Thomas Chapman's Protection from Mob Violence and Preservation of the Chapel

Thomas Chapman, a cork-cutter living near the Mormon chapel in Thorpe Street, defended the building and its congregation from a hostile mob. On the Tuesday night before the Sunday riot, he rushed out with a hay-fork to frighten away a crowd that was tormenting Mormon women and tearing their dresses. He was subsequently knocked down, kicked by members of the mob, and threatened with having his head knocked off and his home burned. He observed the mob later, on the Sunday night of Dr. Brindley's meeting, break every window of the chapel, destroy books, and use a Bible as a football in the street.

Fuller account of this event (in the witness’s own words):

I, Thomas Chapman, cork-cutter, residing in Thorpe-street, Birmingham, do hereby certify that I have been a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for about six years. On the Tuesday night before the Sunday of the riot, I went out three times and asked the crowd to leave the yard, as they were making a terrible noise with iron trays and tin kettles; and as they would not go, I rushed out with the fork, intending merely to frighten them. I held the prong end in my hand. I was then knocked down and kicked by some Irishmen belonging to the mob, and after I got away, bricks and stones were thrown at me, two of them striking me. My life was in danger, and I did not go out again that night. They told me if I did not go in and shut the door, they would knock my head off, and would burn my place, as well as the chapel. I know that a night or two before that there was a large heap of shavings, and straw, at the back of the chapel, for the purpose of burning it. On the Sunday night of Dr. Brindley's meeting, I saw the mob break every window of the chapel, and destroy the books, and they used a Bible as a football in the street. My wife was also very much abused by the mob, and had her dress torn off her back. I have been a quiet, peaceable neighbour, and have never given any cause for such treatment.