The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-06-09

spies, sent in to report the methodS OF
southern elections. The crowd became ex-
cited and a mob was soon organized. Inc
information impaired by the elders, that
they were ''Mormons," only added fuel to
the flame and in few moments wild,
crazy mob of 500 men were bowling around
the brethren Chief of Police Hugh
Wilson came to their rescue, and calling a
sufficient force of police, with drawn re-
volvers held the crowd at bay, standing
nobly up in defense of the lives and protec-
lection of the brethren. Under the protec-
ton of the police the elders met at the depot
and together took the train TO quieter and
SAFER SECTIONS OF THE COUNTRY.
During the excitement of the mob the
colored porter, Blank, mistaking Elder
Ruby for Elder Richards, there being some
resemblance, handed him the package OF
books left with him by the latter, and made
brief statement of how he came in pos
session of them. .
In January President Woodruff appointed
Elders S. b. Young, John Morgan and Viii
liam Spry a committee TO endeavor TO find
Elder Richards, dead or alive. A detective
from Chattanooga was employed and sent
to Meridian. but fear of ieopardizing his
life, combined with natural worthlessness,
prevented him from accomplishing any
thing. He made vague, contradictory and
unsatisfactory IGpOIGS, unII4 dll COHANChOp
was lost in him.
In April it was decided that Elder Nor
gan, accompanied by Brother James Till
man, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, should go
to Meridian and see what could be done. On
Monday, May e, we met, and registered at
the st. Charles Hotel, Meridian, Elder NJ.
under the assumed name of Jas. Hirch,
After consulting together we secured a
room and went Systematically to work
nf.
Richards supposed route of travel after
| leaving Meridian, and carefully searched
every suspicious nook and corner, in hopes
of finding some evidence of his murder
The county coroner, Mr. Simpson, was
visited, and from him it was learned that
NO UNIDENTIFIED BODY
had been buried in the county during the
past year. The records of the chancery
court were searched, thinking it possible
that he might have lost his mind and been
assigned TO an asylum. The asylum was
also visited and the different wards in
spected, but all to no purpose. The negro
porter Blank was hunted up, and carefully
questioned, but adhered strictly to his
previous statement. Mr.. Hugh Wilson,
now ex-chief of police, was visited and d
statement made to him of the object of our
visit. In all these labors great difficulty
was experienced from the fact that il was
deemed unwise for our identity to be es-
tablished.
After SIX days of inccssant labor, Elder
Morgan left for home, leaving Brother
Tillman and Mr.. Wilson to prosecute the
| search Brother TiIIman follows the bust
ness of mending stoves, and could easily
gain access to any place he desired, while
| his occupation would divert suspicion as
to the real object he had in view. During
the two weeks following he was busily en-
gagged in the prosecution of his trade, and
| quietly working for any information OBJ
tainable. On Monday, May %, he left Me
ridian, following the supposed track OF
Brother Richards journey, stayed that
night with Mr.. M Pigford, of Russell sta
ton on the A. G. S. railway. On the morn
| ing of the 2Sth. he learned from his host
that a man had been killed two miles up the
road, during the past summer by passing
/ train. Following this clue he called or
| ESQUIRE J. w. Deerman, of Toomsuba, and
| learned from him that such
AN ACCIDENT HAD OCCURRED,
and that he sat as coroner at the inquest
He readily recognized the photograph Of
Brother Richards as the man killed, as die
also five of the jury of inquest, and others
who had seen the mangled remains OF the
dead man.
Brother Tillman returned to Meridian
that evening. and wired Elder Morgan al
La lara, Col, who Immediately left fol
Meridian, arriving on the evening of June
.. On the morning of the Sd, casket was
shipped to Toomsuba station, twelve miles
distant, accompanied by Undertaken A. b.
Wagner, / F. Etheredge, Brother Tillman
and myself. The grave was opened and the
box containing the body brought to the