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[Pottawattamie HC Conf Min LR 1764 21 1764 21 folder 1 Pottawattamie HC Lr 1764 21 fd 1 July 46-Feb 51 /                     LR 1764 21 1846 July-1851 February_Page_06]
Letter from pres. Orson Hyde respecting John Gheen..
                                         St Joseph  Mo. Aug 1st 1847     To the High Council if the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter day Saints at  Council Point.
              Brethren
                        In Justice to yourselves, and also to
the whole church over which Providence has called us to
preside at the present time, I feel bound to communicate
to you a very disgraceful occurance  which transpired here two
weeks ago last night. Bro. John Gheen ( If I may call him Bro.
called out his employer from his house in to the hall or space
out side, and fell upon him, and beat him shamefully
cried of murder, ''drew many people to the scene.
then was                                                                                 soon arrested, but made his escape froe the officer or gaurd..
  It is said by those who were eye and ear witness that the
blasphemous [-----] this that escaped the lips of them were a most
without a[ -----------] , and also that he threatened to lead
a
company through St Joe, that would make the place howl.
   The whole affair originated in his employer ( a saddler)
requiring him to tie up his bridle and halter in a manner
proper for sale, or that he should abate 2 bits a dozen from
his wages, for all that he neglected to arrange in that way.
 This Gheen was made acquainted with, but he made
three dozen and neglected to do with them as his employer
wished upon which his employer docked him 75 cents on
with this and went away  and got intoxicated and
then declared that he would go and take the 75 cents out
of his employers hide. Some of the Brethren reason
[----------]
strongly against his doing it, and were offered to pay him
the six bite if he would desist from his purpose, but all
to no effect. He would not hear to reason, nor to the
entreaties of his friends; but has committed the shameful
deed, and has made his escape for protection to the Bluffs.
as is supposed, to entail upon us the consequences of his
folly and rashness..