Minutes and Testimonies, 12–29 November 1838 [State of Missouri v. Gates et al. for Treason]

While the last expedition was going on in ; I there was a meeting in which was called a Danite meeting, in which presided. the meeting there were present between 60 & 100 men. a guard was put around the house. & one was placed at the door.— said, That the last man had run away from . that was agoing to, that the next man who started he should be pursued and brot back dead or alive— this was put to vote and agreed to without any one objecting to it. he further said, that “one man had slip[p]ed his wind yesterday, and had been thrown aside in the brush for the buzzards to pick” and that the first man that lisped it should die” At this meeting companies were chosen some to procure wood for the town, & some to haul in houses into to town, & some to procure meal for the army at and also for the families of those who were in the expedition to — and one company for spies— said these companies were necessary, and appointed men <​as heads of the companies​> to make them up— further stated at this meeting, that the enemy [p. [76]]