Praying with One Eye Open by Mary Ella Engel;

Author:Mary Ella Engel; [Неизв.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lightning Source Inc. (Tier 3)
Published: 2019-04-04T20:00:00+00:00

Though he did not mention them by name, the writer clearly referred to the strained marriage of Josiah and Sarah Kaneaster. Many dismissed the article as a “lawyer-looking,” albeit effective, device crafted to arouse public sympathy for the mob, especially as an earlier article in the Atlanta Constitution had claimed that no man could be found who believed the Mormon elders guilty of “immoral practices, even in the families of their ‘saints.’” North Georgia converts leaped to Standing’s defense, unleashing a flurry of letters in response to the accusations. In an interview with the Chattanooga Times, Morgan revealed that “statements signed by good citizens … have been forwarded, including a letter from Capt. Elledge, whose family came in for a portion of the unjust assertions heaped upon Elder Standing.” Still, the defense was a powerful one, and most north Georgians believed the accused would escape justice.36

Morgan returned to Rome in October 1879 to hear testimony offered to the Whitfield grand jury in the Standing case. “It remains to be seen what steps they will take to punish the murderers,” he wrote, but he looked forward to Clawson’s testimony in the matter. He remained skeptical that the Latter-day Saints would receive a fair hearing and doubted that any Georgia jury would produce a conviction for murder, “owing to the general public sentiment on the matter.” He hoped for a conviction on the charge of riot, a lesser crime.37

Clawson joined Morgan in Rome on October 6, in anticipation of his appearance before the grand jury. The missionaries sought out Henry Holston, also scheduled to appear as a witness. Holston’s efforts on behalf of the Mormons and his participation in the capture of the fugitives made the Georgian a target. He confided to the elders that “the whole community where I lived turned against me, so that it appeared as if I had no friends,” and he feared that “the friends of the men who murdered Standing thirst for my blood.” Threats to his life prompted the purchase of additional weapons, Holston reported, and only a sturdy watchdog and the promise of violent retaliation protected him.38

The grand jury subpoenaed Jonathan Owenby and Mary Hamblin, but they chose to remain out of Whitfield County until they were needed. If Jonathan Owenby experienced threats similar to those faced by Henry Holston there is no record of it, but Elizabeth and Mary Hamblin, like Holston, suffered ostracism and intimidation from fellow north Georgians. Men threatened the two women, William Kaneaster remembered, warning them that their house would be burned as reprisal for their attempted rescue of the elders, a threat that prompted Henry Holston and Tom Nations to confront individuals sympathetic to the mob. The two men “rode out to public places,” William wrote, spreading the word that “when these old ladies were burnt the fire was just started.” They issued threats of their own: “We will burn ’til you will be sick of fire.” The situation became so precarious, hovering on the brink of new violence, that it captured the attention of wealthy landowners.

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