Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-10-03
The Condition Of the Territory of Utah.

A letter from Salt Lake City to the New
York Times, reveals state of affairs in
Utah, which we are happy to think is with
on. like or parallel in the history of our
species. \ brief abstract OF the narrative
which it emb races, will, we are convinced
impress our readers with the same view OF
the matter
Judge Sinclair, of the District Court for
the Sd judicial District of the United States,
having, after great trouble. obtained Il place
to hold his Court, organized il on the 2Sth of
July, and Immediately had a Grand Jury
sworn in. Upon that, two Mormon Attor-
ncys filed motions on behalf of clients to
quash the array of the Grand Jury, because
it was not summoned according to the law OF
the Territory, which provides that all Grand
Juries shall be summoned by the Clerk of
the County Court. These motions being
overruled, and the law in question being
thereby declared TO be of no effect. the
Judge proceeded 10 charge the Grand Jury.
On the 30th. the Judge issued writ of ha-
beas corpus in favor Of one Deloss Gipson,
who had been tried for murder, and convic-
ted, IN the Probate Court, and was then
awaiting sentence Of death. The Judge
pcremptorly enjoined the Probate Court not
to proceed in the matter, and thus gave 4
death-blow to its assumption of power 10 try
criminal cases. Gipson had killed the son
of Mormon Bishop, and that was the rea-
son why they We're 5" anxious TO hang him.
Civil cases were first tried The first on
the docket was suit Of one Mcneil against
Brigham Young for false Imprisonment
This man had been declared by Young n
prisoner of war, and thrown into chains, his
only offence having been u free expression of
opinion in opposition 10 the Mormon rebel
lion. The damages were laid al 30,uoo.-
On the night OF the ID of August, while
Mcneil was standing at the door of his
clearinghouse, man advanced towards
him, extending his hand, as he thought, 10
shake hands; bat as il proved, he had a pIs-
tol in his hand and fired it into McNciIfs
abdomen. He lived until the next morning.
saying on his death-bed that he knew his
murderer, and giving his name. He was
conspicuous leader Of the DANTE association.
On the 81 of August, the Court proceeded
to the trial Of negro slave, for the murder
Of another negro. The only witness was
third negro, who kept out Of the way Tor
several days, but having been at last arres-
ted, escaped from the Marshal. by the un-
doubted connivance Of the Mormons. and
has not since been heard of. The jury who
were to try this case, were confined III
room during the night, and next day wrote
most insulting letter to the Judge.
The case Of Mckenzie and Brewer, detec-
ted in the act Of counterteiting the drafts OF
the Deputy Quarterma,ter-Gcneral at Camp
Floyd, having hecn called up, the Judge re-
ccived from John Wallace, a witness who
saw them perpetrate the act, in reply to a
subpoena, letter, dated Camp Floyd i'll
which he expressed the greatest anxiety to
obey the summons, but declared that he
burst not do it. since he very well knew that
the inevitable consequence would be his as
sassination.
A man named Thorpe having been con-
victcd of burglary. on his way to the peni-
tertiary, told the Marshal that he had been
first taken up by the Mormon Sheriff OF
Davis County on suspicion, and that he was
repeatedly hung up by the neck until he was
nearly dead, by that officer and others, TO ex-
tort a confession. Tie truth Of his state
mcnt was proved by the marks of the rope
around his neck.
On the 10TH suit for $50. in which
man named Drown was plaintiff. ami Bill
Hickman. the leader Of the Dantes. dcien
tlant, was brought up and decided IN favor
of the plaintiff, who appears not to have
been Mormon, and had been living some
time in California. \ short time after this
verdict. Drown, who lived in the country
came into town with friend named Arnold,
g d. La ,,n he
of II Mr. Eddy. That evening Hickman
and his gang, to the number OF nine per-
sons, got upon Il big spree, rode about town,
shouting and yelling, fired about thirty shots
in two minutes in the main street, wounding
several persons, and at night surrounded
the house in which Drown was sleeping,
and ordered him to come forth. Upon his
declining to obey, they broke down the
doors, both front and back, made their way
10 the room where he and Arnold We're and
Immediately commenced firing on them
Drown was MORALLY wounded, aud died IN
a short time, Arnold was shot through the
heshy part of the thigh, and wounded one
of the assailants in return, having discharg-
ed all the five barrels of his revolver. The
band then left and rode about town Is il
nothing had happened. The same night
man living in house adjoining that in
which this murder had been perpetrated.
saw, from his window, two men engaged IN
deadly struggle, one Of whom fell with
deep groan, and the other walked Off
Afraid to 90 out, he watched the fallen man
from the window, saw him get up, walk TO
the other side of the street and fall again.
and, two or three hours after, several per-
sons come and bear him off. Upon iDtor-
nation the next day, the Marshal went to
the spot, and there found hat and pool
Of blood.
Sergeant Pike, of the 10th infantry, was
indicted for an attempt to kill one Howard
Spencer, a Mormon, in Rush Valley. \
true bill was found against him. and he was
placed under the charge of the Marshall
On the | th of August he was conducted 10
u hotel to get his dinner, being under guard.
At the porch of the hotel, he was met 10y
Howard Spencer, who first asked him If he
was the man who had struck him in Rush
Valley and then shot him in the RIBS with =
pistol Pike fingered several days in great
agony, and died on the 18th. The murder
or ran across the street without molestatlon,
and mounting a horse which had been pre-
pared for him. rode off At least one hun
bred persons saw this murder Committed:
ve,. nobody except few of Pixies COM
rales, who came up after he had been shot
and q small number OF Wattss who hap
uened to be near. attempted to pursue the
In rho rursiiit ut the soldiers