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.
surrounded in a house in & taken prisoners by a company of Mormons. They took from me three guns & a butcher knife. the Deft. was Captain of the Company. another Deft. was in the company. The asked us if we belonged to the mob, we replied not. He then said we had better join them and come into for protection, I replied that I would consider of the that. Mr Price said to them that he had moved his family into . The then said if we did not wish to fight them we must leave the for we intend said he, after we get possession of to take and after that keep on till we take possession of the whole
The then asked Mr Price if he knew whether the would be up or not. Price answered he did not know. The then remarked he wished he would come up, that his scalp he would have rather have than any other man’s.
There were 30 or 40 <armed> men in this company in this company, and after carrying us about 4 miles on towards , they released us. telling us we must leave the immediately, & if we did not want to fight them we must leave the immediately for the they intended to have.
They said it was the mob who had plundered and burnt their own houses in and then layed it on the Mormons— A number of the company had something to say [p. [25]]