21st I spent most of the day in the
the Eastern Mail arived in the morning. I called in
the & looked over the papers & at
about 6 o clok Brother was brought up
on trial Before Bishop and council the
were all present. Broth Baker was tried for whiping
one of his wives vary severely. He had married two
sisters the daughters of one about
5 years ago, the other about two years she had been
the wife of . Brother Baker had Quarrels
with wihis wives & children almost daily &
was about to leave him but before she left Baker
had some words with her and then he beat her
on each side of her head with the flat side of
his hand untill the Blood run out of her ears and
one Eye was vary black. She gave her testimony
about the whole affair she said he struck her as
though he was going to knock down an ox he struck
her about 10 times on the side of the head in telling the
story they talked back and forth & made cross statements
was then called upon to give her statement but
she did not wish to talk Her Father James Staples
told his daughters to tell the truth without any regard to
any body and said she had entered many complaints
to him against Baker and if she now would not tell
the truth & tell the thing as it is he did not wish to
have her come home hereafter with a tale of wo,
but she would not talk much President then
said Betsey I want you to tell the truth and not keep
any thing back. you will be wanting a Bill [of divorce] by
& By from Baker & if you dont tell the story now
I dont want you to come hereafter with a tale of
sorrow still she did not feel light like talking. I
dont want to have you leave Brother Baker if you do
not wish to but I do not wish you to come home
here after with a tale of complaint. your place is
to talk now still she said but little she acknowledged
that Brother Baker took her off from the Bed
and slaped her {bottom} Budt did not hurt her but said
he had whiped her sister hard. But as she would
