Missouri Persecutions (6)

Mormon History 1830-1844

Missouri Persecutions (6)

November 4, 1833, Algernon Sidney Gilbert, Isaac Morley, and John Corrill, are jailed for assault and false imprisonment of a Mr. McCarty, whom they apprehended while breaking into Gilbert's store. They are released the next day with William E. McLellin. Lieutenant Governor Lilburn Boggs calls out the militia, ostensibly to disarm both sides, but only Mormon arms are surrendered to Colonel Pitcher.
On the 5th and 6th mobs persue Mormon men, while women and children flee "in all directions"—some to Mormon settlements to the west, others north to the landing on the Missouri river. Most flee to Clay county, north of Jackson. Others go to Van Buren and Lafayette counties, but eventually gather in Clay.
	HISTORY OF JOSEPH SMITH. (Continued.)	Times and Seasons, vol. 6 no. 9 (May 15, 1845) 896–898. Unlike previous issues, the original uses parentheses around Continued.Monday, November 4, 1833
McCarty charges Gilbert and others with assault, false imprisonment	The same evening, November 4th, not being satisfied with breaking open the store of Gilbert & Whitney; and demolishing a part of the dwelling house of said Gilbert, the Friday night previous; they permitted the said McCarty, who was detected on Friday night, as one of the breakers of the store doors, to take out a warrant, and arrest the said Gilbert and others of the church, for a pretended assault, and false imprisonment of the said McCarty.
Gilbert advised to jail	Late in the evening, while the court was proceeding with their trial, in the court house, a gentleman unconnected with the court, as was believed, perceiving the prisoners to be without counsel, and in imminent danger, advised said Gilbert and his brethren, to go to jail, as the only alternative to save life; for the north door was already barred, and an infuriated mob thronged the house, with a determination to beat and kill;
Four prisoners	but through the interposition of this gentleman, (Samuel C. Owens, Clerk of the County Court, whose name will appear more fully hereafter,) said Gilbert and four of his brethren were committed to the county jail of Jackson county, the dungeon of which, must have been a palace, compared to a court room, where dignity and mercy were strangers; and naught but the wrath of man, in horrid threats stifled the ears of the prisoners.	"Gilbert and four" makes five Mormon prisoners, but the author may have meant four total. Sidney Gilbert, Isaac Morley, John Corrill are released to consult with their brethren—likely Edward Partridge >. William E. McLellin becomes a prisoner at some point and is released with the three others >.
Gilbert, Morley, Corrill freed to confer, return to jail	The same night the prisoners, Gilbert, Morley and Corrill, were liberated from jail, that they might have an interview with their brethren, and try to negotiate some measures for peace;
	and on their return to jail about two o'clock, Tuesday morning, in custody of the deputy Sheriff, an armed force, of six or seven men, stood near the jail and hailed them; they were answered by the Sheriff, who gave his name, and the names of his prisoners, crying, "(don't fire, don't fire), the prisoners are in my charge, &c."	Tuesday, November 5, 1833 Later, the author says Boggs encouraged the prisoners to flee at 1:00 a.m. >.
Mob fires Gilbert knocked down	They however fired one or two guns, when Morley and Corrill retreated; but Gilbert stood, with several guns presented at him, firmly held by the sheriff. Two, more desperate than the rest, attempted to shoot, but one of their guns flashed, and the other missed fire. Gilbert was then knocked down by Thomas Wilson, a grocer in the village.
Gilbert, McLellin and 2 others freed	About this time a few of the inhabitants arrived, and Gilbert again entered jail, from which, he, with three of his brethren, were liberated about sunrise, without further prosecution trial.—Wm. E. McLellin (h) was one of the prisoners.
Militia called out by Boggs Col. Pitcher in command Mob in militia	On the morning of the 5th of November, the village began to be crowded with individuals from different parts of the county, with guns, &c., and report said the militia had been called out, under the sanction, or instigation of Lieut. Gov. Boggs; and that one Col. Pitcher had the command. Among this militia, (so called,) were embodied the most conspicuous characters of the mob; and it may truly be said that the appearance of the ranks of this body, was well calculated to excite suspicions of their HORRIBLE designs.
Rumors among Mormons	Very early on the same morning, several branches of the church received intelligence that a number of their brethren were in prison, and the determination of the mob was to kill them; and, that the branch of the church near the village of Independence, was in imminent danger, as the main body of the mob were gathered at that place.
100 Mormons march on Independence	In this critical situation about one hundred of the saints, from different branches, volunteered for the protection of their brethren near Independence, and proceeded on the road towards Independence and halted about one mile west of the village, where they awaited further information concerning the movements of the mob. They soon learned that the prisoners were not massacred; and that the militia had been called out for their protection; but in this they placed but little confidence, for the body congregated had every appearance of a county mob; which subsequent events fully verified, in a majority of said body.
Pitcher: leave the county, surrender some for trial, turn over arms	On application to Col. Pitcher, it was found, that there was no alternative, but for the church to leave the county forthwith; and deliver into his hands, certain men, to be tried for murder, said to have been committed by them in the battle the evening before. The arms of the saints were also demanded by Col. Pitcher.
Committee to receive arms	Among the committee appointed to receive the arms of the church, were several of the most unrelenting of the old July mob committee; who had directed in the demolishing of the printing office, and the personal injuries of that day, viz: Henry Chiles, Abner Staples, and Lewis Franklin, who have not ceased to pursue the saints, from the first to the last, with feelings of the most hostile kind.
Pitcher's unconstitutional demands	These un-[897]expected requisitions of the Colonel, made him appear like one standing at the head of civil and military law, taking a stretch beyond the constitutional limits of our Republic,
Saints trust Boggs, surrender arms	Rather than have submitted to these unreasonable requirements, the saints would have cheerfully shed their blood in defence of their rights; the liberties of their country, and of their wives and children; but the fear of violating law, in resisting this pretended militia; and the flattering assurances of protection, and honorable usage, promised by Lieut. Governor Boggs, in whom they had reposed confidence up to this period, induced them to submit, believing that he did not tolerate so gross a violation of all law, as has been practiced in Jackson county.
Boggs' true nature exposed	But the great change that may appear to some, in the views, designs, and craft of this man, to rob an innocent people of their arms by stratagem, and leave more than one thousand defenceless men, women, and children, to be driven from their homes, among strangers in a strange land of, to appearances, barbarians, to seek a shelter from the stormy blast of winter's cold embrace, is so glaringly exposed in the sequel, that all earth and hell cannot deny, that a baser knave, a greater traitor, and a more wholesale butcher, or murderer of mankind never went untried, unpunished and unhung; as hanging is the popular method of execution among the Gentiles, in all countries professing christianity; instead of blood for blood, according to the law of heaven.	Execution by shedding blood the biblical method
Lucas and Pitcher enemies	The conduct of the Colonels Lucas and Pitcher, had long proven them to be open and avowed enemies. Both of these men had their names attached to the mob circular, as early as July last, the object of which was to drive the saints from Jackson county.
Boggs: disarm both sides Men in battle surrender	With assurances from the Lieutenant Governor and others, that the object was to disarm the combatants on both sides, and that peace would be the result, the brethren surrendered their arms, to the number of fifty or upwards; and the men present, who were accused of being in the battle the evening before, gave themselves up for trial.
Pitcher frees men after trial	After detaining them one day and a night on a pretended trial for murder; in which time they were threatened, brickbatted, &c., Col. Pitcher, after receiving a watch of one of the prisoners to satisfy costs &c., took them into a corn field and said to them, "clear."
Indians, ruffians terrorize women and children	After the surrender of their arms, which were used only in self-defence, the neighboring tribes of Indians in time of war let loose upon the women and children, could not have appeared more hideous and terrific, than did the companies of ruffians, who went in various directions, well armed, on foot and on horse back; bursting into houses without fear, knowing the arms were secured, frightening distracted women with what they would do to their husbands if they could catch them; warning women and children to flee immediately, or they would tear their houses down over their heads, and massacre them before night.
Rev. Isaac McCoy a leader	At the head of one of these companies, appeared the Reverend ISAAC McCOY, with a gun upon his shoulder, ordering the saints to leave the county forthwith, and surrender what arms they had. Other pretended preachers of the gospel took a conspicuous part in the persecution, calling the "Mormons" the "common enemy of mankind," and exulting in their afflictions.
150 women and children flee to prairie	On Tuesday and Wednesday nights, the 5th and 6th of November, women and children fled in every direction before the merciless mob. One party of about one hundred and fifty women and children fled to the prairie, where they wandered for several days, under the broad canopy of heaven, with about six men to protect them.	Wednesday, November 6, 1833 to the prairie: Mormons had branches at the Blue River, Whitmer, Colesville, and Prairie settlements, all to the west within ten miles of Independence.
Others to Missouri river	Other parties fled to the Missouri river and took lodgings for the night where they could find it, One Mr. Bennett opened his house, for a night's shelter, to a wandering company of distressed women and children, who were fleeing to the river.	Independence Landing was 4 miles north of Independence.
Mobs pursue men	During this dispersion of the women and children, parties of the mob were hunting the men, firing upon some, tying up and whipping others, and some they pursued upon horses for several miles.
Phelps, Gilbert, and McLellin affidavit to governor Court of inquiry ordered	On the 5th, Elders W. W. Phelps, Gilbert, and McLellin (h) went to Clay county and made an affidavit, similar to the foregoing sketch, and forwarded the same to the Governor, by express; and the Governor immediately upon the reception thereof, ordered a court of enquiry to be held in Clay county, for the purpose of investigating the whole affair, and meting out justice to all; but alas! corruption, wickedness, and power have	Tuesday, November 5, 1833
	Left the wretches unwhipped of justice,
	And innocence mourns in tears unwiped.
Scene at the landing	Thursday Nov. 7th. The shore began to be lined on both sides of the ferry, with men, women, and children, goods, wagons, boxes, chests, provisions, &c.; while the ferrymen were busily employed in crossing them over; and when night again closed upon the saints, the wilderness had much the appearance of a camp meeting. Hundreds of people were seen in every direction; some in tents, and some in the open air, around their fires, while the rain descended in torrents. Husbands were enquiring for their wives, and women for their husbands; parents for children, and children for parents.	Thursday, November 7, 1833
Heart-rending	Some had the good fortune to escape [898] with their family, household goods, and some provisions; while others knew not the fate of their friends and had lost all their goods. The scene was indescribable, and would have melted the hearts of any people upon earth, except the blind oppressor, and prejudiced and ignorant bigot.
Temporary cabins	Next day the company increased, and they were chiefly engaged in felling small cotton wood trees, and erecting them into temporary cabins, so that when night came on, they had the appearance of a village of wigwams, and the night being clear, the occupants began to enjoy some degree of comfort.
Boggs leads from behind the scenes	Lieut. Gov. Boggs presented a curious external appearance; yet, he was evidently the head and front of the mob; for, as may easily be seen by what follows, no important move was made without his sanction. He certainly was the secret spring of the 20th and 23rd of July; and, as will appear in the sequel, by his authority the mob was moulded into militia, to effect by stratagem what he knew, as well as his hellish host, could not be done by legal force.
Boggs a Nero	As Lieutenant Governor, he had only to wink, and the mob went from mal-treatment to murder. The horrid calculations of this second Nero were often developed in a way that could not be mistaken.
Urges Phelps, Gilbert, Partridge to flee	Early on the morning of the 5th, say at 1 o'clock, A. M. he came to Phelps, Gilbert and Partridge <, and told them to flee for their lives.	Early Tuesday, November 5, 1833 The author says the prisoners returned to jail at 2 a.m. <.
	Now, unless he had given the order so to do, no one would have attempted to murder, after the church had agreed to go away. His conscience vacillated on its rocky moorings, and gave the secret alarm to these men.
Saints to Clay, Van Buren, Lafayette counties	The saints who fled, took refuge in the neighboring counties, mostly in Clay county, which received them with some degree of kindness. Those who fled to the county of Van Buren were again driven, and compelled to flee, and those who fled to Lafayette county, were soon expelled, or the most of them, and had to move wherever they could find protection.
Signs in the heavens Meteor shower Sign of second coming	November 13th. About 4 o'clock A. M. I was awakened by Brother Davis knocking at my door, and calling on me to arise and behold the signs in the heavens. I arose, and to my great joy, beheld the stars fall from heaven like a shower of hail stones; a literal fullfilment of the word of God as recorded in the holy scriptures as a sure sign that the coming of Christ is close at hand. In the midst of this shower of fire, I was led to exclaim, how marvellous are thy works O Lord! I thank thee for thy mercy unto thy servant, save me in they kingdom for Christ's sake: Amen.	November 13, 1833
Grand show in Zion Terrify sinners, entertain Saints	The appearance of these signs varied in different sections of the country: in Zion, all heaven seemed enwrapped in splendid fireworks, as if every star in the broad expanse, had been suddenly hurled from its course, and sent lawless through the wilds of ether: some at times, appeared like bright shooting meteors with long trains of light following in their course, and in numbers resembled large drops of rain in sunshine. Some of the long trains of light following the meteoric stars, were visible for some seconds; those streaks would cut and twist up like serpents writhing. The appearance was beautiful, grand and sublime beyond description; as though all the artillery and fire works of eternity were set in motion to enchant and entertain the saints, and terrify and awe the sinners on the earth.
	Beautiful and terrific as was the scenery, which might be compared to the falling figs or fruit when the tree is shaken by a mighty wind; yet, it will not fully compare with the time when the sun shall become black like sack cloth of hair, the moon like blood; Rev. 6:13; and the stars fall to the earth—as these appeared to vanish when they fell behind the trees, or came near the ground.	"And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind." Revelation 6:13.
	Missouri Persecutions (5) Expulsion from Jackson County