Moore, John (1826-1907) to Mary Kelly

Camp Floyd U.S. April 14th 1859.
My dear Mary:
The last time I wrote was from the camp near Provo, In four or five days afterwards the court adjoined and the troops returned to this place; bringing with them four or five Mormons against whom the evidence of murder was strong. These with such others as can be bagged from time to time will be detained here under guard until their final trial. When that will be is not precisely known, Judge Cradlebaugh's name has become a terror to Mormons never to be forgotten. He can hear of their running away or leaving the country constantly. Verily, the wicked flee when none pursue.
I fear with their jury system purposely arranged to exclude all but faithful Mormons that not much can be done with the batch of murders now here; but at all events the evidence will be published to the world and it will serve to some extent to show up the every day workings of the Latter day Saints. [2] If you get Harper's Illustrated weekly you will see from time to time illustrations of the artistic manner of committing murder in Zion. The brethren have brought it to such perfection as to instill it to be considered as one of the fine arts.
The massacre of 117 men women and children by the Saints, when properly shown up will make some very handsome pictures. This slaughter was done to avenge the death of Parley P. Pratt who was killed in Arkansas by the man with whose wife and children he was at the time running away, intending to bring them to "Zion". Some eight or ten of the children were kept alive and are now in the vicinity of the scene of the massacre. These people had property to the value $30,000 or $40,000. Even on the supposition that the Indians killed them it was the duty of an honest community to sell this for the benefit of the surviving children. Everything - including from 600 to 1000 animals - fell into the hands of the Mormons. The guns were given to the indians who assisted them. Everything else, [struck: including] was sold or held for the benefit of the church. [3] When Judge Cradlebaugh in charging the Grand Jury some days ago, mentioned that the indians had complained of the unequal division of [struck: property] plunder on that occasion, it created an [audible titter] among the brethren throughout the courtroom. It was so good a joke that the saints should have outwitted the savages. If you get the "Valley Tan" you will be able to follow the developments of crime now being made here. There is not a single circumstance related there which is not true, and rather under than [overcolored]. To compare this community with any other would be doing them injustice: then parallel has never existed on the face of the earth.
I have no doubt that by the time this reaches you the papers will be filled with accounts of Judge Cradlebaughs oppressive and arbitrary manner of conducting courts. He is the only man who has ever alarmed them. There are six bishops and one president of a [struck: court] "state" now in the mountains and who will never sleep again in peace as long as Cradlebaugh remains in this country. Their absence makes thirty or forty [4] inconsolable grass-widows. We have a very interesting state of affairs here just now, the Judiciary and military against Cummings and the Saints. It remains to be seen whose side old Buck will sustain. If Governor Cummings, is upheld the judges will, I think resign and go home. The mail comes in more with regularity and I presume we shall have no more trouble until next winter. The spring is more backward than I supposed it would be in this valley; we have been having a light snow every two or three days for a month past. Your letter of 27th Feby came [to] the mail of this week. I know nothing of Churchills preparation to which you refer - never heard of it before. I fear those going to Pike's Peak for gold will be disappointed. I regret, and was much astonished to hear of the occasional insanity of [Jno.], Mc Canley's wife. If she has been long so, it was a gross imposition on him. I am happy to hear such good accounts of Mother, the children and yourself, and take this occasion [illegible] to all of you my love and "distinguished consideration"
Yrs Affectionately
J.M.