Elder Joseph Woods and Elder R. M. Harper's robbery and preservation
Published October 12, 2026 at 1:34 AM
Contributed by
Millennial Star Research
While serving a mission in Indian Territory, Elder Joseph Woods and Elder R. M. Harper were held up by a highwayman who demanded their watches and money. After taking their watches, the robber spared their money when he learned they only had two dollars, and he returned a watch chain to Elder Harper after being assured it was a sentimental gift from his father.
Fuller account of this event (the complete account as preserved in The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star, Vol. 55, No. 21 (22 May 1893), p. 334):
Elders Joseph Woods and R. M. Harper, laboring in the Indian Territory, were recently held up by a highwayman, who demanded their watches and money. After taking their watches, the robber spared their money when he learned they only had two dollars, and he returned a watch chain to Elder Harper after being assured it was a sentimental gift from his father.
In Their Own Words
“In a letter to the Deseret News Elder Joseph Woods gives an account of himself and Elder R. M. Harper, now on a mission in Indian Territory, being held up by a highwayman and robbed of their watches. The robbery took place near Millan Ridge on April 20. The fellow followed them along the road for miles, and then, covering them with a rifle, made them hand over their watches. He also demanded money, but as the missionaries only had a couple of dollars among them, he said he wouldn't take their last cent. On Elder Harper petitioning for the return of his watch chain on the ground that it was a present from his father, the fellow exclaimed, ‘‘ Well, if I thought that, I’d give it back.’’ After further assurance the chain was handed back. — Millennial Star 55:21”
Sources & References
The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star (Manchester, later Liverpool, England, May 1840–1970), 22 May 1893 (Vol. 55, No. 21). https://archive.org/details/per_utah-and-the-mormons_the-latter-day-saints-millennial-star_1893-05-22_55_21 (account extracted verbatim from the issue's Internet Archive OCR text; research confidence: high) Complete account: The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star, Vol. 55, No. 21 (22 May 1893), p. 334 https://archive.org/details/per_utah-and-the-mormons_the-latter-day-saints-millennial-star_1893-05-22_55_21
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