This , by his own confession was one of the principle leaders in the mob.

After this digression I will resume— The same day that we arived in came into the place where we were, with a number of armed men who immediately on entering the room cocked their guns another followed with chaines in his hands and we were ordered to be chained all together. a strong guard was placed in and around the house, and thus we were secured. The next day came in and we were introduced to him. the awkward manner in which he entered and his apparent imbarassment was such as to force a smile from me; He was then asked for what he had thus cast us into prison to this question he could not or did <​not​> give a direct answer. He said he would let us know in a few days, and after a few more awkward and uncouth movements he withdrew. After he went out I asked some of the guard what was the matter with , that made him appear so ridiculous. they said he was near sighted I replied that I was mistaken if he were not as near as near witted and <​as​> he was near sited sighted.

We were now left with our guards without knowing for what we were <​had been​> arrested as no civil process had issued against us. For what followed untill came in again to tell us that we were to be delivered into the hands of the civil authorities I am entirely indebted to what I heard the guards say

I heard them say that had promised them before leaving Coles county that they should have the priviledge of shooting Joseph Smith Sen and myself, and that was engaged in searching the military law to find authority for so doing, but he found it difficult as we were not military men and did not belong to the militia but he had sent to fr the military <​code of​> [p. [18]]