Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1857-06-06
tFrom the Ct. Louis Democrat, May 2s]
ANOTHER STARTLING TRAGEDY-ELDkH
PRATT, TIE MORMON, KILLED.

ANOTHER sTARTLING GTRAGEDf-EbDhA
PRATT, THE MORMON, KILLED.
Seduction of WIFE in CalJornia-Shs De-
serts her Husband-Steals Awdy her Chit-
dren, and is Sealed as the Ninth Concubine
to her Debaucher.
We have to record to-day another painful
narrative of Mormon iniquty, seduction and
viainy, followed up in this instance, however,
as it will be seen, by summary vengenance
from the injured husband. The account which
we publish below is taken from the Van Buren,
Ark. J lntelligencer, and gives in brief the
facts Of the case pretty much as they have
occurred From the Fort Smith Herald and
the New Orleans Bulletin, We also have con-
firmation of the whole story up to the last
act in the drama, the tragic death Of Elder
Pratt, the Mormon Apostle. Thus it will
be seen what utter ruin and devastation has
been wrought in virtnous family by the
designing acts OF sanity scoundrel, and the
lures of false and licentous fath. Here is
what the Van Buren, Inteliigencer records OF
the termination OF the affair:
"TRAGIcAL 1t is with regret that We have
to chronicle the homicide, committed in our
vicinity on Wednesday las. by Mr. Hector
II. Mclean, late of San Francisco, Califor-
MIA, upon the person of Mormon preacher.
More than oil do We deplore the melancholy
affair that led TO its commission. The de-
ceased, whose name was Farley Parker
Pratt, was a man Of note among the Nor
mons, and Judging from his diary and let!cis
to Mrs. Mclean, was man OF more than
ordinary ability-Iie had beer preacher
| and missionary of the Mormons in San Fran
cisco, California. where he made the acquain-
tance Of Mrs. Mclean, whom be induced to
embrace the Mormon faith.
ba of thut ina living
band Hector Mclean they we're happy and
prosperous Until she made the acquaintance
of Pratt and embraced the Mormon faith
| She is the mother of three children by Nc
Lean, two boys and girl, and seems to be
an intelligent and interesting lady converses
huently. and with more grace and ease than
most ladies. About two years ago, and soon
after she became a convert TO Mormonsm,
she made an attempt to abduct two of her
children to Utah, but was detected and pre-
vented by her brother, who was then in Cal
iforuia aud residing with his brother-n- law,
| Mclean. She soon after, however, found
means to elope with said Pratt to Salt Lake,
where, it is said, she became his ninth vile.
"After the elopement of Mrs. Mclean, her
parents, who reside near New Orleans, wrote
to Mclean, in California, to send the chill
dren to them. He did so. Several months
after this Mr.. Mclean received news that his
wife had been to her father, in New Orleans
and eloped with the two youngest Children
He Immediately left San Francisco for New
Orleans, and on arriving at the house OF his
father.n. law, he learned from them that N RS.
Mclean had been there, and after an ineffec-
tual effort to convert her father and mother
to NJ MOrmonsm, she pretended TO abandon it
herself, and SO far obtained the confidence OF
her patents. rs to induce them TO entrust her
in the city Of New Orleans with the children,
but they soon found that she had betrayed
their confidence and eloped with the children.
"They then wrote to Mclean in San Fran
CISCO who upon the receipt of their letter
went to New Orleans. and learning from them
the above facts in relation to the atfair, i'm.
mediately started il pursuit OF the children
He went to New York, then to st. Louis
While in st. Louis, he learned that the woman
and children were in Houston, Texas. On
his arrival in Houston. he found that his wife
had left some time before his arrival, to join
q large party of Mormons en- route for Utah
lie then returned to New Orleans, and from
there to Fort Gibson, in the Cherokee Nation
with the expectation of intercepting his wife
and children at that point
"On arriving at Fort Gibson, and while
there, he found letters in the Post Office tc
his wife from Pratt, some Of which were
mailed at St. Louis. and others at Flint Post
Office, Cherokee Nation. We are unable tc
give the contents Of these letters with par
tcularity but they contained the fact that
Mclean was on the lookout for her and tht
children, and that they were betrayed by tht
Apostates aud Gentiles and advising her tC
be cautions in her movements, and not to lei
herself be known only to few Of the Saints
and Elders. Mclean then, upon nfidav
made by himself, obtained q writ from th'
United States Commissioner at that place
for their arrest, and succeeded in getting
them arrested by the United States Marshal
, They were brought TO this place for trial and
alter an examination before the Commissioner
were discharged.
Pratt. as soon as released, mounted hi
} horse and left the city. Mclean soon afte
obtained horse and started in pursuit, ant
, overlook Pratt about eight miles from tn
city and shot him. Pratt died in about IN,
hours after receiving the wound. This is
plain narrative Of the facts, as we heard then
from the most reliable sources, which we Civ
to our readers without comment as we fee
that we are unable to do so with justice to al
parties. Blu, deeply do we sympathize wit
y Mclean in the unfortunate condition in whlc
. Mormon vlainy ard fanaticsm has place
r him."