Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1857-06-01
From the National lniellt geneer
The Killing Of n Mormoa Apo.fIe,

Messrs Editors ! write respectfully 10 correct n
brie notice in your paper of yesterday, wherein II IL
crr1neouslr stated that "Orson Pratt. the Mormon
Elder was killed on the lith instant, near Van
Buren,, Arkansas, by Hector Mann Having per-
sona knowledge OF the parties, and of sumo OF the
cireumstanc that led to the homicide submit the
following IN reference to it;
Mr. Hector II Mclean with his wife aud family,
few years since emgratcd from New Orleans to Cali
fornia Whilst living there, in perfect accord with
her husband, Mrs. Mclean was drawn by curiosity
10 heir Mormon preaching Beoomiig interested ia
what she heard, she formed acquaintance with
Farley p Pratt, one of the Mormon Twelve Apos-
ties and the,Pfesident ofthc Stake in California.
The result of this was that she became Mormon and
left her husband and three children; not however be-
fore making endoaycrs to get possession Of the chill
dren, in order to take them 10 Utah, where 1t was
her aim to reside
For the better security OF the children their father
had sent them back 10 his parents in New Orleans,
whittier Mrs. Mclean also returned, but, finding NIL
her efforts get the children of no anvil she AT length
went alone to Utah by way of the Mississippi. Mis-
SOUR, and the usual overland route. 4 she
arrived at Great Salt Lake City she scaled 10
Farley I, Pratt becoming hs ninth wiie She en-
poycd her time in keeping school tic pupils OF
which consisted chiefly OF the children of Pratt by
his numerous "spirimns"
Impclea in part by maternal instincts. but proba-
bly, more by Mormon policy and the counscis OF Pratt
she accompanied him Ia the fall of lust year hi
mission To the States, repairing 10 New Orleans
more 10 strive for the possession OF the persons
of her offspring To uo able to do this etiectu-
ally, size simulated to her husbands hmly complete
conversion from Motmonism, sayng that she had
found ont all ts errurs and hoped 10 he forgiven for
her wnnderngs Succeeding thu in lnllinE all
suspicious To her sincerity she one lay abscond-
ed taking the coveted childtcn with her. mud this
she did well that her husband pfents were una
bic 10 trace her path of fight Their only resource
wns 10 nppfze their II ia California oil whit had
happ med, who quickly returned aud set himself
about discovering the whereabouts of his crrar wife
mud abducted children. In this he eventually sue
Cccded, aud following their tial from New Orcaus
by way of frSas, Arkansas aud the Indian territory
lie overlook thtm on their route norhwari towards
Utah under the personal direction oll'rlt, What
followed may be learnt from Mr. McLeans own letter
written 10 some friends ia ST. Louis nppea5 in the
St Louis Leaaer:
Four Gnsoy, Cherokee Nation, Nav 1887.
DIAN FRuNps hive just returned from
tramp, which succeeded in coming up with FL
cauur nnd the children, aud have mktn the children
from her by force have placed Elclnur in charge
of the United States Marshal, aud harc succeeded al
so IN aftestlng Pratt, who is IN tue g,td- house
of the fort The United States Marshall will start
with his prisoners tomorrow, and VII 10y differ
ent route in company of Capt. Cahil and lady, leave
with the children for the same place. arrested
Pratt and +. J. charg" of lercruy IN stealing the
clothing on the children when aidnappc' in value
- or ; 10. This is the only way could reach them
in these Territories. when Gil before the United
States Commissioner n VAN liurcn mean to have
Pratt arrested for having ilcd from justice FROM -.
Louis, Missouri, and yet ltquisition from tho Gov
ernos of Missouri Cor him.
In reference 10 the pgicl termination OF this af-
fair learn from the Van buren, tfk5i ln,elligcnccr
that Mr. Mclean. on arriving a. Ean Gibson, and
while there found letters in the post o,r his wife
from Pratt, some OF which were nniied ut 81 Louis,
mud others al Flint post Office Cherokee Nation
Thoy stated that Mclean the lool out for her
and the children and advising be- - be cautious in
her movements, md not TO let herseltbc known, I'M
less 10 a few oil the saints aud Oilers Mclean then,
upon aiidas made by himself, oba}ned writ from
the United States Commissioner Mt Nan n0ren for
their priest and succeeded in getting them arrested
10y the United States Marshal. They were brought
up for trial, and, after examination before the
Commissioner, were discharged. Pratt. rs soon rs
Released mounted his horse and lef Nan Buren,
Mclean soon after obtained horse AMI started in
pursuit, and overlook Pratt about eight mics trcm
the city, and shot him. Pratt died in about TWO
hours after receiving the wound.
You will thus learn TINT it IS not orSon Pratt who
is Killed hui Parley r Pratt and that H. Ii. Mclean,
ond not Hector Mann, was his slayer. orson Pratt,
the brother OF Parlcy is also apostle He is
the same who soourued ia Washington few years
Hgo, and published while here Mormon paper called
"lhe Seer. lie is NOW in England, OF which couu-
Try lac aud Farley natives, engaged in the bust
ness of Il prosecuting mission The two Pratts in
point Of intellect and education, stood perhaps the
first men in the Mormon ranks
Yours, respectfully,
Law