Letter from George Teasdale, 15 November 1895 [LE-41883]

I November 15^th 5 President Wilford Woodruff Salt Lake City, Utah My dear brethren:

On Wednesday morn ing, between [[ten]] and three oclock, I was aroused from my slumbers by Bro. David Robinson, from Colonia Dablan. He injoined me that he had been sent in haste to inform me of the death of Bro. Christopher B. [Heaton] who had been [slain] by a mexican, and to send word to his family in Cane Valley that they might attend the funeral. I [illegible] send Russell Bps Counselor Miles P. Romney for requesting him to send [[illegible]] notify the family. Bro. Romney[ illegible] and called upon me to know [illegible] hur. I sent word to Bro. M. R. R. [illegible] requesting him to be ready at 7 o'clock to [illegible] Bro. Romney and myself to Bro. Peter [illegible] Skouson's [igleholead] sent the messge [illegible] see what could be done. Shortly after [illegible] we left Colonia Juarez, and went [illegible] this side of the [illegible]

the killing had been done. When we arrived there we learned the body had been taken to Casa Grandes, by the Meidean authorities and that several arrests had been made, a num ber of our brethren were there, and an exami nation was being held at the Judges Office. We started for Casa Grandes, On our way met Bro Jackson, by Jackson Mill, a miller who lives between [illegible] and Juarez colonies, who told us he had been sent to inquire [illegible] He [illegible] be held. It was determined to hold [Heaton] at Dublan School House, and he was sent to have the coffin made and clothing prepared, so there be [illegible] and we went on to Casas Gran des. There we met Bp. W. Farr, Helaman Pratt Georg Lake, [G. E.] Harris, J. L. Brinholt, John Robinson and others. There we saw the body, of our beloved brother [Henten] He had been shot through the breast and beaten over the head, and it was a sorry sight. There were a number of prisoners under arrest and the examination was going on. Some of our brethren had been detailed as guards over those suspected. We learned the particulars. Br. [Heaton] [illegible] part of his family, and Bro. Johnson [illegible] from Cane Valley had been

30 [illegible] making molasses for the Dublan [illegible] Colony on the west side of the river. [illegible] in the Dublan Ward, in a place called San Jose. they were camped a distance away from the mill. They had suffered from a raid made by some Indiens who had [illegible] barrels of molasses, steilyards, a brass pail. and other things. When preparing to leave, one of the boys found [illegible] under the [pummice,], or pressed out cane, one of the barrels of molasses, cracked away. Bro. Heaton thought it would be a good plan to let the barrel remain and watch for the [illegible] take it, and leave them an arrested. He went to Bro. George Lake, who is an officer under the government, amd counseled with him about it, and Bro. Lake promised to send an officer and help. Bro. J. L. Brinholt who lives by, was also engaged. On the evening of Tuesday, the 12^th inst, Bro. & Sister Hardy and Sister Heaton and family left per home having finished the molasses making, and left Bro. Heaton who stayed behind to assist in the capture of the [Heimes]. The wives at the house of Bro. Brinholt and took supper with the family and was mouth in prayer at their fam ily altar. He prayed they might be successful in the capture of the Hiemes. A son of Bro. Brinholt was watching where the barrell

was hid. It was a very cold evening and Bro. Heaton was worried about the lad, it being so cold, and said he would go and relieve him. Bro. Brinholt waited for the promised help at home. Bro. Brinholt's boy came home and attended to chores. A wagon was heard to go by and shortly after a shot was fired, and then as if a wagon with team running away. Bro. Brinhold grasped his gun and ran out followed in the direction of the wagon after going down by the place where the barrel was hidden, and passed with a few feet where the body of Bro. Heaton was lying. But the night was so dark he saw nothing. The sound of the firing reached across the river and aroused the brethren who turned out and went across the river and found the body. Word was sent to the authorities of Casa Grandes, who turned out in a hurry and succeeded in capturing the wagon and drivers and many suspected who live where the wagon was headed to. How Bro. Heaton came to his death, unless revealed hereafter will be a matter of conjecture. It is evident the thieves went with a way on to get the barrel of molasses. That they got it and loaded it on the wagon and Bro. Heaton appeared on the scene and was shot down and

III [illegible] beaten over his head, and killed. [illegible] It was an [illegible] and run away [illegible] in the anxiety of the driver to get away, and passing over a mound, not leaving any end gate, the barrell of molasses fell out, and was afterwards found and taken to Casa Grandes with the body. After the exanimation the body was delivered up to be buried and Bp. Farr with John Robbinson and a son of Bro. Philip Hurst started with the body to Dublan where Bros. Phillip Hurst, Jas. S. Condore and F. G. Williams, the Bprs Counseler, took charge of the body washed and dressed it. We return ed to Colonia Juarez. The next day Thursday, Elders Henry Eyring, W.R.R. Stowell and myself with Miles P. Romney went to Dublan and attended the funeral obsequies. His wives and children had come and all were present, suffering acutely from the effects of the sudden bereavement. The Meeting House was full of sympathising Saints who were all shocked at the heartrending occurance. The choir sang the hymn "Sweet friend of the nicely, kind helper of youth etc" and Elder Dennison E. Harris offered prayer. Choir sayng "Thou dost not weep to weep alone" etc and the following brethren spoke in the order given - Henry Eyring, Austin Farnsworth W.R.R. Stowell, Miles P. Romney, Alma P. Spilsbury,