New York tribune (daily) no. 9529

              THE MORMON MURDERS.
TESTIMONY AND AFFIDAVITS ON WHICH THE AR-RESTS ARE MADE—STARTLING STORIES OF ASSASSINATION
[FROM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE.]
SALT LAKE, Oct. 12.—The direct issue is an-nounced—“The great crime which the authorities are looking up is murder." To such a plain statement of charges the Mormon press is silent as the grave. Not a word has been said, not even a hint been given of it; but their readers, on the contrary, are editorially enter-tained about matters of no earthly interest to Utah to-day. Is this silence an acknowledgment of their ina-bility to defend their leaders? Such is the conclusion of intelligent persons?
These murders must be investigated, and the guilty must be punished. On the 30th ult. the First District Court met at Provo 50 miles south of this, the Hon. Q. F. Strickland presiding. Before the termination of this session of the Court there it is highly probable that the murders which were committed in that district some years ago will be investigated. A year ago indictments were found against the Mayor, A. F. Macdonald and Aaron Johnson, the Bishop of Springville, and some other Mormons; but as soon as rumor spoke of warrants they immediately concealed themselves, and from that time have been beyond the reach of the U. S. Marshal or his deputies.
Upon the originals of the following affidavits and con-fessions, the United States District-Attorney is about to cause the arrest of the persons named, if it takes the whole United States army within the Territory to ac-complish it.
CONFESSION OF ABRAHAM DURFEE. Territory of Utah, Second Judicial District, Provo City, Utah County.—Abraham Durfee, &c., now this first day of April, A. D. 1859, comes before Judge Cradlebaugh and makes the following confession, viz:
I am 34 years old. I have resided in Springville, Utah County, U. T., since the Spring of 1861. I was notified of a council by Wilber J. Earl in the month of January, 1857; he told me he wanted me to come to the Bishop's house that evening, and he said that there would be others there at the room. I went, and there were a num-ber of persons there at the room. It was in the upper room in the Bishop's dwelling-house—in Bishop Aaron Johnson's house. The Bishop was there, A. F. McDonald, Wilber J. Earl, Abraham Durfee, Andrew Wiles, and Lorenzo Johnson, William Bird and Gardner G. Potter and Joseph Bartholomew, Simmons Curtis, and Lorin Roundy were there, and there were a number of others whose names I have forgotten. I do not know what the meeting had been called for. There were mat- ters talked of concerning people going away. Some in-dividuals were mentioned by the Bishop; he stated that he had instructions in regard to them; he stated that there were individuals at the Indian Farm who were about to leave; he said he wanted them watched, and wanted some one to see when they would leave; he said there was word that they were going to steal some horses and then going to leave the Territory. The understand-ing was that the persons there were to watch generally for persons going away.
PLANNING MURDER.
There was another meeting in the neighborhood of a week or longer—can't say exactly. I was notified by some person to attend that meeting; that meeting was held in the same place in the room. It was some three weeks before the Parrishes and Potter were killed. The same persons were at this meeting that were at the first I have spoken of. N. T. Guyman was at this meeting; Bishop Johnson presided. There was something men-tioned at this meeting about the Parrishes—that they were going to leave the Territory. The Bishop said there were some demands against them for debts that they were owing; he did not state the debts. It was men-tioned either by the Bishop or McDonald—I don't recol-lect which—to have some one to find out when the Par-rishes were going to start. They nominated persons to learn when the Parrishes were going to leave. My name (Abraham Durfee) was mentioned, and I objected to it. Then they mentioned Potter's name; then the Bishop decided that both Potter and myself should try to learn when the Parrishes were going to leave the Territory. The Bishop said he did not wish any one to decline when he was called upon. I then told the Bishop that I would do as well as I knew how; and Potter assented to the same; I can't recollect that Pot-ter made any reply. There was considerable talk about other matters, but I can't recollect what it was. I saw Potter several times during the course of the week fol-lowing. I talked with Parrish that weekand several others who were going away, and I went—I think it was that week—and did some work for him. Parrish's horses were not spoken of at the meeting which I have men-tioned.
In the course of that week parrish's horses were taken, and Parrish came over to see me in the morning. He told me that they had taken all his horses, and he wished me to help him hunt them up. I went with him to his house. We went from there to Mr. John A. Stewart's, the Justice of the Peace. He got out a search-warrant and went to find the Constable, Cyrus Sanford. He was not at home. Parrish and I went back to Parrish's house, and Potter came up to Parrish's, and Potter took the papers—I mean the warrant; then Parrish and Potter started for Provo. That is about, all that transpired before the next meeting that was held before Potter returned from Provo, having gone there after the horses, but returned without them don't think I was at this third meeting. Potter told me that he return ad from the meeting after he returned from Provo. He told the meeting that he had found one span, of the horses; I asked him what was said about the taking of the horses; he said that the Bishop told him that Parrish or his son was owing Bullock something in regard to an order that Parrish's son had traded to Bullock, and that he (the Bishop) wanted those horses placed where they belonged to answer the demand. That even-ing at that meeting Wilber J. Earl and A. F. McDonald were appointed to go and tell Parrish that he should not receive those horses; this was told me by Potter. Par-rish, the next day, told me that he had given up all hopes of getting his horses; that they were gone. Par-rish told me that he had seen the Bishop and he had agreed to have the horses that had been found at Bul-lock's, in Provo, brought back and put into the custody of Cyrus Sanford, the constable.
Parrish after this had transpired in regard to the horses proposed leaving right away; he wanted to know if Potter and I would go with him; I told him we would; Potter said he would go. Parrish made arrangements to start. I think it was the Saturday before the murder; I can't recollect the day exactly. Potter told me before this a day or two that they aimed to bring them, the Parrishes, back if they started, and I went to Parrish's the next Sunday morning and they had not gone yet. Parrish told me then that he had expected to have started the evening before, but the police watched the house so closely that he could not go out of doors. Par-rish said he wanted to go that day or that evening, but he said he could not get his things out so as to start in the day-time. Potter came into Parrish's while we were talking, and he proposed that he would take Parrish's things out. Parrish got some things for Potter to take with him; some gloves, bridle, a gun, and some tape, and some things which I don't recollect. Parrish took the gun apart and gave it to Potter, and Potter said he would take care of them and bring them to him.
THE ASSASSINATION.
Parrish proposed that he would start out in the day time, on account of the police, and he wanted me to go with him; we started off together, and when we got out- side of the house, I asked him if he was going to take his gun; he said he would like to have his gun, that he had given Potter one, and he had another one in the house, and he sent me back to the house to get the gun, and then we started off together; we went up. The street, east to the edge of the city, and then turned south, and went to the east gate; after passing through the gate we went south and crossed Hobble Creek. Parrish stopped there, and said that he would stay there, and asked me to go back and bring the boys, Orrin and Beason, out to him; they were to meet him on the State road, near the corner of a fence; they-were to meet after dark. This was a little while before sundown, and I went back
See Eighth Page,
JUSTICE IN UTAH.
Continued from First Page.
to Parrish's house, and told the boys that their father said he wanted them to come to him as soon as they got ready. Potter, while I was there, came to the house or yard, and wanted to know of me which way we were going, that he wanted to carry the things which had been given to him by Parrish. Potter said that he ex-pected Potter and the boys would be brought back. I fold Potter that we were going south, to come on to the State road, south of the field. Potter then started off and went into Parrish's house. The boys, Beason and Orrin, got their things and we started and went south till we came to Center-st. Then we turned west and passed through the west gate, and then turned south, till we came to the Fort, corner of the city; we stopped there a few minutes to look for some things that I left there, and my gun. While we were there we heard a gun fired; the boys asked what the gun was fired for. I told them that I thought it was Totter, or their father, who was waiting for them, and the boys said, then we had better go on; we started and went a south-west course across the field, till we came to the State road. We got into the State road and traveled south, and when we came to Dry Creek or Dry Hollow I spoke for Potter—I called Duff, and no one answered; we traveled on until we came near the corner, and I called Duff again, I think twice. I heard some one speak, but I could hot tell by the voice who it was—it was a very low sound. Just as the person spoke there was a ' gun fired near the corner of the fence the ball hit Beason Parrish. I and the two Parrish boys were walking together abreast. I was near the fence, and Orrin was next to me, and Beason was outside hear the middle of the wagon track. Beason was west of myself and Orrin, and the shot came from the south-east. The shot struck Beason, and he fell. I sprang back to the right, and Orrin pissed behind me spoke out at the time, but I do not recollect the words I said. Beason made some noise after he fell. Then they fired again from the fence, and I started to the west into the hollow where it crosses the street. Orrin started back north. While I was in the hollow I saw some one who started after Orrin. This person sprang from the fence just as I was going to the hollow. As he came into the street, partly on the run, he shot. From the flash of the gun it appeared to be pointed north. This person called me, he said: Durfee, you need not be afraid, it was all right—he started then right on toward the city. I went into the city through the south gate. After I got into the city, this man that I saw in the road with the gun came to me and said that he had done the job; he said that I need not be afraid of him because he said he would not hurt me. This man was William Bird. I went on till I came to the bridge and met Cyrus Sand-ford, and I told him that there had been some shooting, that I believed that Beason was shot, and Sandford then took me into custody, and took me to the Bishop's yard, and called for the captain of the police, Mr. Carnes, and delivered me into his charge, and I remained there till about 11 o'clock at night.
THE BISHOP IMPLICATED.
William Bird, after I left him, went right into the Bishop's house. Bird's clothes were some bloody. I don't know what went on the balance of the evening. Bird washed the blood off his clothes, and he and Wilber Earl went away soon together from the Bishop's. I saw the blood on Bird's clothes. William Bird told me, a short time afterward, that he was called on by Potter to go out there with him, and to do this deed that had been committed; he did not tell me who was with him but Potter and himself. Sanford Fuller, a month or two after, told me he had been called on to go, but did not go; he said Potter had borrowed his gun to go with Bird; told me that after we went out with Potter that Potter went and found Parrish, and that they came down to the corner together, and that he, Bird, was lying in the corner of the fence; as Parrish and Potter walked along the fence he, Bird, said he shot Potter, whom he supposed to be Parrish; that after lie, Bird, had shot, he got up and wanted to know if it was him that had shot; he said Parrish had his gun in his hand, and laid It down, and they (Parrish and Bird) clinched together. As they clinched Bird drew his knife, and worked the best he could in stabbing Parrish. Bird said, after Par-rish was down, he gave him a lick which cut his throat. He never said anything about any other persons being there helping him. Bird said, after he got through with the old man, he took Potter's gun and his own and got in the corner of the fence again to be ready for us. He said he laid there till we came up—the two Parrish boys and myself. Then he said he fired and he saw one fall; ho said he was afraid the person he had shot would run off, and he fired at him again. When Orrin and I started, he said he came out from the fence and shot at Orrin. He said he saw me, or he supposed it was mo, when I ran into the hollow; he asked me if I heard him call for me; I told him I did. He wanted to know why I did not come to him; I told him I did not like to; that I did not know what it meant in regard to their shooting. The next-morning after the murder, I heard Bishop Johnson and Bird talking together, and he blamed Potter and Bird for not going further away with them; the Bishop said he wanted I should be satisfied about the affair, and not tell who was in it; that if I did they would serve me in the same way; I did not know that the Parrishes were to be killed. I sup- posed from what Potter told me they were to be brought back. In the second meeting which I attended there were some of them that said there were some of them that would see the blood run. It was Wilson Bird that called me Durfee. Bishop Johnson, some two or three days before the murder, told me to take a gun out with me. The Parrishes had no gun.
The morning when the hearing of myself and Orrin Parrish was before John M. Stewart, I knew that Bird was the man, but I was afraid to state it. Bishop John-Bon told me that morning what evidence I should give, and he said if I told what I heard that night they would send me the same way. I stated to the Justice what the Bishop told me to say. (Signed) ABRAM DURFEE.
TESTIMONY OF ORRIN E. PARRISH.
Orrin E. Parrish being sworn, says: Was 20 years old last July; lived with father's family in Springville in March, 1857; family consisted of father, mother, and six children; eldest brother, William Benson, was aged 22; next lived in James O'Bannion's double house; we lived In one end, O'Bannion in the other; we came here from Council Bluffs.
Father, brother, and Potter were murdered on the evening of March 14, 1857. About a week before the murder, Wm. Johnson, Mr. Metcalf, and a person whose came I do not recollect, came to father's as teachers, and questioned father about his religion; whether he prayed, and what he intended to do; don't recollect all that was said, but they didn't seem pleased with father's answers.
PRELIMINARY THEFTS.
A night or two after our four horses and carriage were stolen from the stable. We found two of the horses be-fore father's death in Kim. Bullock's stable, in Provo. Got them back from the Bishop after father's death. Bullock said they were put in his stable at night, and he did not know by whom. Lysander Gee of Tooele City has the other horses. Saw him last Fall riding one of them, and another man the other, in Echo Kanyon, five or six days after father's death. Two or three days before the murder Wilber J. Earl and Abram F. McDonald came to our house, called father out, and went across the street behind an unfinished house belonging to cousin. Witness started to follow, hut; was driven back by A. F. McDonald, who said they wanted to talk privately to father. Mother went over into the house and returned in about ten minutes. Father soon after came in. Father afterward wrote on a piece of paper what was said to him. Wit-ness thinks it read about as follows: Abram F. McDonald and Wilber J. Earl says that I (William R. Par-rish) will never see my gray horses any more,' and if I start to the city to see Brigham Young I will never live to get there.
PLANNING AN ESCAPE.
Abraham Durfee was at our house frequently after the 1st of March ; up to the time of the murder he lived half A mile away; protended to father that he could not stand Mormonism any longer, and that he wanted to get out of the country. Durfee and Potter were there almost everyday. The arrangement was finally made that father, brother Durfee, Potter, and myself were to start on Sunday night March 14, 1857. They talked the mat-ter over and concluded that it would not be safe to start in daytime; if we did we should be followed, and killed as apostates. It was arranged to go out after dark, and meet about a quarter of a mile south of the city wall, at a corner of the lane fence.
Durfee and Potter were at our house at 10 o'clock on the Sunday of the murder. Durfee was there also at 2 o'clock, when he and father left, directing us boys to meet again after dark. Durfee came back before dark, and again after dark; the last time he said father sent word to mother to send us out, whether ready or not. Durfee and brother started; I remained at the door talk-ing to mother a minute or two, then overtook them; we went out through south gate of city wall. Two persons followed us on the street. Did not talk much. Brother and I carried bundles of provision and ammunition.
THE MURDERS.
Durfee left us at the gate; said he was going home to get his gun; directed us to go to south- west corner of city wall; went as directed. I saw no person; heard them inside the wall. Durfee came to us with his gun, and asked brother to go with him to get some things that he said he had hid out during the day; he returned in ten minutes and said he could not find the things. While they were absent a gun was fired, apparently about at the corner of the lane fence where we were to meet. When they got back I asked what it meant. Durfee said some Indians might be camped down there. Then he said it might be a signal from father or Potter. We then took a south-east course toward the corner where we were to meet; crossed the fence 100 or 200 yards north of the place into the road. After we got into the road Durfee called out, "Duff, Duff, Duff," three times. Potter's name was Duff. We then stopped and looked at the fence on the east side of the road. No one an-swered. We went on toward the corner. When within 15 or 20 feet of the corner a person there called out "Durfee" three times; Durfee answered. Immediately a, gun or pistol was fired; brother Beason fell. (Beason is brother William's middle name.) I was nearest Durfee, brother furthest away and ahead of us. Durfee had a blanket and black hat on, and had a gun and revolver. Brother had a black hat on. Durfee knew we had no arms. Durfee said, "My God! what does this mean 2" I was close to him, but stepped away. Durfee drew up his gun and pointed it at me, and the cap anapped; I went further off from Durfee. Another gun was then fired at the earner of the fence; then two or three other shots were fired, one ball passing through a cartridge-box I had . on. (Cartridge-box shown with ball-bole in it.)
I jumped the fence and ran for the city; climbed the wall at a place where it was about seven feet high, and was severely injured in getting off; when I crossed Hobble Creek heard persons behind ask which way I went; ran to uncle's house; some 10 or 12 men were standing in the street, a little to the left; got in so quick they could not catch me; uncle aunt, and cousins were at home; told them that Beason had been shot; asked uncle to go and see If he was alive; uncle was afraid to go; got Brooks to go; he returned in 30 minutes, and said he went to the south city gate., where he was met by a lot of men who told him to go back if he wanted to live; half an horn- after Brooks returned, Wilber J. Earl, H. H. Carnes, Daniel Stanton, Sanford Fuller, Andrew Wiles, and-Curtis came to uncle's; Carnes said he wanted me, dead or alive; was sick from hurt in jumping the wall, and Bad lam down in bed; he made me get up to see if i were shot; told him I was sick; I got up and sat in a chair; he felt my shoulders and arms, and examined me to see if I were shot; said he had a writ for me, and I must go him; aunt said I was sick, and not able to go; that if they took me slJe would follow them, but that they could guard me; then a guard was left over me.
In the morning John Dailey, William Johnson, and a man I don't recollect were there as a guard. At 10 or 11 o'clock I was taken by John Dailey and others to the meeting-house. John M. Stuart acted as justice of the peace; 20 or 30 men were there. Durfee and I were sworn. Durfee was examined first; don't recollect all he said; he said he snapped a cap at the enemy. I told them I knew nothing about it more than Durfee had stated, that I saw nobody, but saw something dark toward the corner of the fence. My uncle got a chance to speak to me in the morning, and he told me to say that I knew nothing; said if they found out that I knew anything they would kill me. That was the reason I testified that way. They discharged me. The voice I heard at the corner of the fence calling "Durfee" was Carnes's voice; he has a peculiar voice; I knew it well, and cannot be mistaken. The dead bodies were at the meeting or school when we were sworn; father laid in the middle; his throat was cut; the body was covered up. Brother fell forward, when shot, on his hands; five or six shots were fired; there were four ball-holes in brother's coat, entering on one side of the breast and coming out on the back. (Coat produced and iden-tified.) Never suspected Durfee's treachery until he pointed the gun at me. Heard father say that Durfee's life had been threatened. They were murdered at 8 p. m.
AFFIDAVIT OF JOSEPH BARTHOLOMEW.
Territory of Utah ss. Utah County: Joseph Bartholo-mew of Springfield, in the County of Utah aforesaid, be-ing duly sworn deposes and says:
Duff Potter came to me and notified me to attend a meeting at Bishop Johnson's, about the 1st of March, 1857. In pursuance of that notice we met at Bishop Johnson's, in a private council meeting. I do not recol-lect what was done at this first meeting, there was merely some talk about persons leaving and matters and things cpnnected therewith, of which I do not remember the particulars. In about a week after that they met again, and at that meeting Potter and Durfee were "dropped off," or selected for the purpose of finding out what was going on. At the meeting the conversation was about the Parrishes and about persons at the Indian farm. The meeting was called to enter into arrangements to find out what these persons expected to do. That is what I understood was the purpose of these two meetings. I did not attend any meetings after this. At this meeting it was not known what the parishes in-tended to do, and nothing was decided on in regard to them. Bishop Johnson made a remark, however, that some of us would yet "see the red stuff run." He said he had a letter, and the remark was made by some one that "dead men tell no tales." I do not know whether any other meetings were held or not.
THE PARRISH MURDERS.
The same night that the Parrishes were killed at about 9 o'clock I was notified by Carnes to go home and get my gun. I asked him what was up. He said there was enough up. I was just returning from a public meeting which had been held that night; they did not tell me what they wanted with me. Bishop Johnson, Lorenzo Johnson, A. F. McDonald, Mayor; John M. Stew-art, Justice of the Peace; Wilber J, Earl, Alderman; now Captain of Police; Andrew Wiles, William Bird, Lorin Roundy, Simmons Curtis, Abraham Durfee, Duff Potter, and myself were at the Council meetings, and other persons I do not remember the names of. There were at least 15 present. I went and got my gun and came back, and was told to take my post and watch west of Parrish's house three rods; I was told to stay there and watch if Orrin came back. I stayed there some 10 or 15 minutes, when I was notified to repair to the school-house; I don't remember who noti-fied me. When I got there, there was a company formed there with a wagon and team. We were ordered to march south, down the lane, formed as a guard in front of the team; I did not know at that time for what pur-pose. When we got out at the south gate I learned then what was up. When we reached the bodies we were formed then into two companies, one to go to the south-east and one to the west. I went to the west side of the street from where the bodies lay. They were on the east side and we were on the west side. The street is eight rods wide. The companies were divided before we came to the bodies. There were two persons beside myself in the company I was with and about three in the other. There were some 10 or 15 altogether that went out. Of these I remember the following: A. F. McDonald, John M. Stewart, Philo Dibble, George McKenzie went as teamster; Davis Clark, Simmons Curtis, John Daley, Moses Daley, jr., and John Curtis. Carnes, the Captain of Police, called us together and told us to start out. While I and the two with me were standing as guard, the others went and found the bodies. When the bodies were found we were called together, and I saw the bodies of Potter and William Parrish lying side by side. The body of Beason Parrish was lying about 50 yards to the south-east of the other bodies, from the corner of the fence. The bodies were put into the wagon, and taken to the school-house. The bodies were searched, and a note taken of the effects found on the bodies, the pocket-books, knives, &c. A guard was put around the school-house that night. I was called to take charge of the house and to wash the bodies and lay them out. Edward Hall and Thomas Cordingly (since dead) assisted me. Old man Parrish was cut all over with knife wounds.
ATTEMPTS TO KILL BARTHOLOMEW.
There have been several attempts to put me out of the way. Last Fall was a year ago I was called upon to go with; four men up the canon to look for some valley. When we got to the camp one of the men asked me to go with him to hunt bear. Their plan was for him to lead me round to a place where the others would kill me, and say it was the Indians. As I went out, however, I could see their maneuverings and I suspected some-thing ; so when we got on a piece, I left him, and going another course returned to camp. When I got there I found the men with whom I had started, and the others were all gone. When the other men came back they saddled up their horses and went to a more con-venient camp. Abraham Durfee, Wilber J. Earl. Nelson Spafford, and Lehi Curtis were with me. In the night, after dark, they tied my horse in an open-ing where the light of the fire would shine on him. When we went to get our horses they said they would take their guns. I said I would take my gun, too, and went out, but took care to keep out of the light of the fire. I found my horse tied, but got him loose without getting into the fire-light. They then wanted me to come where they were, and that would have brought me into the light, but I refused and tied him elsewhere. The guards were arranged so that Spafford and I were on the first guard. I watched them all very narrowly and satis-fied myself from their movements that they had deter- mined to kill me; so making some excuse I went out with my gun and ran off. After traveling some time I laid down and slept. The next day I traveled through the brush as much as possible. Toward evening, how-ever, I was headed by four men on foot, and chased by them until dark. The next morning I found some men getting wood, and came home with them. When I got back I met Earl and the Bishop, and they told me I was crazy—that nothing of the sort was thought of.
It all passed off well enough until two weeks ago, the second time that Marshal Dotson came to my house; then Andrew Wiles and Sanford Fuller came to me and told me I must go into the mountains. I started from Oliver McBride's. The two McBride boys (Oliver and Harlin), the two Curtis's (Uriah and Lehi), Wm. McBride, and Wm. Johnson, were at the house. Two of them followed me until I went up the moun-tain about 80 rods; I then stepped to one side, into a little kind of a canon, and got away up among the rocks till they passed by and lost me. I then came down the mountain again and went about halt's a mile north and went up Rock canon. This was on Friday night; on Sunday night I came into town and went to Uriah Curtis's; here they notified me again that I must go to Wilber J. Earl and Abraham Durfee. I was notified by Wm. Johnson, the Marshal, by Uriah Cur-tis, Harlin McBride, and Wm. Bird.
We then proceeded, Oliver and Harlin McBride and myself, out to where Earl and Durfee were, up Hobble Creek a piece. As soon as we got there Wm. Bird and J. Curtis came to us with an express that we must go to the city. They would not tell who the counsel was from, out said it was counsel, and we were not to be seen by any living being, but were to travel at night and lay by in the day- time and keep to the mountains.
We started and traveled along the mountains, and camped the first morning between Battle Creek and the mouth of Provo canon, up in a little canon. The next night we crossed over mountain near Mountainvillo, and camped the next day at Dry Creek, in Salt Lake Valley. There Wilber J. Earl began to get uneasy about noon, and wished to go on. Durfee and I opposed it, but Earl would go on, and we finally consented; then, instead of obeying what Durfee and I had understood as counsel, to keep out of sight of men, he took a straight course for Cottonwood Fort. When we got within about a half mile of the fort Earl took off is pistol-belt and buckled it on again so that his pistol would be right in front, and then wanted us to go up in the willows above the fort and wait there until night. It had been snowing all the time since we started, and was still snowing. Durfee and I believed that there was plan laid to kill us right there, and we would not go, but determined to go past the fort. When I got op-posite the fort I stopped, and asked them whether they intended to kill and butcher me, and I told them that I believed that was their intention. They both denied it positively, and Earl said that I must be crazy again. About a mile past Cottonwood Fort a man passed us riding at full speed on horseback. He rode at full speed until he got out of sight. When he passed us he did not look at us or notice us at all. At Big Cot-tonwood we were tired of carrying our blankets, which were wet and heavy, and left them at a black-smith's shop. We went on to Gardner's Mill, and from there we turned right west through the willow patches. Earl wanted to go that way, and would go no other. We went across until we came to a dam to turn water into a mill race, and here saw a man sitting down, and when he saw us coming he raised up and then slipped down again behind the dam out of sight. As he raised up we saw the breech of a gun. Abraham Durfee then stopped and said to Earl, "Wilber Earl, have you anything against me?" Wilber said he had not, and raised his hand, and said he had nothing against either of us. He seemed to become very much excited. We turned and went back a piece, and crossed the race, and went on and struck into the first street east of the State road. We then went up that street into town. At the corners of the first cross-street there were men posted at each corner. There W. J. Earl made a sign with his hand for them to go round us. They then started one way, and we went another around the corner. We would not go the way Earl wanted us to go, and kept him with us. At the next corner we turned north, and then at the next corner two men were stationed in the same manner as at the first corner, which we supposed were the same two we had met be-fore. Here Earl put his hand to his pistol, and then made a motion by putting his hand to his forehead. One of the men whistled. We went up this street until we got to Brigham's house, and then turned west to the Coun-cil-House corner. Here we stopped right in the street, Durfee saying that he wanted to go to Stringham's. We talked about it, and Earl seemed willing to have us go. He said he did not want me to go with him with the feelings which I had toward him. Durfee and me then started down toward Kinkead's. Wilber J. Earl started on west, down the street. A man followed after him, and when we saw him last there were three men talking with him. We went to Kinkead's store, and told Mr. Kinkead about our case, and told him we wanted protection until morning. He took us over to the Secretary's. Mr. Kinkead and his clerk went there with us. We claimed the Secretary's protection. There was a gun fired close to us when we entered the city. I have heard it said that apostates running off would never get further than the muddy creek. I don't think that the killing of Potter was intentional, but that be was killed through mistake. He was the one who notified me, and was a leading man. JOSEPH BARTHOLOMEW. 
Sworn to and subscribed before me on the 29th day of March, A. D. 1859, JOHN CRADLEBAUGH,
Second Judicial District.