Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-05-29
THE MURDER OF ELDER PRATT

The Van Buren (Arkansas) Intelligencer of
the i9th gives the following particulars of the
murder of Farley Parker Pratt, by Hector II
Mclean, heretofore mentioned by telegraph:
The deceased, whose name was Farley Parker
Pratt, was man OF note among the Mormons,
a' and' Judging from his diary and his letters to
MIS- Mclean, he was man of more than ordi-
nary intelligence and ability. lie had been
preacher and missionary of the Mormons at San
Francisco, California where he made the ac-
quaintance of Mrs. Mclean, whom he induced
to embrace the Mormon faith
She was at that time living with her husband
Hector III. McLean; they were happy and pros
porous until she made the accnaintance of
Pratt, and embraced the Mormon faith. She is
the mother Of three children by McLean-two
boys and girl-and seems to be an intelligent
and interesting lady; converses fuentIy, and
with more grace and ease than most ladies
About two years ago, and soon after she became
convert to MOrmOnism, she made an ATTEMPT
to abduct two of her children to Utah but was
detected and prevented by her brother, who
was Their in California, and residing with his
brother-in-law, Mr. Mclean. She soon after,
however, found means to elope with said Pratt
to Salt Lake, where it is said she became his
seventh wife.
After the elopement Of Mrs. Mclean. her
parents, who reside near New Orleans. wrote TO
Mr. Mclean. In California to send the children
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 immedi-
ately LETT San Francisco for New Orleans and
on arriving at the home of his father-in-Iaw he
learned from them that Mrs. Mclean had been
there, and after an Intellectual effort to convert
her father and mother to MOrmOnism she pre-
tended to abandon it herself, and so far gained
the confidence of her parents as to induce them
to entrust her in the city of New Orleans with
tho children; but they soon found that she had
betrayed their confidence and eloped with the
children.
They then wrote to Mclean in San Francisco
who, upon the receipt OF their letter, went to
New Orleans, and learning from them the above
facts III reiatiOn to the children, Immediately
started in pursuit Of his children. He went to
new 1ork and 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 a large party of
Mormons en- route for Utah. He then returned
to New Orleans, and from there to Fort Gibson,
In the Cherokee nation, with the expecta ton of
lnterceptlng his wife and children at that point
On arriving at Fort Gibson, and while there
be found letters in the post office to his wife
from Pratt, some Of which were mailed at ST
Louis, and others al Flint Post Office Cherokee
Nation. We are unable to give the contents of
these letters with particularly, but they con-
tanned the fact that Mclean was on the lookout
Tor her and the children, and that they were
betrayed by the apostates and gentiles and ad-
ylslng her to be cautious in her movements, and
not to let herself be known only to a few of the
saints and elders Mclean then upon affidavit
made by himself, obtained a writ from the Uni
ted States Commissioner at this place for their
arrest, and succeeded in getting them arrested
by the United States Marshal They were
brought to this place for trial. and, after an ex-
animation before the Commissioner, were dis
charged.
Pratt as soon as released, mounted his horse
and left the city. Mclean soon after obtained
a horse and started in pursuit, and overlook
Pratt about eight miles from the city and shot
him Pratt died in about two hours after re-
celylng the wound. This is plain narrative
of the facts as We heard them from the most re-
liable sources, which we give to our readers
without comment, as we feel that we are unable
TO do so with justice to all parties. But deeply
do we sympathise with Mclean in the unfortu-
nate condition in which Mormon yillainy and
fanaticism has placed him