[ Full-text transcription of: Letter from L. B. Fleak, Iowa to Governor Reynolds, Jefferson City, Mo. ]
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KeoKuK
His Excellency Gov Reynolds
Sir
Some months ago I took the liberty of troubling you
with a note, and I now again take the same liberty on the
same subject Genl Bennet, late a Mormon leader, now
a dissenter goes to you as he tells me for the purpose of giving
information touching the attempted assassination of Ex Gov
Boggs It is not doubted here in the least but that the
information which he intends to convey to you is literally
correct, i.e. that he knows who the person is that shot Boggs
and that he /Bennet/ can prove Smiths agency in the matter
sufficiently clear to satisfy any person of his participation in
the matter, Bennet accuses a fellow by the name of Rock-
wood or Rockwell & from some circumstances, I suspected
him the very day the news reached & I wrote the Post Master
of
was seen lurking around there about the time the affair took
place. It is certain that immediately proceeding the news
reaching here of the attempted assassination Smith stated that
he had it revealed to him of God himself that Boggs would
not die in his bed If he had not had some knowledge of
the contemplated murder, what grounds would he have had
for such remarks- None of us are willing to admit that
he holds communion with the Deity, without admitting it we
are compelled to believe him to be by proxy the authority of that
most foul deed. Ever since he was compelled to leave your
State he has denounced the Citizens with heaviest imprecations
could Treason be made our words, in the
certainly been guilty of treason toward
Nearly his whole conversation & thoughts are taken up by planning the
destruction of
will some day and that before long give your State more trouble
than you are aware of or once think of. If his society was composed
men of moral honesty you would know how to meet them, but a ma-
jority of them are renegades. Now, Sir do not think this idle spec-
ulation for if you do you will be deceived, grossly deceived
I know that the Mormons can never seriously affect Mis
souri but they will one day give her a great deal of trouble
A person unacquainted with them knows nothing of the reverential
awe with which they receive and obey Smith’s mandates or from
the mouths of a majority of them is constantly heard imprecations
against & plans for the destruction of your State.
Smith’s word is law & his prophecies , revelation among them
and could you attend one of their military parades (and you could
not miss one any day in the year (Sundays excepted) for their city is
constantly a military encampment) you would be satisfied that my
remarks are not groundless.
Now sir, it is in your power to break up this horde of villainy
and murder by removing it’s head or leader, Is not Smith a
refuge from your State? And does not justice to her citizens require you
to demand from
your call would be recd with loudest cheer from this quarter &
from the adjoining Counties on the opposite side of the
You can form no idea of the accession that is daily being made
to their members by the arrival of Foreigners & other pressonez from differ=
ant parts of the
There are some good meaning persons among them I have no doubt,
but in large majority of them are villains of the darkest dyes
and an as enthusiastic as they are worthless
I expect to
be a citizen of
be glad to see the vile traducers of your State & the black assas=
sin of one of her ex Governers brought to Justice.
You will pardon
me for intruding myself on you a second time, I take a warmer
interest in this matter than I should do, perhaps-
I am well
known in
to make any enquiries respecting my standing I will refer you
to Mr O.D. Filley Mess Wm Clafflin & Co Messrs Crow
Tevis & McCreevy, Messers Smith Brothers & Co & A. G. Lentzes & Co
all merchants of fine standing in the city- I wish the
above to be considered as confidential
I am very Respectfully
Your obdt servant
L.B.. Fleak P.M.
at KeoKuK
L B. Fleak
about the Mormons
L B 1842
His Excellency Gov Reynolds
Mo
B02_F61_F32_P01.tif
Montrose
To His Excely
Govsaner Reynolds
Sir
we have just recd via
of your State was murdered in his own house
on the 9th inst & that suspicion was excite
-d that the awful deed had been committed
by a follower of the wretched imposter Joe
Smith.
If it is true that Gov Boggs
has been murdered & that it is not satisfa-
-clarily Known who Committed the murder,
then I should not Entertain a doubt that
it was done by some of Joe’s Minions at
his instigation. He has sworn Vengeance pub-
-lickly against Gov Boggs ever Since he
Settled in this neighborhood. A friend of Mine
was present to day when the news was
made Known to Joe- he exclaimed in