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.
out any one objecting to it. He further said that “one man had sliped his wind yesterday, & had been thrown aside into the brush for the buzzards to pick, & the first man that lisped it should die” At this meeting Companies were chosen some to procure wood for the town, & some to procure meal for the army at , & also for the families of those who were in the expedition to & one company for spies. said that these companies were necessary and appointed men as heads of the Companies to make them up. further stated at this meeting that the enemy were then in their hands & that they should prevail. He gave instructions to the spy Company, that they should go out to & surrounding country, to learn the movements of mobs, and that if they found any mob burning houses in , be sure said he that you do the same thing to them. was the Captain of this Spy Company. It was stated in this meeting that the object of organizing a spy company was to be able to guard against mobs which they said were coming on them from all quarters—
When was instructing the Spy company, or apparently in conversation with them above refered to, I heard it said that if they could not get rid of the mob in any other way, they could poison them to death. At the time of this last remark I was engaged in other conversation & did not hear all that [p. [22]]