The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1857-05-28
KILLING of Elder Pratt.

ITatt, the Mormon leauer, VINO was AZ
rested in the Creek nation by McI.ean-the
husband of the woman whom he seduced-
and carried to Van Buren,, Arkansas for ex-
animation before the United States Commits |
set at liberty. He Immediately mounted his |
horse and took to fight. He was followed by
the enraged husband and father; who overlook
him about eight miles from town and shot
him down in his tracks. lie lived about two
hours after receiving his wound. The fol-
lowing is the history of the case. Mclean
and his wife-both Of whom occupied high
ly respectable positions in society in New Or
leans, removed from that city to San Fran
cisco in 1850. Led by curiosity and accident
they went one day, in the latter city, to
Mormon Church, where Pratt was preaching,
Mclean was Disguised with the sentiments
and doctrines proclaimed, but to his surprise,
his wife seemed fascinated with the doctrines
and the preacher. She repeated her attend
ance upon the church, became in a short time
an avowed convert; and soon after expressed
| q determination to join the Saints in Utah.
She was woman of more than ordinary in
tellectual powers-highly educated and ac-
complished, and possessed great personal at
fractions. She was the mother of three beau
tiful children and her married life had been
apparently very happy one. Her avowal
of the disgusting doctrines Of the Saints as
tonished and shocked her friends. She wonld
listen to no discussions, and was finally
permitted to take her own way. The husband
took her children from her, and sent them
secretly to her fathers family in New Orleans
to be there educated.
She followed them to New Orleans, and
endeavored by stratagem and force to get
them from the protection of their grand par
rents. Defeated in her attempts, she left New
Orleans, and joined Pratt, went to Salt Lake
city, where she was sealed to him, as his ninth
wife. She remained with him and in Brig
ham Young's family for two years. Some
time last autumn she again appeared at her
fathers house in New Orleans, protesting to
have repented of her errors, and asked to be
received again into her home. She was ac-
cepted with joy by her parents; and as their
confidence in her returning sense of virtue
was strengthened, she was entrusted with the
care of her own children. One day, after all
suspicion of her sincerity was allayed by her
apparent penitent conduct, she was permit
ted to take her two eldest children out for a
days recreation. promising to return with
them early in the evening; that was the last
her parents saw of her or the children. Hell
husband was informed of the event, and i'm
mcdiately came from California to recover
his children. He has since been searching fol
them through all the States and Territories
west of the Mississippi. He learned that while
she was at New Orleans, Pratt was lowering
about in the adjoining Territory; and when
she escaped from New Orleans, she went i'm.
J mediately to him with the children. II ap
, peared also that the leaders of the church
were combined in aid of Pratt, that the ad-
herents of the gang every where were leagued
to help in the accomplishment of his infa-
nous designs of carrying off the children
They passed under various assumed names
she was first carried to Texas and there CON
cealed and aided by the members of tn,
Church; and finally was, by them enabled t,
: join Pratt in the Indian nation, west of Ar.
kansas.
By intercepting Pratt's letters written under
fictitious names, and addressed under an
other to her, Mclean was enabled to pene-
trate their designs and follow their tracks
< He finally came upon them in the Creek ma
n ton as has been published, where Pratt wa
arrestod I'd taken to Van Buren,; and Their
: the tragedy above related, occurred. Mclean
j, after reeking, what seems to be everywher
considered as just vengeance, upon the de
stroyer of his family, was allowed to depart
having secured the safe return of the chill
dren to their grand parents. No one moles
ted him, and the Van Buren, papers say
"hundreds of men could not have retaine
i him in custody if the civil officers had mad
the arrest, so determined were the people I
e justify the act"
$ We are not q little astonished to see til
Rev. G. G. Ward, city missionary in the cit
of st. Louis, who appears to have had an in
L innate acquaintance with the family and a.
the painful circumstances of this sad fall Q
q ShOON "Oih"iA; cAPiSSoih5 ~ suS SAoSS VI
If communication giving history of the un
3 happy events, the following sentiments:
II Whether his nc ton can be justified upo
Christian principles, or not, do not under
II take here to say. But if a case be imagine
: in which the taking of human life is justifi
? able, this in my opinion is one. Imagine a
% artful polygamist stealthily insinuating him
self into the affections of the wife of an hon
D orable and highminded gentleman, infuen
l. cling her TO despise and abandon her own has
band and friend, and smuggle off his good
to the Mormon church, and when their meta
N rious plans for running off his innocent an
IN beautiful children were discovered, and tn
heart-broken father compelled to part wit
vi them for their safety, the villain takes hi
r wife and the mother of his babes to his ow
= licentious embraces, thus breaking up an
e destroying the happiness of family foreve
( as he had done in no less than four in
stances before Infringing sorrow upon til
gray hairs of parental affection. And nc
W even content to stop there-but must com
!, over the mountains, and by stealth rob I'll
,, injured husband and father of his last rc
~ naming Jewels of affection-todoom them
Or life of infamy and prostitution! And tie
- me, where is the husband and father wit
p the heart and spirit of a man, who woul
longer forbear and suffer such fend |
live!"
lie VIRerSIA.-In the Legislature of Virgini.
nc the Representation in the House, is base
,e upon the with population Of each represer