to speak in his defence, & said he was a republican, several rushed up to<​wards​> him and stop[p]ed him, telling him if he had any thing to say in favour of the Presidency, he might say it— but he should say nothing against them.— and that was their republicanism— Joseph Smith Jr, , & , who compose the first Presidency were there— It was observed in the meeting, that if any person spoke against the Presidency, they would hand them <​him​> over into the hands of the “brother of Gideon,” I knew not at the time who or what it meant, shortly after that I was at another meeting where they were trying several, the first Presidency being present— was chief spokesman— the object of the meeting seemed to be, to make persons confess their and repent of their Sins to God & the Presidency— and arraigned them for giving false accounts of their money & effects they had on hands— and <​they said​> wherever they found one guilty of these things they were to be handed over to the “brother of Gideon” several were found guilty & handed over as they said— I yet did not know what was meant by this expression, “the brother of Gideon.”