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.
Asa Cook a witness for the state, produced sworn & examined deposeth & saith:
That on the day before the battle with , I was in the edge of , but heard no man, nor did I myself order Thorit Parsons or any other man, away from his home.
I met with a man in the road in , going towards who said he was a mormon. I told him to tell his leaders when he arrived at that we were no mob, but militia acting under ’s orders— After this man left us, myself & two others who constituted my company turned across the prairie to the timber of on the head waters of Log creek. And at a house in the edge of the timber, I met with a number of 's company, to which I belonged, and I heard Mr Lockhart one of the company enquire, (I think) where Parsons lived, and I understood the answer to be, from the man of the house, that he lived lower down the creek— I never heard say any thing to this man like ordering him off.— had learned that he might probably be attacked that night, and he was out on the edge of to discover if the Mormons were making any movements indicating an intention to attack him.
There was a conversation, at the house above -[referred to]- between John Lockhart & the man of the house, of a rough character in relation to Parsons as I understood it, but did not distictly learn any thing said.