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7 The Storm Descends The several accounts describing events leading up to armed confrontation are extremely partisan and sometimes contradictory. Those who gave accounts represented various perspectives and seem to have been more interested in fixing blame than in providing accurate information. In any case, discerning the facts about the affair is a complex matter requiring careful comparison and assessment. For this reason all or part of several versions are presented here. As the weather began to warm in the spring of 1862, the Morrisites once more began to experience problems with the law as well as with some of their own dissatisfied fellows. Richard W. Young wrote: “Lot Smith, sheriff of Davis County, while attempting to levy an execution, was met by armed men and ordered away from the place.”1 The Morrisite account of this same incident provides us with considerable more detail and reveals the justification for resisting the officer. Whether the resistance was, in fact, as justified as the Morrisites believed is difficult to determine, but the important point is that they felt justified and were determined to continue such resistance. Eardley wrote: For some weeks there was no resistance to this systematic robbery [attachment of property] of the people, until Smith on one of his visits espied a very valuable horse belonging to one David Parks and his brothers. Smith notified Parks that on his next visit he wanted that horse. He had taken a liking for the horse and must have him. Parks informed Smith that he could never have the horse, and, moreover that he had taken the last hoof out of camp that he would be permitted to take; that this systematic plunder of the people would eventually bring them to starvation, and they had determined to stand it no longer. In the course of another week, Smith again made his appearance with several companions, all armed with revolvers, and riding fine horses, and carrying more executions, and according to promise, he had brought one for David Parks . . . . Parks, knowing [the reputation of] the man he had to deal with, took the precaution of having a dozen of his brethren 1 Richard Young, “The Morrisite War,” p. 348. 97 The Storm Descends armed and ready to protect him, . . . and these were waiting in a tent near by where they could watch the proceedings. Smith and his companions alighted and hitched their horses, and the former stepped to Parks’ horse, and began to untie him, to lead him away. Parks also stepped up, and taking the halter out of Smith’s hands . . . [refused to allow it]. Smith seemed nonplused and astonished that anyone should have the boldness to interfere with him in the discharge of his mission, and again attempted to untie the horse, and again was prevented by Parks. At this second rebuff, Smith turned toward his companions, who were apparently awaiting his orders, and caught sight of the armed men in the tent. He exclaimed, “Oh, I see you really mean what you say. You are all prepared to resist the execution of the writ.” Parks replied that he was correct. Then, turning to his companions [Smith] said they had better go, and they went, foiled and humiliated, to enter a complaint against Parks for resisting an officer.2 This resistance undoubtedly gave the Morrisites a sense of triumph over those they regarded as enemies, but it added fuel to the fire of hatred and distrust already blazing between themselves and the Mormons. Whether justified or not, the Morrisites were clearly in violation of the law and were fast gaining the reputation of “Davis County Bandits.” Their decision to resist all legal attachments and writs placed them in a most delicate position, for it could only be a matter of time before they would be brought to account. Whether impartial or not, the law would have its day. The suffering, privation, and disappointment of the winter had taken its toll among Morris’s followers, and as the weather became more favorable, a few of them determined to leave the settlement. Among these was William Jones, a highly pragmatic man who had become thoroughly disenchanted with Morris. Ironically, Jones was the same man who had been the first to acknowledge Morris as a prophet of God and had been one of the original converts to the Morrisite church.3 Jones was also one of the more wealthy Morrisite converts, having consecrated considerable property, including household effects and some sixteen head of cattle...

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