Dec 1^st Many plans had been laid to get President Brigham
Young before the court it was supposed to be effected to
day hence the court room was nearly filled with Mormons
so but few Gentiles could get in at 11 oclok Judge Sinclair
arived their with the members of of the court with the Lawyiers
Gov Cummings & about 300 spectators mostly mormons
The Judge called the attention of the assembly said he had
tried to keep order & he should punish any attempt to distu
rb the court. The clerk then red the minutes of yesterday
& the court said he was ready for Business & said he was
ready for the trial of Mr Feurgerson Mr James Ferguson
presented his resignation as a member of the Bar The court
would not receive his resignation at the Bar but wished
to have it go to trial. Some person in the court room
said that there were a few seats empty which could
be filled The court said that if the person was not an
officer of the court it was out of order. The court
then red some law touching the case before him & said
it must be tryed. If you wish to plead guilty to the
whole charge then I can give my decission accordingly
Mr Furguson then said that he had not met with this
court & could not be guilty of any charges beforte the court
and in the accusation it was not stated whare it was
done. The Judge then gave the papers to Mr Burr to
Fix them right so the case might be tried. it then

Read David H. Burr and was done before Judge G. P. Stiles
Furgeson then asked if the court intended to open & exam[ine]
the Records of Judge Stiles He said he should as far as
was necessary to try his case. The court then sent for
the records & red some in them. Mr Smith then spoke
and said that as it was a personal nature he wished the
two Atturneys to manage the matter themselves without
any assistance forom either side if Mr Furgeson has help
upon the other side I wish to help Mr Burr Mr Ferguson
said several of my Friends volunteered their services
But I prefered to act alone upon my side that Mr Burr
might upon his side. The Judge then red some more Law
or the same Law over again. Thomas Williams then notified
the court that He should file an action against James Furguson
to be stricken from the roll as an alien. The court told Mr
Fergurson that as there was so many changes in the charge
against him that He would give him time if he wished
He asked for time till next Friday. The Judge Gave it to
him & adjourned till next Friday night. I spent
the afternoon in the office and evening with President Young
& the committee on the Deseret Alphabet The Jordan Dam
company met at the Historians office and decided to build the
dam on dry ground in a crook of the river and turn the
river through it instead of building it in the river thinking
it could be done much better & safer than in the river Brother
Forsyth offered to dig out the Earth & stop up the river for
$1700 dollars the channel has to be dug out 16 Rods long
70 feet wide 7 feet deep the Earth is composed of sand
clay & hard pan