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Introduction to State of Missouri v. Pratt et al. for Murder Order for Special Term, 25 December 1838 [State of Missouri v. Pratt et al. for Murder] Docket Entry, Special Term, 7 January 1839 [State of Missouri v. Pratt et al. for Murder] Indictment, circa 7 January–circa 23 April 1839 [State of Missouri v. Pratt et al. for Murder] Indictment, circa 7 January–circa 23 April 1839, Copy [State of Missouri v. Pratt et al. for Murder] Docket Entry, Indictment, 24 April 1839 [State of Missouri v. Pratt et al. for Murder] Petition, 17 May 1839 [State of Missouri v. Pratt et al. for Murder] Orders for Change of Venue, 17 May 1839 [State of Missouri v. Pratt et al. for Murder] Orders for Change of Venue, 17 May 1839, Copy [State of Missouri v. Pratt et al. for Murder] Fee Bill, circa 22 May 1839–A [State of Missouri v. Pratt et al. for Murder] Fee Bill, circa 22 May 1839–B [State of Missouri v. Pratt et al. for Murder] Fee Bill, circa 22 May 1839–C [State of Missouri v. Pratt et al. for Murder] Transcript of Proceedings, 24 May 1839 [State of Missouri v. Pratt et al. for Murder] Fee Bill, circa 26 May 1839 [State of MO v. Pratt et al. for Murder] Order, 7 June 1839, Copy–A [State of Missouri v. Pratt et al. for Murder] Order, 7 June 1839, Copy–B [State of Missouri v. Pratt et al. for Murder] Order, 7 June 1839, Copy–C [State of Missouri v. Pratt et al. for Murder] Order, 7 June 1839, Copy–D [State of Missouri v. Pratt et al. for Murder] Subpoena, 8 June 1839–A [State of Missouri v. Pratt et al. for Murder] Subpoena, 8 June 1839–B [State of Missouri v. Pratt et al. for Murder] Witness List, circa 9 June 1839 [State of Missouri v. Pratt et al. for Murder] Subpoena, 10 June 1839–A [State of Missouri v. Pratt et al. for Murder] Subpoena, 10 June 1839–B [State of Missouri v. Pratt et al. for Murder] Subpoena, 11 June 1839 [State of Missouri v. Pratt et al. for Murder] Venire Facias, 18 June 1839 [State of Missouri v. Pratt et al. for Murder] Subpoena, 19 June 1839 [State of Missouri v. Pratt et al. for Murder] Subpoena, 1 July 1839–A [State of Missouri v. Pratt et al. for Murder] Subpoena, 1 July 1839–B [State of Missouri v. Pratt et al. for Murder] Docket Entry, Special Term, 1 July 1839 [State of Missouri v. Pratt et al. for Murder] Motion, 1 July 1839 [State of Missouri v. Pratt et al. for Murder] Docket Entry, Continuance and Dedimus, 1 July 1839 [State of Missouri v. Pratt et al. for Murder] Subpoena, 19 August 1839–A [State of Missouri v. Pratt et al. for Murder] Subpoena, 19 August 1839–B [State of Missouri v. Pratt et al. for Murder] Venire Facias, 3 September 1839 [State of Missouri v. Pratt et al. for Murder] Subpoena, 10 September 1839 [State of Missouri v. Pratt et al. for Murder] Docket Entry, Continuance and Venire Discharged, 25 September 1839 [State of Missouri v. Pratt et al. for Murder] Dedimus, 26 September 1839–A [State of Missouri v. Pratt et al. for Murder] Dedimus, 26 September 1839–B [State of Missouri v. Pratt et al. for Murder] Instructions for Depositions, circa 26 September 1839 [State of Missouri v. Pratt et al. for Murder] Dedimus, 27 September 1839 [State of Missouri v. Pratt et al. for Murder] Notice, circa 27 September 1839 [State of Missouri v. Pratt et al. for Murder] Subpoena, 3 October 1839 [State of Missouri v. Pratt et al. for Murder] Subpoena, 7 October 1839 [State of Missouri v. Pratt et al. for Murder] Venire Facias, 25 October 1839 [State of Missouri v. Pratt et al. for Murder] Docket Entry, Nolle Prosequi and Continuance, 4 November 1839 [State of Missouri v. Pratt et al. for Murder] Sheriff’s Fees, circa 4 November 1839 [State of Missouri v. Pratt et al. for Murder] Fee Bill, 18 December 1839 [State of Missouri v. Pratt et al. for Murder] Docket Entry, Fee Bill, 18 December 1839 [State of Missouri v. Pratt et al. for Murder] Case File Wrapper, circa 1839 [State of Missouri v. Pratt et al. for Murder] Docket Entry, Nolle Prosequi, 5 August 1840 [State of Missouri v. Pratt et al. for Murder]

Indictment, circa 7 January–circa 23 April 1839 [State of Missouri v. Pratt et al. for Murder]

Source Note

Indictment, [
Richmond

Area settled, ca. 1814. Officially platted as Ray Co. seat, 1827. Population in 1840 about 500. Seat of Fifth Judicial Circuit Court of Missouri; also location of courthouse and jails. JS and about sixty other Latter-day Saint men were incarcerated here while...

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], Ray Co., MO, ca. [7] Jan.–ca. [23] Apr. 1839, State of MO v. Pratt et al. for Murder (Ray Co., MO, Circuit Court 1839); handwriting of
Thomas Burch

Ca. 1807–ca. Sept. 1839. Attorney, judge. Likely born in Tennessee. Married first Ann Ross, 20 Jan. 1824, at Howard Co., Missouri. Began law practice, 1831, at Richmond, Ray Co., Missouri. Married second Celenary (Selinary) Jacobs, 23 Jan. 1834, at Ray Co...

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; signatures presumably of
William Wood

25 Mar. 1809–11 May 1902. Lawyer. Born in Gordon Station (likely near present-day Harrodsburg), Mercer Co., Kentucky. Son of William Wood and Sallie Thomas. Mason. Moved to Columbia, Boone Co., Missouri, 1829. Moved to Clay Co., Missouri, by 1830. Appointed...

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; docket and notation by
Thomas Burch

Ca. 1807–ca. Sept. 1839. Attorney, judge. Likely born in Tennessee. Married first Ann Ross, 20 Jan. 1824, at Howard Co., Missouri. Began law practice, 1831, at Richmond, Ray Co., Missouri. Married second Celenary (Selinary) Jacobs, 23 Jan. 1834, at Ray Co...

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with signature presumably of James Holman, [
Richmond

Area settled, ca. 1814. Officially platted as Ray Co. seat, 1827. Population in 1840 about 500. Seat of Fifth Judicial Circuit Court of Missouri; also location of courthouse and jails. JS and about sixty other Latter-day Saint men were incarcerated here while...

More Info
, Ray Co., MO, ca. 23 Apr. 1839]; notation by unidentified scribe, 26 Apr. 1839; notation by
Roger N. Todd

5 Sept. 1797–11 Apr. 1846. Circuit court clerk. Born in Lexington, Fayette Co., Kentucky. Son of Levi Todd and Jane Briggs. Married Matilda Ferguson, ca. 30 Aug. 1819, in Fayette Co. Moved to Columbia, Boone Co., Missouri, by 1822. Uncle of Mary Todd Lincoln...

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, 8 June 1839; thirty-five pages; photocopy in Daviess County Legal Documents, BYU.

Historical Introduction

See Introduction to State of Missouri v. Pratt et al. for Murder.
Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. Indictment, circa 7 January–circa 23 April 1839 [ State of Missouri v. Pratt et al. for Murder ] Indictment, circa 7 January–circa 23 April 1839, Copy [ State of Missouri v. Pratt et al. for Murder ] Transcript of Proceedings, 24 May 1839 [State of Missouri v. Pratt et al. for Murder] Transcript of Proceedings, Murder, 18 July 1839 [Extradition of JS et al. for Treason and Other Crimes]

Page 8

inch and extending entirely through the body of him the said Moses Rowland of which mortal wound the aforesaid Moses Rowland, at the County of
Ray

Located in northwestern Missouri. Area settled, 1815. Created from Howard Co., 1820. Initially included all state land north of Missouri River and west of Grand River. Population in 1830 about 2,700; in 1836 about 6,600; and in 1840 about 6,600. Latter-day...

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aforesaid instantly died, and that the said Norman Shearer,
Luman Gibbs

14 Mar. 1788–11 Jan 1873. Basket maker. Born in Vermont. Married Philena, 1 Jan. 1810, at Ferrisburgh, Addison Co., Vermont. Served in War of 1812. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Ordained a priest by Oliver Cowdery, 25 Oct. 1831...

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,
Darwin Chase

25 Feb. 1816–4 Feb. 1863. Miner, town officer, military officer. Born in Ellisburg, Jefferson Co., New York. Son of Stephen Chase and Orryanna Rowe. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1831. Moved to Jackson Co., Missouri. Moved to ...

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and Maurice Phelps and the Said other persons, whose names are as yet to the jurors aforesaid unknown, feloniously <​wilfully​> and of their malice aforethought were then and there present aiding assisting abetting comforting and maintaining the aforesaid
Parley P. Pratt

12 Apr. 1807–13 May 1857. Farmer, editor, publisher, teacher, school administrator, legislator, explorer, author. Born at Burlington, Otsego Co., New York. Son of Jared Pratt and Charity Dickinson. Traveled west with brother William to acquire land, 1823....

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to do and commit the felony and
murder

The willful killing of a person with malice, either express or implied.

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<​last​> aforesaid in form <​last​> aforesaid And so the jurors aforesaid upon their oath aforesaid do say that the said
Parley P. Pratt

12 Apr. 1807–13 May 1857. Farmer, editor, publisher, teacher, school administrator, legislator, explorer, author. Born at Burlington, Otsego Co., New York. Son of Jared Pratt and Charity Dickinson. Traveled west with brother William to acquire land, 1823....

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Norman Shearer,
Luman Gibbs

14 Mar. 1788–11 Jan 1873. Basket maker. Born in Vermont. Married Philena, 1 Jan. 1810, at Ferrisburgh, Addison Co., Vermont. Served in War of 1812. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Ordained a priest by Oliver Cowdery, 25 Oct. 1831...

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Darwin Chase

25 Feb. 1816–4 Feb. 1863. Miner, town officer, military officer. Born in Ellisburg, Jefferson Co., New York. Son of Stephen Chase and Orryanna Rowe. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1831. Moved to Jackson Co., Missouri. Moved to ...

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and Maurice Philps and the said other persons (whose names are as yet to the jurors aforesaid unknown) then and there feloniously wilfully and of their malice aforethought <​in manner and form last aforesaid​> did kill and murder the said Moses Rowland against <​against the form of the statute in such case made & provided and against the​> the Peace and dignity of the
State

Area acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803, and established as territory, 1812. Missouri Compromise, 1820, admitted Missouri as slave state, 1821. Population in 1830 about 140,000; in 1836 about 240,000; and in 1840 about 380,000. Latter-day Saint ...

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and against the form of the Statute in such case made and provided and that the <​said​> Joseph Smith Junior late of
Caldwell County

Located in northwest Missouri. Settled by whites, by 1831. Described as being “one-third timber and two-thirds prairie” in 1836. Created specifically for Latter-day Saints by Missouri state legislature, 29 Dec. 1836, in attempt to solve “Mormon problem.” ...

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state aforesaid,
Lyman Wight

9 May 1796–31 Mar. 1858. Farmer. Born at Fairfield, Herkimer Co., New York. Son of Levi Wight Jr. and Sarah Corbin. Served in War of 1812. Married Harriet Benton, 5 Jan. 1823, at Henrietta, Monroe Co., New York. Moved to Warrensville, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, ...

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late of said County of
Caldwell

Located in northwest Missouri. Settled by whites, by 1831. Described as being “one-third timber and two-thirds prairie” in 1836. Created specifically for Latter-day Saints by Missouri state legislature, 29 Dec. 1836, in attempt to solve “Mormon problem.” ...

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, <​and​>
Sidney Rigdon

19 Feb. 1793–14 July 1876. Tanner, farmer, minister. Born at St. Clair, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania. Son of William Rigdon and Nancy Gallaher. Joined United Baptists, ca. 1818. Preached at Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio, and vicinity, 1819–1821. Married Phebe...

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late of said County of
Caldwell

Located in northwest Missouri. Settled by whites, by 1831. Described as being “one-third timber and two-thirds prairie” in 1836. Created specifically for Latter-day Saints by Missouri state legislature, 29 Dec. 1836, in attempt to solve “Mormon problem.” ...

More Info
and
Washington Voorhees

4 June 1816–9 Feb. 1888. Farmer, rancher. Born in Batavia, Clermont Co., Ohio. Son of Isaac Voorhees and Sabra. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Apr. 1832. Married Anna Sumner, 8 July 1835, in Clay Co., Missouri. Ordained an elder...

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late of said County of
Caldwell

Located in northwest Missouri. Settled by whites, by 1831. Described as being “one-third timber and two-thirds prairie” in 1836. Created specifically for Latter-day Saints by Missouri state legislature, 29 Dec. 1836, in attempt to solve “Mormon problem.” ...

More Info
not having the fear of God before their eyes but being moved and seduced by the instigation of the devil, before the felony and murder aforesaid by the aforesaid
Parley P. Pratt

12 Apr. 1807–13 May 1857. Farmer, editor, publisher, teacher, school administrator, legislator, explorer, author. Born at Burlington, Otsego Co., New York. Son of Jared Pratt and Charity Dickinson. Traveled west with brother William to acquire land, 1823....

View Full Bio
, Norman Shearer
Luman Gibbs

14 Mar. 1788–11 Jan 1873. Basket maker. Born in Vermont. Married Philena, 1 Jan. 1810, at Ferrisburgh, Addison Co., Vermont. Served in War of 1812. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Ordained a priest by Oliver Cowdery, 25 Oct. 1831...

View Full Bio
Darwin Chase

25 Feb. 1816–4 Feb. 1863. Miner, town officer, military officer. Born in Ellisburg, Jefferson Co., New York. Son of Stephen Chase and Orryanna Rowe. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1831. Moved to Jackson Co., Missouri. Moved to ...

View Full Bio
and Maurice [p. 8]
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Source Note

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Page 8

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Indictment, circa 7 January–circa 23 April 1839 [State of Missouri v. Pratt et al. for Murder]
ID #
19333
Total Pages
35
Print Volume Location
Handwriting on This Page
  • Thomas Burch

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