Petition to United States Congress, circa 29 November 1839, Draft

inflamed and the Citizens <​Mob​> began to collect from all quarters and in large numbers with <​Pretensions​> the ostensible object of assisting the Sheriff to serve the process. And here let it be observed in passing that had sold the improvement and Pr[e]emption Claim on which he then resided to the , recieved his pay for the same and that through his instrumentality the Mormons were driven off and <​he​> now retains both their mon[e]y and the improvement. As soon as the above reports reached the ears of the said Smith & they determined immediately upon the cou[r]se they ough[t] to persue, which was to submit that submit to the lawes. They might <​both​> surrendered themselves up to , underwent a trial and in the abscence of all sufficient they were discharged; The[y] hoped that this voluntary submission of theirs to they law and their triumphant <​vindication​> of the charge would allay the excitement of the Community, But not so— The long desired opportunity had arrived, when the oppression & extermination of the Mormons, might be made to assume the form of legal proceeding, The Mob that had assembled with the pretended purpose of assisting the officers in the of process did not disperse upon the acquital of Smith & [p. 16]