. C. N. [Municipal Court of the City of ]”
Whereupon the Clerk issued the following:— “ of (see file) of .” [p. 59]