of the Saints from settling in the county. The mob for their part agreed
not to persecute the Saints while this was being done.

The mob, however, did not keep this promise, but daily broke into houses
and abused the inmates.

The Saints now appealed to the highest officer of the state, Governor
Dunklin, for protection. He told them that the laws were able to protect
everybody in their rights, and advised the Saints to have those arrested
who threatened them, and have them tried in court for their misdeeds.

This, seemingly, was very good advice, and would have worked all right
under other circumstances; but when it is remembered that the very
officers--the constable who would have to do the arresting, the judge who
would try the cases, and in fact all concerned--were men who were
themselves leaders of the mob, you will see how useless such a course would
be. However, the Saints engaged four lawyers to protect them in the courts.

This made the mobbers more angry than ever, and they made preparation for
further action against the Saints.

"We will rid Jackson county of the "Mormons"," they said, "peaceably if we
can, forcibly if we must. If they will not go without, we will whip and
kill the men; we will destroy the children, and abuse their women."

The Saints now resolved to defend themselves, and the men gathered in small
bodies, armed with guns.

On the night of October 31, 1833, a mob marched to the Whitmer settlement
of the Saints where they whipped several of the brethren to death, drove