The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-06-27
The Mormon Murder at Beaver Island.

The Mormon Murder at Beaver Island.
EXAMINATION OF TWO or THE MURDERERs.
From the Detroit (Mich Advertiser. June al
The People VS.. II. ID. McCuLLooH AND SAMUEL.
GRAHAM The defendants in Court June 10. 1851
in charge of Lyman Granger, deputy sheriff.
The defendants, by their counsel, pleaded not
guilty. Samuel Bonnet, sworn:-Says he luows
defendants; they, at the head Of about sixty Nor
MONS surrounded our house, on the 7th instant, on
Beaver Island, (Bennet's house) told us they came
to arrest u.s. and if we did not surrender ourselves
they would take US, dead or alive shut the door,
and told them We would not obey Mormon law,
King Strang's law, or any other law, but the laws
OF our country; | caught up my shot gun, which
was loaded with shot; my wife, who was very much
alarmed and excited took hold Of it to il from
me, and in this struggle the gun was accidentally
discharged; the Mormons then commenced to break
in our hou;e, and fired in at the window and door
several shots; we managed to keep out Of the way
Of the balls until they at last broke in the door,
and several of them came into the house and drag
ged my brother out doors, and then commenced to
fire at him; he received five balls before he fell;
during the time that they. were firing at him, he
raised his hands and them, in the Of
the Almighty God, to spare his life; the defendants
were giving orders to fire. they fired several shots at
myself, and one nearly cut my hand off, my wife ran
oil towards her brothers house, nearly frantic when
they followed her and dragged her back to the
house, and kicked and bruised her they dragged
my dead brother to the beach, and threw him into
bis own boat, and compelled me to 60 into it too;
they then put sail to 1t, and conveyed US to the
Haibor before the Mormon Justice, who issued
the warrants for US; my hand was bleeding during
that time, and the most Of the following night dur
ing which time was prisoner tainted several
times that night from Toss of blood that night
overheard VIM Mcleod say to Mccullough, Tone of
the defendans,) you did one thing wrong, that you
did not kill the other fellow, (meanng myself) you
ought to kill six Others, and | will guaranty you
against all law )" he said Mccullough cut out my
brother heart in my presence, and Nc Leod washed
his hands in the blood they held an inquest on the
body; the most Of the jurors had bees engaged in
numbering my brother; three men, who were not
Mormons, would not sign the verdict; the Nor
mons brought in verdict to clear themselves;
heard the defendants say, in January last that they
would kill me and my brother; they (the Nor
suits before their Mormon justiceS; they had us
arrested twice, last winter, and made pay
ty dollars and some cents; they burned our two
houses, last winter, and gang Of them came after
wards, IN broad day light, armed, to house, and
took provisions before eyes, aud we not dar-
ing to stop them; Strang threatened our lives fire..
quently; in consequence OF being annoyed, we
sent to Strang, and told him il he would give us
have it; If your land" said he, was not decided
would rather have 1t; do not allow the saints to
buy any land Of this despicable government; DO.
sides, for government land there taxes to
pay; would not pay you anything for your land
but, said he, "you must comply with the laws Of
the kingdon-you must pay me tithcs." We viii
required to pay according to the laws Of our coun-
try. "We1, Bennett" said Strang, elf you do
not pay me 1.-THE, mark my words, that you viii be
sorry" We then left him.
Crosscxamined.-We only fred one gun, and
that was accidentally discharged by my wife, when
she tried to get il from me; we had another gun
in the house, but the lock was out Of order and no
one could get it of; could have shot some Of the
Mormons with my double. barrelled gun, il | had
tried to; but knew i. would be Of no USE as there
were too many Of them; | do not know whether
any Of the Mormons wounded or not; think
from the direction Of the gun at the time. it could
| 49, g.. -
gun; my brother did not fire; the defendants we're
there; their intention was to kill us; the reason
that they got out the warrant for US is because
told the Mormon constable, three days before, that
II would be no use for them to try to execute Nor
mon laws up there; that the people were bound not
to obey them We did not offer them any resist
ancc; the man whom they we're going to arrest
then was about three milcs from our house; we
have not lived on farm since last fall for fear OF
being murdered by them.
| do hereby certify, that the above is n correct
statement Of the evidence Of Samuel Bennett, in the
case Of the People vs. Mccullough and Graham, for
the murder Of Thomas Bennett.
CHAs. NJ O'MALLEY, Justice oftbe Peace.
Irrcm the Detroit (Mich) Tribune June ISL
There were ten more persons arrested and
brought down from Beaver Island, yesterday, on
the United States steamer Michigan, charged with
an attem pied robbery of the mail, armed with
deadly weapons. There were fourteen witnesses
brought down, at the expense Of the United States,
every one Of whom Is a witness for the defencc-not
one was brought down for the prosecution. The
defendant Strang. and his counsel were carried up
and brought back free Of expense on board the
Michigan. The dispositions Of about forty wit
ncsscs we're taken on the island some thirty of
which were FOR the defence, free Of expense ID them
The Commissioners Court sat twelve hours one day
aud nineteen hours the second-Commissioac
wilkins holding the Court, MIR. Bates appearing
for the United States and Col. McReynolds and
Dir. Strang Tor the defendants. As there has been
an attempt 10 PREJUDICE the action Of the District
Attorney, and get up sympathy for the defendants,
and give these arrests party character, VIC deem
II proper TO states the complaints made to the
District Auuney all came from Mormons or
State officers who arc democrats The grand jury
that found the indictments were a majority Of them
democrats, and only made presentments, after
most patient examination. Without speaking Of
the cNdCrcc We think the trial will show that the
government officers would have been recreant to
duty to have overlooked the complaints; and no
Prosecution ever carried on with more courtesy
or kindness toward the accused.
fFrcm the Detroit Advertiser June II
On sunday last. the United states Mar.hal
reached Detroit, having In his custody, Rice. Mil
Ter, loE, Brown, William Townsend, Asa b.
Field, Seymour Page and Finley Page, who are
under indictment with Strang, foe making and pas
sing counterfeit coin q the United States and OBJ
struciing United states male, and for stripping
government. land Of timber The steamer also
brought down, at the expense Of the government,
thirteen witnesses fcr the prisoners.
The parties arrested are. or claim TO be, i'm
kation, holding various Offices therein, suca as
apostles, high priests and elders. Tn the examine
ton, 4 was sworn 10, by Strangs witnesses that he
oapfoIhct, gifted by "a, me inspiration and clothes
with miraculous powers. among which u the gift Of
prophecy tine a the witnesses, who calls hlWself
High Priest. beng under examination upon cath,
IN answer 70 Stsangs inisIrogaiosies, sworc sefore
the Commissioner that she knew Strsng ~ be a
prophet a the earth, gifsd ~ divine Inspiration,
With miraculous powers, and endowed With divine
grseei' that he twi,ness), o. High tries,, had
,akSn The covenant from - James .Strang), BY
laying hands ~ the cross, and NJ signing ID. I'd
at the toiM the witness identified the "coyct ant
uitued 70 ~ him a. h. the hiasphemous doeu.
nett hefc,oiufc rubilfAsd ~ ~. Ia the testimony
% Afaua Ihaw,tress wsui ~ H. say-"l believe
cirtuN 90 ~ prophet, w'.ose inspiration C0ma.
htm TOD, he ihst "a laiah ami the other pro.
lhdt 4 cd aha tt'st ~ tan ioreici things 81 th,
and translate &nh nown tougucs" The witrss.
h4dt &" ite reNeAs himself sometimes IN the pre-
~nss a oh, q, | have wnneFsed communication.
N.a4MN. - - "a. 80