Letter from Joseph Wood, 14 March 1843

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Bonhomme Mo. 14th March A. D. 1843.
Dear ,
Perhaps some of you think the Devil has got me before now, and if he has not, it is full time he should; but be that as it may I am yet in the land of the living and hope long to be— and though some brethren are perhaps, prejudiced against me and <​have​> laid several things to my charge having only heard one side, (which things by the by they will find a great difficulty in proving) yet I do not deny the faith, nor would I if I had a thousand devils to fight, and <​nor​> in times of trial and difficulty betray brethren to death and <​nor​> rob them of their property— and here allow me to assert that no case of seduction can be proved against me!
I have been practicing Law in this for some time, and have become quite celebrated as a criminal lawyer, so much so indeed that I am somtimes, in special cases, called to the city of to confront what is called, by some at lea[s]t, the most powerful cou[n]sel in the .
I went to the other day to defend a man charged with Larceny, but before I commenced his defence, I was informed that one of my brethren was in jail charged with an attempt to Murder , on going to the jail I found there , he wanted counsel, I promised to appear & also engaged as an assistent he is a fearless attorney, faithful to his client, and the best criminal Lawyer in the , he is the only Lawyer that dread in argument in the , so far as I <​as​> my acquaintance extends and I am acquainted with the most celebrated— I promised him $2,50 to assist me if is the p[e]rson I sup[pose] him to be; if he is Joseph’s friend—
They have sent him in Irons to , and if the church want him saved, steps must be taken quickly— I think he can be acquitted, if in time, the right means are used.
will be principal witness against him, but I am informed that there <​are​> men in who know of so much of his rascality that his testimony may be impeached— he should quit breathing— He has for some time <​been​> telling lies about the church [p. [1]]
Bonhomme Mo. 14th March A. D. 1843.
Dear ,
Perhaps some of you think the Devil has got me before now, and if he has not, it is full time he should; but be that as it may I am yet in the land of the living and hope long to be— and though some brethren are perhaps, prejudiced against me and have laid several things to my charge having only heard one side, (which things by the by they will find a great difficulty in proving) yet I do not deny the faith, nor would I if I had a thousand devils to fight, nor in times of trial and difficulty betray brethren to death nor rob them of their property— and here allow me to assert that no case of seduction can be proved against me!
I have been practicing Law in this for some time, and have become quite celebrated as a criminal lawyer, so much so indeed that I am somtimes, in special cases, called to the city of to confront what is called, by some at least, the most powerful counsel in the .
I went to the other day to defend a man charged with Larceny, but before I commenced his defence, I was informed that one of my brethren was in jail charged with an attempt to Murder , on going to the jail I found there , he wanted counsel, I promised to appear & also engaged as an assistent he is a fearless attorney, faithful to his client, and the best criminal Lawyer in the , he is the only Lawyer that dread in argument in the , so far as my acquaintance extends and I am acquainted with the most celebrated— I promised him $2,50 to assist me if is the person I suppose him to be; if he is Joseph’s friend—
They have sent him in Irons to , and if the church want him saved, steps must be taken quickly— I think he can be acquitted, if in time, the right means are used.
will be principal witness against him, but I am informed that there are men in who know of so much of his rascality that his testimony may be impeached— he should quit breathing— He has for some time been telling lies about the church [p. [1]]
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