A great portion of the property was taken to Cedar City,
deposited in the tithing office, and there sold out. Forney says, in the Annual Report already quoted from,—
"Whoever may have been the perpetrators of this horrible deed, no doubt exists in my mind that they were influenced chiefly by a determination to acquire wealth by robbery."[71:A]
It is not within the scope of this work to enter into a relation of the many other murders and outrages committed by the authority or connivance of the Mormon Church. This is given as the most notable one,—"ex uno disce omnes." Those who wish to examine into these crimes more fully, are referred to the appendix to the printed speech of Judge Cradlebaugh.
The "Mormon War" having closed, the federal officers, as soon as practicable, assumed their functions, and proceeded to transact business. Federal courts were held, and the authority of the United States again, at least nominally, established in Utah.
In October, 1858, Judge Sinclair opened his court in Salt Lake City. Efforts were made to bring several noted criminals to justice, but everything failed. In the grand jury-room no indictments were found, and murderers and thieves were allowed to go "scot free."
At this term of court a motion was made to expel James Ferguson from the bar, for contempt of court. Ferguson offered to retire from the bar, which was not accepted. He then proposed to plead guilty; but the Judge said, as it was alleged that a Judge of the United States had been insulted
and intimidated, when in the discharge of his official duty, it was important that the country be put in possession of the facts, and no plea of crimination or stultification should prevent an exposure.
The grand jury did, finally, in this case, make the following presentment:—
"The grand jury find, that James Ferguson, of G. S. L. City, U. T., did use language and threats calculated to intimidate Judge George P. Stiles, U. S. District Judge, while in the discharge of his official duties, and presiding as Judge of this District Court, at the February Term, 1857.