Minutes and Testimonies, 12–29 November 1838, Copy and Letter [State of Missouri v. Gates et al. for Treason]
Source Note
Minutes and Testimonies, [, Ray Co., MO], 12–29 Nov. 1838, State of MO v. Gates et al. for Treason (Fifth Judicial Circuit of MO 1838). Copied with letter ca. late 1838–ca. early 1839; unidentified handwriting; fifty-one pages; Mormons Collection, 1813–1970, Missouri History Museum.
company of about 100 men started out, and not until we got near to did I learn where they were going— I was then told that there was a mob in and that we were going to disperse them. When in about half a mile of we formed and rushed into with a hurrah, I saw only two men who were running others said there were about fifteen We gathered up around the store, and some went in hallooing to “bring them out here” supposing there were men in the house—
About this time myself and another man returned to camp at — That evening I saw Store goods at the bishop’s store, and was informed by Mahlon Johnson, one of the company to , that the goods taken from the store in were the goods I saw <deposited> at the Bishop’s store; they were called and considered consecrated property— & that they were to be dealt out by the to those who stood in need.
I saw parties going out & coming in, while in camps, but saw no property come into our camp— but I saw a pen of cattle which were called buffalo.
The following of the defents. were in the last expedition to Joseph Smith Jr (who resides in ) Washington Vories, Ebenezer Page, , , , and Maurice [Morris] Phelps I think was there.
I never saw in command during this expedition, my camp was half a mile from ’s and I staid pretty constantly about my own camp. I do not recollect that I was in any other expedition than the one to . [p. [15]]