Petition to George O. Tompkins, between 9 and 15 March 1839 [State of Missouri v. Gates et al. for Treason]

To the honorable of or either of the Judges of the supream court for the state of .

Your petitioners Daniel Shearer <​​> [blank] <​& Joseph Smith jr​> beg leave respectfully to represent to your honor that Joseph Smith Jr is now unlawfully confined and restrained of his liberty in Clay County (Mo) that he has been restrained of his liberty near five months your petitioners clame that the whole transaction which has been the cause of his confinement was <​is​> unlawfull from the first to the Last he was taken from his home by a fraude being practised upon him by a man by the name of and one or two others thereby your petitioner was forced respectfully show that he was forced contrary to his wishes and without knowing the cause into the camp which was commanded by of and from thence to sleeping on the ground and suffering many insults and inguries and deprivations which were calculated in there natures to brake <​down​> the spirits and constitution of the most robust and hardy of mankind he was put in chains imediatly on his being landed in and there underwent a long and tedious expartie examination not only was it expartie but your petitioners solemly declair that it was a mock examination that there was not the least shaddow of honor or justice or law administered to ward him but Shear prejudice and the Spirit of persecution and malice and prepossision against him on account of his religeon that the whole examination was an inquisatory examination your petitioners show that the said Joseph Smith jr was deprived of the privilage of being examined before the [p. [1]]