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.
was in that meeting, and was appointed by Capt. of a Company, whose duty it was to watch the movements of the enemy, or mob in Buncombe, and if they bur[n]t one house in his company was to burn four of theirs, and men was selected who were strangers in the Community where they were to act towards the latter part of the instructions to 's company, observed that if the inhabitants in the surrounding Country Commenced burning houses in , if they Could not get clear of them in any other way they would poison them off. This last remark, I did not understanding as being particularly addressed to as a part of the duties of his Company, but seemed addressed to the meeting generally
This meeting was on Saturday, and on the next Monday I returned to , with 7 or 8 waggons, 3 or 4 of which was moving some families, tho <I> been directed to take to for use there.
I arrived at that evening and next morning 4 of the waggons were loaded and sent back to . Joseph Smith jr and perhaps informed me they wanted 4 waggons a part of which was to haul beef and pork to We and what the balance of the balance of the loading was I did not know, but these waggons brought out by me, were pointed out, and taken back to . I remained in the Camps at that day— My waggon and another went down to Millport and brought up Slades goods which were there. Slade is not a Mormon, but has three brothers residing in or about who are Mormons.
The following of the defendants were in the last [p. [56]]