Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1857-05-22

proceedings in tho Kingdom Of Brigham
Young. The writer says:
The u. s. District Court for Utah com
menoed its session on Monday, tho 9th Of
February, Judge Stiles, seeding Mormon,
occupying the bench. The U. s. District
Attorney is Hosea Stout an apointec, of
course, Of tho Government at Washington,
and a noted member Of the Danito Band,
Upon the opening Of the court he rose and
stated that no Grand Jury would be impan-
nelcd, as there were no cases to DO present
cd worthy of its notice! Thus, by one
stroke of mastery policy, administered by
an officer Of the law and in the namc of its
majesty, were covered up long catalogue
Of hcneous offences, including murders,
robberies, and arsons, which had been com.
mitted since the last preceding tern Of
the Court. A Petit Jury was then sumon-
cd and sworn, but every imaginable impcd-
itnent that could be thrown in their way to
obstruct the current Of justice when running
counter to the edicts of the Priesthood, were
avaiiod Of. All the members Of the bar
are Mormons, except Mr.. David H. Burr
United States Surycyor-Gcneral and DR..
Hurt, an officer of the United States Indian
Department.
The Mormons contend that the U. S.
Court has no cognizance Of any but U. :.
eases, and that all offences committed in the
Territory, and all Territorial SUITS must be
tried before the Territorial laws. Is not
this legitimate aud we'll established demo
cratic "squatter sovcreigntyT The Mormons
90 decide says the Times correspondent:
Startingon this pretext, the Court was
in progress on the 12th ult., the Mormon
members Of the bar and others of the Dan
ito band iuveiged Judge Stiles into a pri-
vate room, locked the door, barred the win
dows, and then with revolvers at his head,
and knives within an inch of his throat
forced him to promise to uphold them In
whatever they did, and to Sustain the laws
Of Utahl" Thus overpowcred, threatened
and intimidaated, Judge Stiles yielded, dis
missed the Jury and adjourned the Court,
directing the Crier to pronounce it adjourn
ed sine die. The Crier accordingly announc-
ed the Court adjourned SINE die, but also
stated that it would meet the next day for
the purpose of transacting any Territorial
business that might be brought before it.
The Judge, at the bidding Of the Danites
notified the U. S. Marshal, Mr.. Dodson
that after that day his presence would moi
be required in the Court-that as Terrific
rial business was about to be transacted, the
Territorial Marshal would, with such bailif:
and officers as he might appoint to assist
him, be considered the officers Of the Court
and that an account Of the expenses of the
Court would be kept by the Territorial Mar
shal, and rendered to the U. S. Marshal fol
the payment. The Mormons feared thai
the United States Marshal--who is "Gen
tile"-would interfere with the execution o.
their plans, and therefore adopted this
method of getting rid of him, and substi-
tuting the Mormon Territorial Marshal in
his place. Judge Stiles, on being asked by
a Gentle, directly after the adjournment o.
the Court, whether it was possible that ht
could imagine his proceedings and decision
correct and just, frankly acknowledged tina
he knew they were neither, and added
"Yoa understand my position with these
people, I cannot do otherWise."
Judge Styles re-oponed Court the mex
day, the Territorial Marshal, Mr.. Mckay
occupying the proper station of the U. S
Marshal, thus giving the Court an entirely
Mormon aspect, with Mr.. Burr rs the only
Gentle within the bar. Mr.. B. raised th'
question whether the Court would be guild
ed by the laws of the Territory in prefer
cnce to the laws of the United States. w
quote:
Before any reply could be made, an at
torney named Ferguson, Jumped up AM
commenced most foul and abusive attacl
upon Mr.. Burr, cxhausting the stock of eve
Mormon billingsgate in his malignant tiradc
He then turned to the Judge, and told hir
that if he dared to decide against their law
he could sit there no longer, and that th
Courtroom would bo cleared sd quick
The District Attorney followed in a violen
harangue, in which lie accused Mr. Burr Q
trying to set aside tho Mormon laws, an
said that the Mormons had submitted
Gentle interference long enough, that the
were now going to have their own way
and had good authority for what they die
rs well as safe hackers. The room was fl
ed at the time with armed ruffians, VIII
constituted the "backers' alluded to. A
soon as Mr.. Burr and T. S. Williams got u
to reply, the Territorial Marshal orderc
them peremptoriH to stop; and immediate
Iy the whole audience sprang to their feet
and the DANTE murderers, who filled th'
Court, threw off their coats, brandishod thei
knives and revolvers, and created SO gres
confusion that the Judge was obliged to az
journ the Court at once.
The next morning. tho Court opene
amid intense excitement. The whole Mo
mon populace were armed, and had bee
inAamed to such degree by the incendial
speeches Of Furgeson, Stoute and other
that tho least pretence would have bee
availed of TO massacre every Gentle in Il
place. The names Of Messrs. Burr al
Williams werc stricken from tho list of a
torneys, the Court Immediately adjourne
sine die. Thus closed the last term Of til
United States Court that can ever bo hel
in this Territory until the Government e'
ssblishes its supremacy by vigorous exc
tioa Of physical force.
The writer states that tho DANTE bulli'
were prompted 10 this disgraceful condu
by Brigham Young, When appealed to
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