The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1885-12-08

! investigate the matter, beg that you
will say to the Council that l will be
/ gratified to receive from that body any
! facts bearing on the subject that may
be of service to the President, the Gov
ernor, or to the District Attorney who
is charged with the duty of the prosecu-
| ton Of offenseS against the laws of the
| United States and of Utah, and that it
Will be my pleasure at all times to sup
port the mayor in his efforts to preserve
| the peace and In unfolding the law.
Respectfully,
e. II. MURRAY,
Governor.
Ms. CLARK moved that as some OF
| those invited had declined, and others
had not appeared, an investigation be
proceeded with. that those who were
present might tell what they knew OF
the matter. Carried.
The MAYOR called Mr.. Patrick to the
chair and himself took the floor: He
stated that on Monday, November 80.
| he heard a great many rumors regard
ing a threatened revolution of the peace
of the city. The first definite State
ment came from Mr.. P. L. Williams.
70 the effect that before daylight
on Mon lay morning armed bodies of
men had entered the city, ono detacn-
ment, numbering nine persons having
ridden up West Temple street. The
Mayor remarked to Mr.. Williams that
he did not believe such a thing could
happen without the City Marshal's
knowledge, but he would thoroughly
investigate the rumor. This was done,
and it was found that no such thing had
ever occurred On Tuesday morning
the Mayor visited the Governor. and
informed him there was no truth in the
rumors that armed men were gathering
III the city; that anybody was pre-,
pairing to attack the Penitentiary:
that the Mormons had any
idea of making an outbreak: or
that any others Of the rumors affecting
the peace of the citv had any founda-
ton whatever. The Mayor further
stated that Deputy Collin was perfectly
safe in either the Penitentiary, the Fort,
or the City Jail The Governor assured
Mayor Sharp that he was fully con-
WINGED that there was no truth in the
rumOrS, and that all was perfectly
quiet. The Mayor supposed the excite
ment was allayed, but on Friday Gen.
McCook stated that it had come to him
that arms were stored in the Tithing
Office. The Mayor. in company with
Gen. McCook and others, went through
the Tithing Office. and found nothing
W a ever worthyof notice The only arms,
i such they could be called, that they
had found, were about twenty or thirty
old muskets and flintlocks, some of
them older than this century, without
ramrods or fintS, kept as mementoes of
the early Mormon immigration to Utah.
the fact that the rumors,
which had been shown TO be untrue,
had aga been started, the Mayor
st ted that he had called this special
session of the Council.
Mr.. STRINGFELLoW asked whether the
Governor or any one else had named
any person who had given rise to the
rumors. The Mayor answered mono
names were given. The District Attor-
ney had been mentioned. and it had
come to his ears from Mr.. Williams
that Mr.. J. L. RaTlins had been one of
those who had seen parties of armed
men coming into town.
Mr.. RAWLIEs said he had not been
abroad Sunday evening, and he had
seen no armed men of any description;
knew nothing except OF the general ru-
mofs that armed men we're entering the
city; thought it was Commissioned Nc
Kay who had mentioned the matter to
him. Mr.. RawlinS was thanked by the
Mayor for responding to the invi tation
of the council, and withdrew.
ATTORNEY RICHARDS said that as soon
as the rumor5 were stated to him by
the Mayor, he took steps to learn the
nature of the reports sent east, and he
found that the eastern press had re-
ceived dispatches to the effect that
bodies Of armed men were lining the
road to the PenitentiarY and that the
lives and property OF non-Mormons
were in danger. He then went over the
ground previously mentioned by the
mayor of the investigations by the Mar
shall, of the apparently satisfactory in
tervieW with the Governor, OF that gem
tleman's assurance that he believed the
rumors to be untrue, and ofhis promise
that he would use his good offices to
allay the excitement. He had gone to
Mr. Cannon in relation 10 the report OF
concealed arms, and had seen the
Wondering arms described by the
mayor. Had visited the "armory''
with Gen. AIcCook, his adjutant and
the Mayor; the General had seeR-iust
what he, Mr. Richards saw, and had OBJ
served that the only dar ger from one
OF those guns would be to the man fir
ing it. With regard TO what the Cover
prominent Mormonsn IN encouraging
organization and armirg. he and the
mayor assured him that they had seen
prominent Mormous" and been as
sured by them that the rumors were
utterly false.
Mr.. PETIT asked what there was in
the story OF armed men assembling in a
certain settlement at the toll OF bell.
Mr.. RICHARDS ans Tered that the Gov
ernor has said man told him that upon
the sound of bell one night in a neigh
boring settlement. body of armed
men assembled. Declined to give the
name of the man or the settlement, or
of his informant: said it was con-
tidenta.
Ma CLARK asked whether they had
found any one who had sent the SELL
satiOnai dispatches east.
Mr.. RICHARD answered that the Gev-
ernor had SAID no dispatches had been
sent by him.
Mr.. WADDELL asked whether the At
torney thought, from his investigation
that there was any necessity of establish
ing barracks in the city.
Me-. RICHARps answered emphatically
mot the least" and he had given il a
weeks careful inquiry. They and the
GoyernorAad separated with the under