Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1879-08-14
From the Denver Tribune.
THE MURDERED MORMON ELDER.

a four line dispatch from Atlanta, Georgia,
stating that Joseph Standing, Mormon
preacher, had been shot and killed by mob
of ten men in an adjacent county. The item
of news, swallowed up in the general tldings
from all parts of the world, would probably
never have been thought of here again, had
not a reporter for the Tribune been abroad
early Yesterday morning and accidentally CON-
fronted-Mr. Standings corpse. That is to
say, the reporter discovered that the body of
the dead son of Zion was in Denver, awaiting
transportation to Salt Lake City, and that it
was in charge of Elder Rudger Clawson, who
had been engaged in the work of conversion
in Georgia with the dead Standing, and was
with him at the time an incensed and infuria-
ted mob took vengeance into their own hands.
Elder Clawson was found at Charpiot's hotel,
awaiting the arrival of an express wagon,
which was to convey the casket, containing
the murdered Mormon, from the Rio Grande
to the Colorado Central Depot. Time being
limited, the reporter accompanied the Elder
on his trip to the depots, and assisted in trans
ferring the corpse, succeeding, during the
work, in obtaining from the Apostle an &C
count of his experience in converting the peo.
pie of Georgia to the Mormon faith.
Standing, the martyr, was young man OF
twenty-four years, fat and beardless, and with
not very bright look, judging from his pic
ture. He is said, however, to have been
man of magnetism and powers of eloquence,
and that during his short life in the church
service, he has performed great work. Claw
son, his companion, is only twenty-five years
old, rather good looking, Of slight build, and
of an apparent nervous temperament. lie IS
evidently a man of courage, will and pas.
sion. These two belong to class or order OF
the church called Seventies" and 60 around
evangelizing, so to speak. Standing went to
Georgia some sixteen months ago, and by in.
deiatigable labors and we'll attended zeal and
enthusiasm, had aroused a general interest in
the doctrine of the Mormon Church in and
about Whitfield county. He made his mis-
sionary home at Parnell station. In April
last the work having grown and the territory
of his influence extended, Standing applied
to the grand Giasticutus at Salt Lake for an
assistant. The church sent out young Claw
son to aid in the work. After Clawson's ar
rival, labor among the Gentiles was prosecu-
ted with great vigor and with such success
that those who wthstood the baneful infiu-
ence became alarmed for fear some member
of their family might be victim to the Sc
ductive arguments and pleadings of the young
Mormon apostles. Over one hundred fami-
lies were gathered to the arms of the Mormon
Church and assisted on their journey to the
city of Zion. Besides this, branch Of the
church had been established at Parnell, and
the services were regularly attended by those
who every week became more and more in
oculated with the pernicious creed. And as
the interest among those under the influence
increased, so did the protests and threats OF
the outraged Gentiles. Numerous words of
warning, and anonymous threats were sent to
the elders, telling them that they would be
forced to quit No attention was paid to this
The labor, the excitement and the baptisms
continued. Then committee of citizens
called upon the missionaries, and they were
told that the community intended to be rid of
them, and that unless they left or ceased work
in the county, they would be severely dealt
with. But the two Jealous Seventies went
ahead with their teachings, and every day
their ministry brought forth results. Then
came the denouement-the climax. On Mon
day, July 81, meeting was to be held at
farm house, some few miles from Parnell. 1t
had been advertised around the neighbor-
hood and in the town, and a crowd focked
to hear "the>word" as spoken by the sons.
Standing and Clawson proceeded on foot to-
ward the place of meeting, confident Of
large meeting and of winning converts to the
faith. At point about half way on their
Journey, however, the elders were suddenly
brought to halt by a body of ten or fifteen
armed men; and thoroughly armed, too,
with revolvers, knives and rihes- None of
the mob were masked or in any way dis
guised. A spokesman stepped forward and
informed the two Mormons that they must
follow and be taken into the woods, where,
at point already selected, they would be
stripped and fogged. The two saw that there
was nothing to do but to submit, and sur
rounded by the determined company, they
marched by side road, deep into the woods
to spring, where they were compelled to sit
down. They did so, and the mob withdrew
a few PAGES for consultation. By accident, or
great carelessness, one of the mob had laid a
heavy Colts revolver on a tree stump but a
few feet from where Standing was, and while
the men were talking together, he found it an
easy matter to reach the revolver, which he
did, and arose to his feet. His movement
was seen and an advance made toward him,
when Standing leveled the revolver at the
group and commanded them to remain quiet
and listen to him or he would shoot AS he
said this, one of the gang drew revolver and
quick as flash sent bullet crashing through
the Mormon preachers brain, entering the
head at the forehead and passing through the
Uranium. He fell to the ground and expired
almost Immediately. The crowd, excited by
the occurrence, then made rush for Claw
son, who by this time had risen to his feet,
and some one shouted, "Shoot the other one
too, God damn him w Clawson folded his
arms and looked his infuriated assailants in
their faces, saying calmly and slowly, "Gen-
tlemen, am ready to die" Clawson says
he thinks his presence of mind and his calm
ness at that critical moment saved his life,
for no further attack was made and the
crowd, in few minutes withdrew to one side,
shouting back for him to leave the country if
he wanted to live. Clawson thereupon left
the dead body of his associate with his assail-
ants and returned rapidly to Parnell, where
he notified the Sheriff and the Coroner. These
two accompanied Clawson back to the scene,
but the mob had dispersed. Standing was
examined where he lay, and it was found that
after Clawson left, second bullet had been
lodged in the dead Mormon's brain, and he
had been cut several times in the face with a
knife. An inquest was held, and, aided by
Clawson's description, warrants were issued for
thirteen of the men whom he had seen in the
mob, but at last accounts no arrests had been
n,nda thonnh q verdict of murder was re-