Minutes and Testimonies, 12–29 November 1838, Copy [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 ca. late 1838–ca. early 1839; unidentified handwriting; fifty-seven pages; Mormon War Papers, MSA.
standing that a committee of three should inspect the letters written & sent by me as well as those received by me— this committee however never made their appearance— after my case was disposed of another man's was taken up. he attempted to speak in his defenced & said he was a Republican, several rushed up towards him and stopt him, telling him if he had anything to say in favor of the Presidency he might say it, and that was their republicanism— J. Smith Jr & who compose the presidency were there. It was observed in the meeting that if any person spoke against the presidency they would hand him over in to the hands of the brother of Gideon. I knew not at the time who or what it meant
Shortly after that I was at another meating where they were trying several, the first presidency being present. was chief spokes man— The object of the meeting seemed to be to make persons confess and repent of their sins to God and the Presidency and arraigned them forgiving false accounts of their money and effects they had on hand and they said of whenever they found one guilty of these doings they were to be handed over to the brother of Gideon Several were found guilty and handed over as they said— I yet did not know what was meant by this Expression 'the brother of Gideon'— Not a great while after this secret & private meetings were held I endevored to find out that they were and I learned from and others they were forming a secret society called Danites formerly called the brother of Gideon. In the meeting above refered to in which I was present one man arose to defend himself [p. [50]]