The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-07-10

as those who followed LIE Blanc carried the mail
from Garden Island to Beaver island. Saw Graham
at Macknac when he was in custody Of the Sherifof
Mackinaw, in April. Had a conversation with him
(GIaham) at Mackinac. They made no attempt
on my life; but heard threats. Samuel Graham
administered the covenant to me. The CONVERSE
ton between Strang and myself was in July or
August, between the printing Office and my house.
No person present except myself Cannot specify
time or place when these remarks were made.
Strang said this in front of my house, about the
time had issued warrant for Linnel Cannot
identify time or place. AS to the declaration of
the other defendants, one Kaufman had some
things which had been stolen; he came and made
a complaint, and issued warrant against Hiram
Linnell. 1t was stolen from me, with all the rest
of my papers, by one James J. Strang My house
was broken open, and everything taken out. That
was done about the time of last falls election.
was at Mackinac at the time. Strang acted as
counsel for Linnell, and quashed the proceedings
for rregulanty. Was sent for to attend a meeting
Adams, Mr.. M. Aldrich, ST., DR.. McCulloch,
Franklin, and Johnson, were there. / cannot state
what was said there. He spoke on the occasion;
they must be obeyed, and that they were superior
to the laws of the United States. l have heard
them nearly all say the same thing in substance.
p cannot , define the place OF time Have heard
letter which he identities, and says it written
by him.
McReynolds moved the discharge of Strang, Rice,
Townse nd, Post and Chambers, on the ground of
no evidence having. addu ,ed against them, and
the name of Townsend not being mentioned by any
Townsend and Mr.. Chambers The court refused
the motion with regard to Strang, Rice, and Post:
The District Attorney announced that Townsend
was also indicted for countereiting, andwould be-
held in custody.
[By counsel repeating the testimony heretofore
given, we learned that several of the defendants
had repeatedly said they would not hesitate to stop
the mail, or do anything else "James" (the
!. CHI tall ham AM
they were doing Gods service; that they would
obey his laws and disregard all others.l
Mr.. McReynOlds opened the case to the jury, CIV
ing an outline Of the character Of the defence said
he expected to be able to prove there was not q
shadow of pretence for the charges that the de-
PENDANTS were there for a very different purpose
that 4 complaint was entered against Fri J. Moore,
setting forth q high offence warrant was issued
and placed in the hands of const able and he, with
a posse, went over to arrest Moore; that the spot
ofthe alleged scene Constructing the maiD was the
spot Of all others where they would not have at
tempted such thing; that Mr.. M pore knew they
were after him. and did not leave the island for fear
of his life being taken; that the testimony of
Adams was false; that the offences be sought to
fasten upon Strang were the very ones no proposed
himself to commit.
Mr.. McReynolds reflected some what upon several
Of the witnesses for the prosecution and pro missed
to produce counter testimony enough to neutralize
neral impeachment by thirty or forty witnesses, as
to two three of the main witnesses for the prose-
cution, and would present perfect and triumphant
vindcation Of defendants Is conduct: m- Ca.
the skiing Of Beaver Island" was permitted to ad-
dress the jury.
His Highness opened by stating that he once had
smattering Of legal lore, but he did not appear
here as a lawyer; be wished to say something with
regard to certain prevailing reports, Of system Of
'higher law" Of Divine law, above all civil law,
which it was said governed them up on Beaver
Island. He denied any thing of the kind; said they
had a Divine law to govern them, but i. taught
obedience to rulers and magistrates, and all in au-
thorty; he referred to the and bitterness of
saints had caused rivers Of blood to flow in ages
past. Said certain book I'D been testified about
and commented upon, for the purl ose of affecting
the public mind and this jury; said the character
sented said it is alleged that because the defen-
dants have taken certain covenant, are bound to-
gether to commit overt acts, rob the U. ). mail,
and repudiste the laws Of the Union, Sc. Should
show that these defendants believed in the doc
trne, that God established this nation and govern
ment for the final gathering in Of the children Of
God, ard establishing his church again upon tho
earth; believed in revelations from above, and the
final gathering of all the children of God; the day
Of millennium, &c the final contamination Of
all things, through the true (Mormon) church.
As to the book, it taught no such doctrine as i'm
puted to it, and nothing at variance with the laws
of the country and good moral and religious society
Would refer 70 the witnesses here against them, and
the ungentlemanly course taken; he would like to
III tQO30
not fit to belong to the Mormon church even, were
to be believed said the witnesses here were cast of
and kicked-out members of the church, not pure
enough to belong to it. In the course Of his
marks, he reflected severely upon the Of Mr..
Adams, one Of the principal witnesses for prosccu-
tion; said Adams had shown, in his testimony, that
he the second in command in the church, tho
chiefspokesman and religious teacher; that no had.
under the covenant Of that church and his teach
ngs, corrupted the people Of his charge, that
they ready to commit all kinds Of depredatons,
even TO robbing the mail. Said that he had here
shown that he had as teacher in the church,
his followers (by the covenant) to disobey all laws
but those Of the kingdom, and by bis own showing,
bad heard them stand up in the synagogue and de-
clare their willingness to violate the laws Of the
land, state and national; that he (Adams) had
taught them these doctrines &c, and now appeared
here, the pure and immaculate witness, to impeach
the whole " kingdom" and punish them for doing
the things which he, as q religious teacher aud
apostle, had instructed them in, while one of the
chief priests and guardians Of their religion. lilo
spoke with great yehemence, exhibiting considera-
bic feeling towards Adams, and did not think such
a witness entitled TO much credit,
Mr.. McReynolds proceeded with the defence by
reading various dispositions taken before n com.
missioner on Beaver Island. They were mostly for
the impeachment Of the character Of Adams and
Moore for truth and veracity. Adams and Moore
two important witnesses for prosecution. The
afdayits read were all nearly Of the same import,
going TO impeach the witnesses named, and in al
most every their opinions had been formed
left the church and refused obedience to the king.
This reputation against them did not to OBJ
tain to any great extent among the "Gentiles,"
but was confined to the saints almost exclusively.
SECOND DAY.
Tho most CT the day was spent by defendants to
establish that the posse Of Dlormons which drove
the mail train back, out for the purpose of
resting Moore, Of the mail carriers; that war
rant out for him, SC.
The following is portion of William Townscnds
testimony 81 believe in James j. Strang, - the
I.f l... tlatI .1roa.
lations through Strsng, and If Strang should tell
me he had received special revelation from God.
/ should believe H.
Should Straug tell you he had received reve-
lation from God that the character OF certain man
you did not know bad, should you believe il
Ishould. Would you swear 20 i'll don't think
should swear to a thing did not know. Then you
do not believe in revelationsl do