Four Missionaries Beaten in West Tennessee...in 1888.

Today we have a guest post by Dale Topham. Dale's great grandfather, Asahel L. Fuller, served a mission in Tennessee, from 1887-1888. Elder Fuller and his companions were the victims of a savage beating. We have heard of this event on AMH before, but I think Dale's retelling is worth sharing.

The Manuscript History of the SSM, compiled by Andrew Jenson, and located in the Church Historical Department, recorded the following: "Sunday September 2  On this day Elders Elias S. Wright, Asahel L. Fuller, Thomas M. Holt, and James H. Douglas were taken by a mob and very badly beaten while visiting friends in the eastern part of Crockett County, Tenn." The Deseret News printed two different accounts of this incident and I have combined them to create a complete account.


During the week of  August 12 to 19, 1888, Elders Fuller and Douglas were laboring in the eastern part of Crockett County, Tennessee. While there, James Terrell Brooks "expressed a desire to be baptized" and the service was set for the 19th. The missionaries then contacted the conference president, Elias S. Wright, and invited him to participate in the baptism. At the services, onlookers sneered and hurled insults like, "He didn't receive the Holy Ghost, I saw him go by on a butterfly." After the baptism Elders Fuller and Douglas returned to the Brook's home and retired for the night, leaving their doors open because of the heat.


At about 11 p.m. they were awakened by an armed mob of twelve to fifteen men, who ordered the Elders to accompany them to the woods. "Elder Fuller  commenced counting them, stating at the same time, 'you are a pretty looking lot of fellows.'"  James Douglas then sat up and repeated what Elder Fuller had said, then added, "What do you think Christ would think of you if he were here? Why do you disturb the quiet of peaceable citizens at this time of night with those hideous masks. If we have any transgressed any of your laws we are amenable; take us before your magistrates and we will answer any charge you may prefer."


The men told the missionaries they did not want them to preach in the area any longer. At this point Mr. and Mrs. Brooks came in and examined the masked men. Someone outside said, "enough said! enough said!"  and the men left the house, firing their guns in the air once they were outside, which according to Elder Douglas, made "the former scenes more hideous."


After this the missionaries went northwest to Dyer County for two weeks until they were informed that Elder Thomas Holt would be arriving soon. They returned to Bell's Station to pick him up, but in order to avoid publicity Elder Wright went through town alone while the other two skirted around it and waited in the woods for Wright and Holt. After Holt's arrival, they pumped him for news from home and shared some "delicious Utah fruit" along with bread and plum preserves. They took the round about way to Brook's house six miles east of town to avoid the townspeople and retired for the night.


This was on the first of September, and at 2 a.m. they heard someone yell "surrender" and were immediately surrounded by "a horde of demons in human form." The mob was armed with pistols, shotguns, rifles, and clubs, and "using the most blasphemous language," ordered the Elders to get up. The Elders were dragged from their beds, and when Mr. Brooks entered the room to see what was going on he was clubbed across the forehead. Two men held on to each of the four missionaries and took them through the mud an eighth of a mile, "using the blackest oaths that mortals can utter." With the exception of Elder Holt, who had managed to pull his pants on, the missionaries were wearing their "summer night clothing, which was exceedingly thin."


Upon arriving at their destination, the men began cutting branches six feet long and trimmed off the smaller branches, leaving "ugly knots." The four missionaries were then bent over a log, with their knees on one side and heads on the other. While some men held the elders down, six others began whipping their backs with the branches and whenever one would raise his head to speak, he was struck with a gun butt. With each lashing a "ridge was made in the flesh of the elders and a streak of blood would stain their clothing." After 35 lashes the mob asked them to leave the country. The elders did not respond and were whipped again by "a demon weighing probably two hundred pounds - filled with a legion of devils, at the end of a six foot knotty beech limb." After receiving another 15 lashes and threats of hanging, Elder Wright promised they would leave the county. Several more lashes were dished out and the missionaries were set free after being instructed not to leave Brooks' house until 6 a.m. Upon returning to Brooks' the elders rubbed turpentine on each others' backs as a remedy. They were treated in order of most severely wounded, and Elder Wright was first. Asahel was third in line behind Elder Douglas.


The next day Elders Fuller and Holt left for another county, while Wright and Douglas remained for a few days. The Deseret News reported afterwards that the men were "suffering considerably" but were able to "attend to some of their duties." Elder Douglas was satisfied that their groans were "still ringing in the mob's ears".

Dale confirmed for me what I suspected, that Elder Fuller was eventually sent home because of his injuries. Another version of this beating is recorded here.

Crockett County Mobbing Part 3

In the Deseret News dated September 12, 1888 appeared an article describing the mobbing in Crockett County. It was based on a letter written by one of the Elders, though which one the paper does not say. The article differs only in some of the details. The number of lashes for each Elder was estimated at 45, and the first Elder to answer that they would leave and promise not to return was Elder Wright. The letter writer did not condemn him for speaking first, but agreed it was the only prudent action.

In addition we learn that Brother Brooks was also dragged from the house after being hit in the head with a club. Although he was not whipped as the Elders were, he was forced to watch, perhaps under the hope that he would learn something from the experience and renounce the Mormons. Elder Wright had a similar gash on his forehead.

The next Day President of the Conference, Elder Wright directed Elder Fuller and Elder Holt to leave for Weekley County. Elder Wright and Elder Douglas stayed for a couple of days but eventually joined them. There they rested and recuperated from their wounds.

Crockett County Mobbing Part 2

After several pages of membership records, the author continued his story.

Crockett Co, Tenn. Sept 1, 1888
Elders Elias S Wright, Asahel S. Fuller and James H Douglas approached Bells Depot for the purpose of meeting Elder Thomas M. Holt from Utah. Knowing some excitement permits Bro Wright goes to the Depot alone and Bro Fuller and J H Douglas went along to in order to keep down the excitement. Soon and overtaken by Elders Wright and Holt. After partaking of some nice light bread and delicious fresh fruit dried from Utah, we went along quietly towards Bro Brooks, taking every precaution to avoid publicity. [We saw] One or two persons at most on the way, One of them offering an insult by way of asking concerning the balance of people in Utah.

We arrived at Brooks safely about 5 pm. Had quite a nice time with the family until about 10 pm. As we return to rest the homes of two { } before present themselves [ ] before us, and the sudden barking of the dog seems to make some of the family a little nervous. We, however, try to cast off all fear and are soon enwrapped in profound sleep. Nothing more is heard until 1 a. m. Sunday Sept 2, 88, when we are awakened by the words, “The Mob’s come! The Mob’s come!” Quicker than one could think we are all facing pistols. With a rough coarse, boisterous voice saying surrender! Of course being unarmed he have nothing to surrender but our lives. No time is lost we are compelled to leave our beds and are thrust out of the house without even a chance to put our pants on. No possible chance is given to reason. We are marched at the point of pistols, guns and clubs, by the masque demons about forty rods from the house. There we ask them if they do not wish to take us before the court where we will answer to any charge they wish to bring against us. “We’ll show you who the courts are” was the only reply. They now commenced to cut down beach limbs from four to six feet long and about ½ to ¾ in. through. We are now compelled to lean our bodies over a log 18 inches through and now the awful beating commenced stripe after stripe we receive bringing blood to the surface at almost every blow. If we attempt to raise our head we receive a lick over them with a pistol or club. By this means we are compelled to receive the lashing without any chance to ask even a question. We are now asked to leave to Co. which we hesitate giving an answer to when down come the stripes with redoubled fury, and the longer we hesitate the more enraged they become and thicker heavier and faster they come. Finally as a last remark we make the promise to leave and never more return. During all this time the most horrid oaths and blasphemies are indulged in we ever heard. Infuriated is but speaking it lightly and legion of devils can only express their madness. There were probably from 15 to 30 who took part in this horrible affair giving us as near as we can jude (sic) about 50 lashes each completely splitting their withes.

Crockett County Mobbing Part 1

Crockett County, Tennessee is today distinctly rural. Just west and a little north of Jackson, Tennessee, is a small city of Bells. Bells, Tennessee sits on a railroad and was once named Bells Depot, though the name is older than the railroad. It began as a stage coach depot. The name was changed in 1880, though the people still called it Bells Depot for many years. What follows is an account of a mobbing that happened in this small community in western Tennessee.

Crockett Co. Tenn, Aug 19, 1888 Our appointment having been made by people living about five miles east of Bells Depot, one for Aug 18 and one the following day Aug 19, Upon which day also Bro James F Brooks had decided to cast his lot with the L. D. S. and notice of it also having been communicated freely we were on hand, as usual, to fill the appointments and attend to baptism.

The meeting passed off quietly, possibly twenty five having gathered as each meeting with but little interest however. At the close of Sunday meeting we announced that we would attend to [the] baptism of Bro Brooks, Accordingly went forth and performed this ordinance. The balance of the day and until bed time was spent pleasantly and closed the day by prayer.

We tried to rest but had been in bed but about three hours when suddenly we were awakened by an armed mob of about 12 men all masque (sic) with a request that me, Elias Wright, Asahel S. Fuller, and James H. Douglas go with them to the woods.

We didn’t like the idea very much, so commenced reasoning with them asking if we had broken any laws, if so, we were answerable to them. Told them they aught to be ashamed of themselves for being in such business. Through our talk they finally sloped away and as they passed into the woods find a volley of ten on turner shots to close their dastardly cowardly act.

The following week Mrs. Brooks learned from different sources of persons connected with the mob and wrote a very polite note to one of them accusing him of being an accomplice. We attended their house and judging from what followed those intrusted (sic) in what took place before, and some of them having been over taken, became enraged and on Sept 2 , 1888 finished their cowardly act to be found later in this book.