[ Full-text transcription of: Letter from General John B. Clark, 1st Division of Missouri Militia, Richmond, MO to Governor Boggs, Jefferson City, MO ]
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Head
Quarters.
Nov: 14th 1838.
His Exy Gov. Boggs.
Sir—In my last commu:
:nication I informed you of all the important
incidents of the expedition up to that time.
On Tuesday last we commenced the examination of
the alleged crimes (being treason, murder, bur:
:glary, arson & larceny) against Jo. Smith and
his Co leaders, & also forty six others who oc:
:cupy less space, amongst their people, but
many of whom are equally guilty. The defend:
:ants have employed Messrs. Rees and Don:
:iphan to defend them, who are both present.
The enquiry as you may well imagine takes
a very extensive range and involves many
important legal principles, not often adverted
to in our practice, & being as I consider too import:
:ant to be made out against the prisoners. I,
at the suggestion of Mr. Burch, the Circuit
Attorney, spoke to Col. W. T. Wood to assist in the
prosecution, promising him to lay the matter be:
:fore your excellency, not doubting but what
some provision would be made, by which he would
have paid to him a reasonable fee. This was not
done because I doubted Mr. Burch’s ability
in the least, for he is a good lawyer, and enters
into this matter with his whole energy, but
there are so many points stirred, & so much labor
to arrange the facts, so as to make them
bear on the various defendants, that I did not
wonder he should ask assistance, and for the
good of the State I spoke to
stated, & he is very willingly engaged with Mr.
Burch. We progress slowly, but thus far
the disclosures indicate certain conviction of
treason against Smith, Wight, Pratt, Rigdon
& some one or two more, and of murder against
some five or six. Burglary against several
arson against a number, & larceny against
others. How it will all result, I cannot yet
tell, but that the leaders will all be convicted
of treason or murder, I think is reasonably certain
& many others of felony. You shall be informed
as we progress.
I received this evening a commu:
:nication from Genl. Wilson, who had been
despatched to
I enclose you, from which you will discover
that things are becoming as well settled
there as can be, under the circumstances thoughs
they & would have been much better settled if
your orders had have been complied with before
my arrival. It seems to me if proper steps
had been taken, to save the active leaders, they could
all have been captured. The protection Genl. Wil:
:son alludes to my giving the mormons in
:munication.
I regret exceedingly to learn that
any acts of yours should create any heart
:burnings, or collision with your Excellency
and any general officer, and particularly
to such an extent as I understand exists with
Genl. Atchison. Your motives doubtless were
good, your orders were undoubtedly [“were” crossed out] right
as to the mormons and my command and
I have no doubt the whole country will sus:
:tain you. Business of a very urgent nature
compels me to leave here on tomorrow for
Fayette, where I will arrive on sunday leaving
Lt:
my return. I will only remain in Fayette
until Tuesday or Wednesday next, when I shall
return here to remain until this whole prose:
:cution is settled or put in such a Condition
that a military force is unnecessary. It is
thought that the investigation will last for
two or three weeks—
I am, sir, your obdt: Servt:
John B. Clark.
Maj: Genl: Comg—
Genl Clark
to
Governor
Nov. 14, 1838
Nov: 12 & 14
copied