That day the leaders came into the town heavily guarded, and were marched to the square. There they were permitted, after much pleading, to see their distracted families. It was ascertained from the Prophet that a court-martial had been held, and the prisoners were tried without being allowed to be present or to have any one to defend them, and were sentenced to be shot the next day. Gen. Doniphan, who was a lawyer, told the mob he would have nothing do do with such unlawful high-handed proceedings, and in disgust left them, ordering all of his men to take up their march homeward.
This circumstance made the robbers hesitate, and accordingly it was determined to remove the prisoners to Independence.
Not long were they permitted to be with their friends, but were taken back to camp. The next morning the Prophet and Patriarch, Sidney Rigdon, P. P. Pratt, Lyman Wight, Amasa Lyman and George W. Robinson were started off for Independence.
CHAPTER VIII.
Newel set to work to try and assist the homeless ones and feed the poor. To this labor he devoted himself through the Winter.
In February he determined to go, with the rest of his brethren who were leaving the State, but did not know how it could be accomplished.
"Lydia, how are we to manage?
"The mob have killed all my stock but one cow, and we can't very well ride her, or drive her alone."
"Can you not make some turn with the cow so that some one will move us?"
"Perhaps! At least I can try."