Shadrach Roundy, a policeman, reported at 10 p.m., after I had retired, that a man by the name of Norton had threatened to shoot me. An examination was immediately had, but no proof was found.
This evening I appointed Theodore Turley Armorer-General of The Legion.
I insert the following affidavit:
Affidavit, Canfield and Belknap—Concerning Threats of Invasion from Missouri.
STATE OF ILLINOIS,
CITY OF NAUVOO, ss.
HANCOCK COUNTY, June 18, 1844.
Personally appeared before me, Aaron Johnson, a justice of the peace, Cyrus Canfield and Gilbert Belknap, of Hancock county; and being duly sworn depose and say that on yesterday, June 17th, 1844, certain persons—to-wit, Dr. Barnes and Joseph H. Jackson, having entered into conversation with your deponents, among other things declared that the Governor of Illinois was as big a scoundrel as Joseph Smith, and that he is the d—dest scoundrel that was ever suffered to live; that they did not care for the Governor, and had rather that the Governor would side with Smith; that they (the mob) were coming to Nauvoo with a sufficient force to take Smith; and if the people endeavored to prevent them, they should kill the people; and that if Smith had left Nauvoo, they had determined to destroy the Mansion and other buildings. And your deponents further say that one John Eller declared that he had lived in Missouri and was at the massacre of the Mormons at Haun's Mill, that he had killed one Mormon, and that he had left Missouri on purpose to fight the Mormons, and would hunt a Mormon as he would a deer. And your deponents further say that they heard that about one hundred persons had already arrived from Missouri, and were expecting as many more from that State. And your deponents further say, that they heard in Carthage that they had already received a number of guns and ammunition and provisions from St. Louis, in order to prosecute their attack upon Nauvoo. And, further your deponents say not.
CYRUS CANFIELD,
GILBERT BELKNAP.
Sworn and subscribed to before me, this eighteenth day of June, 1844.
AARON JOHNSON,
A Justice of the Peace.
Footnotes:
[1]. This was published in the Nauvoo Neighbor impressions of June 19 1844.
CHAPTER XXIV.
ATTEMPTS TO DRAFT SAINTS INTO MOB SERVICE AGAINST NAUVOO—THREATENED INVASION FROM MISSOURI—JAMES A. BENNETT URGED TO COME TO NAUVOO.
Wednesday, June 19, 1844.—The Legion assembled on the parade-ground. A company of the Legion came in from Green Plains about 11 a.m. I met them at the front of the Mansion, and an escort came down from the parade-ground below the Temple and escorted them to the ground.