| Show BAIL FOR FOB THE PROPHET AT AN INCIDENT RELATED TO THE WRITER HEREOF BY ELDER ANSON CALL in the summer of et 1837 brother parley had established the church in canada and the prophet joseph concluded to visit the branches there he one day in july or august but before proceeding tar far was arrested and tried at Paines gainesville painesville ville an acquittal was the result and be resumed his journey I 1 lived at madison twin twenty ty ma miles es east of kirtland but was bu building 1 I ding me a house in the latter city I 1 returned to my home borne in madison every saturday saturday upon the occasion of 0 the prophets prophet a departure for or canada I 1 was returning home as usual I 1 knew that joseph had started on this journey danied by sidney rigdon bigdon and albert P rockwood the latter of whom was returning to massachusetts on this particular day when I 1 reached paines vi ville ile which was eight miles east of kirtland I 1 saw faw the yearns jeams of josephs companions in front of bissells law office bissell was josephs attorney at this time I 1 learned from fattier father cahoon that the prophet had been arrested on some trumped up charge his bis bonds had been fixed at it and that no one that lived at kirtland would be taken as security at this time I 1 was not well acquainted with him personally I 1 knew joseph to speak to him but was not intimate with him I 1 went vent into bissells Bia sells and saw the prophet sitting there I 1 asked lor for the sheriff whose name was kimball slid who was a neighbor to me in madison ile he soon appeared and when I 1 asked him what was the matter he said nothing only we have st got your prophet here under arrest I 1 said what is that for mr kimball and he replied because he is going to ran away and we dont want him to leave kirtland and he shant leave kimball said that ball bail might be given en since ethe the sum of the bond had been fixed at and that no one who lived in kirtland would be accepted and that therefore joseph would of 0 necessity remain in custody I 1 asked ami I 1 good for the amount of the bond and he be answered yes but 1 dont want you to go security tor for I 1 dont jike like to see you lose your money mue myie ply was never mind that it I 1 R am m good enough I 1 am going on the bond kimball exclaimed in astonishment surely you dont mean in earnest that you will sign that bond and again I 1 answered 1 I really do mean it inthe if the prophet will permit me and you will accept me sheriff kimball then used every effort to dissuade me from my project saying that he had always liked me that I 1 had fiad worked hard bard for my mone yand that in those bose hard times ought not to be lightly thrown way he asserted again and again that I 1 would lose every dollar of the bond should I 1 sign it as he be positively y declared that joseph would never return after once escaping this conclusion I 1 coolly b but ut emphatically denied and reiterated my determination when I 1 demanded that he be accept me as bail he be inquired it my farm at madison were mortgaged or it if I 1 had bad incurred any debts or other obligations for which my property would be liable to both of these questions I 1 answered no and said that I 1 was willing to swear to my assertion seeing that I 1 was determined we went to magistrate kingsbury and I 1 tendered myself as security tor for josephs appearance at the next term of court which would wo uld be held some weeks later squire kingsbury was also an acquaintance of mine and he be sought to argue me out of my intention but of course my resolution was fixed and I 1 paid no heed to his remarks the bond was made out I 1 executed it and took the oath and then gen returned to bissells office I 1 went to the prophet and told him what I 1 had bad done he replied ill lam am very glad they resumed their lourney journey immediately going td fairport three miles north of painesville gainesville Paines ville where they were to take shipping for the dominion of canada my way was to the eastward twelve miles from painesville gainesville Paines ville the party of the prophet reached fairport in safety and got comfortably located on the boat it only wanted ten minutes of the starting time and the commotion incident upon the departure had bad already begun when sheriff kimball again appeared laid his bis hand band upon josephs shoulder and said you are my prisoner joseph was again taken back to painesville gainesville Paines ville tried and again acquitted but this of course bad gothing to do with the case in I 1 had bad become his bis bondsman A little time after this just before daybreak one morning joseph and sidney left kirtland in m a closed car ria they traveled twenty five miles to cleveland on the shore of a lake and sailed immediately for canada they landed there and joseph soon met john taylar who had bad recently been baptized by brother parley he traveled around among the branches for about a mouth month ministering counsel and comfort to the saints he had a horse and wagon furnished by the bret brethren bren in the meantime his absence from kirtland hidi beela discovered and sheriff kimball used frequently to tantalize me b saying ah I 1 your tsoo TOO is gone I 1 tole you bow it would be you yon will never see your prophet again of 01 course I 1 hadnot bad not the slightest fear and told him so I 1 said before the time of trial jose joseph h will be here but the mouth month tad had elapsed pl a sed and we were now entering thelast the last week before the date fixed kimball grew even more in his BIS attempt at ridicule he remarked 1 I told you so you will lose your money and though I 1 am sorry tor for you it serves you right while this was happening joseph josep had crossed over from canada with sidney and reached the city ot of buffalo in new york from here they traveled with his horse and wagon westward on their journey to kirtland kinland kin land they reached paines ville without any molestation but at this place while they were getting supper at bissells a short time before dark the house was surrounded by a mob bissell discovered them and came in considerable excitement to joseph he knew that the mob thirsted for josephs blood and that he himself might also become a sufferer but he be insisted U upon n them finishing their supper and MO this B they calmly did while the ma mob b surrounded the house and were growing more impatient darkness set in and bissell said to joseph since it is now night I 1 have a plan for savin saving you accordingly he be led them through the back door very quietly then around a little lane and out u upon anthe the mentor road which led in a straight line six miles west to intersect with a road leading two miles into kirtland but in order to prevent the escaping of the prophet and sidney by this road the mob rushed ahead on their horses rated posted sentinels along the road and lighted a bonfire every little way but joseph took to the fields many swamps lay jay in his way but he waded through these and carried sidney who was sick upon his bis back there were many fences and ather ther obstacles in his bis way but he made steady progress the fires along the mentor road showed him the line which he be must follow he only kept back from the street far enough to be in darkness sometimes he be was within twenty rods the road he be reached the intersecting road which led down to kirtland here they were sale safe because no fires had been lighted and no sentinels posted along this line they reached home at a late hour hoar on saturday night greatly exhausted joseph retired took a short sleep and was up again none except his immediate fa family ly knew of the arrival but that morning at meeting he appeared chis at his usual place in th the stand estand and spoke to the assemblage with great power he recounted the events of 0 the previous day and gave the names of many of the mob he also gave a history of his bis travels ii iq fanada Wanada this was only a few days bilbre the time set for trial when joseph saw me he said you need not go to court unless you desire I 1 will make all needed arrangements range ments about this matter so se that you will not be put to any trouble is am he e appeared in court at the atla stated ted time and was subsequently acquitted sheriff kimball was very much chagrined but I 1 was not astonished at the prophets return I 1 knew that h he would come in time for trial this is an incident which I 1 believe has nev never er appeared in print buvenia instructor |
