The true Democrat., 1857-06-02

A correspondent of the Hempstead Demo. erat writing from Van Burcn, Ark, on the 14tb ult, gives the following account of 4 fatal bnt characteristic adventure in Mormonisrn
 Having reached this town on Monday last I iouhd the populace much excited in regard ro d tfIAi progressing before the U. $. Commis- ",onerS court. It Itappeared from the testimony that the parties were a Mr., ora Rev. Hector VI MMrLeah, hlS wife and a celebrated elIer of the M'fmon church, a MT. P. P Pratt. who is brother oi Elder Orson Pratt. a ealing and iu- n't"utt member of the Mormon church at Salt Lake city.
 The Rev. Hector II. Mclean stated that he With hlN family, lived in San Francisco. and was rete;vlnG salary in the custom house of 9''OVo' and was enjoying all the comforts. peace A'd happiness ot a quiet and domestic home, 'ioWeNer It was not long before he discovered mat iilS Wife, who, the greater part of her life nad been religions enthusiast. was about em- oraclng the Mormon faith.
 To remove her from the baneful irfuence n these accuraed people, he gave uo his position LII lhe custom house aud settled in Pauama.
 He had not resided here very long ere the fathini followed him, using every effort to "IieHdte the affections of his wife from h m and ner children. Seeing that nothing couG be dohe to convince his wife of the error of her ways, anu that she was determined to in the o''hi' ne, In company with her brother inter crP'eh the children on their way to school and placed them on board the steamer that was to sal that "ay for New Orleans, where the parents oi ITS. Mclean live, and who are sad to be peSono ot the highest respectablitv.
 W hen Mrs. Mclean hal been informed of Whdl ha" been done, she, like all other women. res"rtei 10 tears.
 Promising to lead a more exemplary life, she was furnished by her husband with 'an outfit and means to reach New Orleans, where she Jolhe herchillren at the residence of her father and mother
 She appeared peuitent and remained quiet i Tor snort time. She set to work to convert | her fathers family: finding 1t rather q ficult l joh, she stole her children from her father aud | took passage on tho Nebraska for St. Louis. but Vas discovered by her a.her before the stea- her had leit the wharf. A5a.u she returned 70 her fathers house
 She Was not long lille in coucacfinr ,laus of escape. tier next effort was crowned With bet ter sdceess being assisted by some of the faith l luI.
 Mclean, as soon as he had received iatelli- Lehtc oi nis wie's departure, with the children. 1 W c'nI1uY with Elder Pratt, which occurred early ln January last, corlmeured pursuit of lhe guilty ralr, ln hopes of recovering his two iIjtie chlldrnu-onc, beautiful little g.Ii the 1 other, h., youngest, q son.
 Ihe first place M MeLean reachel was New York. He Iaarncd from the city papers. thal Lidef Frat had been there and had pre lcae.. the Sunday previous. \ woman ald the chil- en answering the description Of McLrau's were ID company with hm He then traced ! them tp $. Louis, thence 10 Houston. Texas. From the latter place to inc North Fork in the Cherokee Nation, where taev were arrested bv the [. $ Marshall. The children were restor- e! to their fatber-Mrs Mclean and Eilcr Pratt were co' ducted to this place. Pratt was charged by Mclean with having committed Larceny. NJ Lean occupied one hour ii giving lis testimony noticed dUriug the delivery oi hiS evidence, that mduy eyes listened with sympathetic tears.
 The court deeming the testimony inefficient discharged the plisoler early yesterday mora ing.
 Mclean being advised by some one of Pratt's release, pursued aYd overlook him some eight or ten miles from here As soon as he got within shooting distance, he commenced firing on Pratt who had nothing to defend himself with, refusing to receive his arms when releas
  would be savedn' The person who saw the "murder' states that seven shots were fired, only one taking effect upon Pratt, which felled him from his horse. Mclean dismounted and stabbed him twice in :he left breast. He sur vived about one hour and half. He said Mclean ha! murdered him. He is to be bu- red to-day. Mrs. Mclean has gone to the burial: she says she Is the seventh spiritual wife of Elder Pratt.
 understand he gave directions to be buried decently, and the residue of his effects to be sent to h'S ,oye in S'lt Lake City-making no mention of Ms. Mclean who is left alone in a strarge land, penuless and frieudIess.
 Mrs. Mclean and Filler Pratt are represent ed by those who couversed with them as pos seSSng the highest older of taleut
 What effect this murder of high dignitarv will have upon emi5rauts who have to pass through Utah. remains to be seen.