Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1857-05-28
Important from Utah.
TIE Federal Courts Brohen up By The Mormons
-Outrage on the GcatiieS, DC.

The Federal Courts Brohen up By The MormOns
--Outrogs on the Geahles DC.
Advices from the Salt Lake City to the
5th of March, given all account Of the break
ing up and dispersion Of Z. S. Court by a
body of armed creatures of Brigham Young,
and the priesthood, commonly known there as
the Dantes. Correspondents state the facts
as follows
The T. S District Court for Utah commenc-
ed 9th of February, Judge Stiles, a seeding
Mormon, on the Bench. The [ nited States
District Attorney is Hosea Stout, an appoint
ee of the Government at Washington, and
noted member Of the DANTE Band. Upon the
opening of the Court, he rose and stated that
no Grand Juy wonld be impannellcd, as there
were no cases to be presented worthy of its
notice Thus, by one stroke, were covered
up a long catalogue of heinous Offences, in
cludng murders, robberics and arsons. A Pc
tit Jury was sworn, but every Imaginable im-
pediment to obstrrct Justice were avaiIed Of
All the members of the Bar are Mormons, eX
cept David II. Burr, Surveyor General, and
DR.. Hurt, an officer of the Indian Department
They had not practiced until the present term
when they agreed TO do 50 at the earnest So
=
very interesting eases to prosecute. 1t is con
tended by the MormouS that all the offences
committed in the Territory, must be tried by
the Territorial laws. Starting upon this pre-
text, while the Court was in progress on the
18th ul :, the Mormon members of the Bar
and others Of the DANTE band, inveglcd Judge
Stiles into q private room, locked the door
barred the windows, and then with rcvoIvers
! OF hoo ,I I,ni,, nf -,
throat, forced him to promise 20 uphold them
in whatever they did, and to Sustain the laws
Of Utah !" Thus oyerpowered, threatened,
and intimidated, Judge Stiles yielded, dismiss
ing the Jury and adjourned the Court, direct
ing the Crier to pronounce it adjourned sine
die The Crier accordingly announced the
Court adjourned sine die, but also stated that
it would meet the next day for the transaction
of any territorial business that might be brought
before it. The Judge at the bidding of the
DaniteS, notified the T. S Marshal, Mr.. Dod-
son, that after that day his presence would not
be required in the Court that the territorial
Marshal would he considered the officer, and
an account Of the expenses would be render
ed to the United States Marshal for pay
ment. The MormonS feared that the L.
5. Marshal-who is Gentle" in
terfere with the execution of their plans, and
therefore adop ed this mode Of getting rid Of
him, and substituting the Mormon Territorial
Marshal in his place. Judge Stiles being ask
ed whether it was possible that he could i'm
! agine his proceedings correct, frankly stated,
You understand my position with this people,
c0nnot do otaerwiSe'' ~
Judge Stiles opened the Court the next
day, and proceeded to business. The Terri
| torial Marshal, Alexander Mckay, occupied
the proper station of the Marshal, thus giving
the Court an entirely Mormon aspect, with
| Mr. Burr as the only Gentle within the bar
| The journal the preceding day was the read
| Finding that it recorded the Court as adjourn
ed until tomorrow" Mr.. Burr asked if the
record was correct, Judge Stiles replied that
the crier had misunderstood. The court was
| still in session on Territorial business He al
SO remarked that in all the cases to be tried
before him he should be governed by the laws
Of the Territory and would have recourse to
| other laws only when enactmentS of the Terri
torial Legislature could not be made to apply
! to the case. Mr. Burr then asked him if he
understood him to say that he would be guild,
| Cd By the laws Of the Territory in preference
! TO the laws Of the United States. Before any
reply could be made, an Attorney named Fer
guson commenced a most foul and abusive
attack upon Mr.. Burr. He then turned to
| the Judge, and told him that if he dared to
decide against their laws be could sit on that
bench no longer, and that the courtroom would
be cleared I'D quick !"
The district Attorney followed in violent
harangue, in which he accused Mr.. Burr of
trying to set aside the Mormon laws. and said
| that the Mormons had submitted to Gentle
lntertencc long enough, that they were now 90.
ing to have their own, and had good authority
for what they did, as well as safe hackers
The room was filled at the time with armed
rutfianS who constituted the "backers" alluded
to. As soon as Mr. Burr and Mr.. I. S. VIII
liams got up to reply, the Territorial Marshal
ordered them peremptoriy to stop and inl-
mediatey the whole audience sprang to their
feet, and the DANTE murderers, who filed the
Court, threw off their coats, brandished their
kinqeS and reyolvers, and created so great
confusion that the Judge was obliged to adj
journ the court at next
The the next morning, the Court opened
amid intense excitement The whole Mormon
popuace were armed, and had been inhamed
to such degree by the incendiary speeches of
Ferguson, Stout and others, that the least pre-
tence would have been avaed of to massacre
every Gentle i'll the place. The names of
Messrs. Burr and Williams were stricken from
the list of attorneys, and the Court immediate
Iy adjourned sine dle.
COMET STRUCK.-A lady in Owen county.
Iowa, has become derauped from duaII;ncr