The Prophet Joseph and others Sentenced to be Shot on the Public Square
at Far West, in the Presence of their Friends.--The Execution Deferred,
and the Prisoners afterwards sent to Liberty Jail.
The Liberty Jail, which is fast going into ruins, is situated in the
city of Liberty, Clay County, Missouri. It is inland three miles from
the Missouri River and about ten miles from Independence in Jackson
County, and Independence is eleven miles from Kansas City of the same
state.
There are many reasons why this jail should become conspicuous and
be preserved in history, but the principal one is that there Joseph
Smith, the Prophet, in the fall of 1838 and spring of 1839, at the
time of Governor L. W. Boggs' exterminating war against the Mormons,
was most unjustly and wickedly imprisoned. In 1838, the Prophet and
others were betrayed into the hands of the Missouri mob by Colonel
George M. Hinkle, the mob being headed by General Samuel D. Lucas. The
prisoners were tried under martial law and sentenced to be shot on
the following day on the public square in Far West, in the presence
of a multitude of the followers of "Joe" Smith, as they chose to call
him. This was intended, no doubt, as a sample of Missouri charity,
sympathy and humanity, and as a lesson for Mormons for daring to
believe as conscience dictated, and for exercising as American freemen
the privileges guaranteed by a Constitution believed to be inspired.
The writer speaks for himself, as one for whom he had deep sentiments
of regard, as a true Prophet, who was sent of God to re-establish the
fullness of the everlasting gospel.
But God overruled the horrible edict that the Prophet and his
companions should be shot on the public square on the following day at
8 o'clock a.m. This was on the 31st of October, 1838. General Doniphan
denounced the proposed act as "cold-blooded murder," threatening to
withdraw his brigade from the scene of the intended massacre.
This turned the tide of events and Lucas and his murderous colleagues
began to hesitate and finally to reconsider their action. That General
Lucas was acting under Governor Lilburn W. Boggs' orders is evident by
the utterances made unto us who were compelled to assemble together
on the public square at Far West, where we were harangued by General
Clark at considerable length. The speech was very abusive, as can be
learned by reading it farther on in this pamphlet. Before introducing
the speech we will state a number of interesting facts which occurred
about that time. There was in existence the Fifty-third Regiment of
Missouri Militia, under the command of Col. George M. Hinkle, who held
a commission signed by the Governor of the state.
There was times of trouble when it became necessary for Colonel Hinkle
to call out the militia, consequently our movements were in accordance
with the laws of Missouri. On the 30th of October, 1838, Neil Gillam
was at the head of a mob who were disguised as wild Indians. They were
painted, and Gillam himself was arrayed as an Indian chief. The mob
had been burning houses and driving the Mormons' stock away from their
owners, taking prisoners, etc. Colonel Hinkle ordered out a company
of militia, about 150 in number, to endeavor to learn the intentions
of Gillam and others, who were camping on Log Creek, near Far West. I
was one of those under Col. Hinkle, and we all were on horseback. We
soon learned that their intentions were hostile. A flag of truce in the
hands of Charles C. Rich was shot at during the day, and our company
was cut off from Far West by a line of battle being formed between us
and our homes. Colonel Hinkle returned from the front of our line with
his military coat off, saying that there were hardly enough of us to
allow a mouthful apiece for the numerous hosts before us. He seemed
excited and fearfully frightened, and for this and other reasons I have
always believed this accounted for his conduct on that occasion. We
retreated fifteen miles (instead of five miles, from where we were),
to Far West, arriving about the time the troops were nearing the city.
They were marching with red flags, which were interspersed and mixed
up with Gillam's command of painted faces. Our company coming into Far
West on the gallop, created quite a sensation, as we were mistaken
for the enemy coming in from two different points. We, however, soon
proved ourselves to be friends, and were just in time to extend the
line already formed in defense of the city. Our adversaries were in
the ratio of about ten to one of us, which looked rather serious for a
little handful of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints.
The Prophet came along after our arrival and said:
"Fear them not; God is for us, and there are more for us than there
are against us [meaning the hosts of heaven were on our side.] God
and liberty is the watchword," said Joseph. "Fear them not, for their
hearts are cold as cucumbers."
Night was fast approaching, and flags of truce were passing between
the two lines, by which we learned that this formidable army was sent
out by Governor Boggs with orders to exterminate us. It was finally
concluded not to murder us that night, so the army withdrew until the
next morning, when they intended to make a final end of Mormonism.
They camped for the night on Goose Creek, one mile away from the city.
Thus ended one of the most eventful days of our lives. It fell to my
lot to stand guard that night, and the worst confusion and disorder
ever witnessed by human beings existed in the enemy's camp. This, with
unearthly yelling and howling, produced a real pandemonium very much
resembling my idea of hell. A sort of breast-work was constructed
during the night, made principally of wagons, house logs, etc. A dark
and dreary night was that. On the following day, October 31st, we
were preparing to meet death, if necessary, rather than surrender our
religion to a mob. We trusted in the Lord, however, and a better way
was prepared. Colonel Hinkle had been communicating with the enemy
during the day, and in the afternoon Joseph Smith and others passed
over the breast-works near where I and others were on duty. Colonel
Hinkle lead the party to meet the enemy, where he betrayed them into
their hands. This treachery on his part turned out for the best, for
God suffers offences to come, as in the case of Judas, "but woe to him
by whom they come."
On the following day, November 1st, 1838, we were marched into a hollow
square just outside of the city, where we delivered up about 630 guns,
grounded our arms, and advanced to the center of the square, where the
small arms and swords were left in a pile. The late Bishop McRae gave
six cuts with his sword and a pointer in the ground and left his sword
sticking there. We were left without the means of self-defense and at
the mercy of a conscienceless set of ignorant, prejudiced people, many
of whom, like St. Paul before his conversion, acted as if they were
doing God's service in destroying property and abusing the Mormons. My
widowed mother's house was plundered and my sister, now living here in
Utah, had her clothes taken from her in open day, leaving her destitute
of her necessary apparel.
General Wilson, who was one of the mobbers in Jackson County, was in
company with Joseph Smith soon after he was condemned to be shot.
Joseph asked General Wilson what he had done that he should be treated
with such indignity, stating that he had always been a supporter of the
Constitution and of good government. Wilson's reply was:
"I know it, and that is the reason I want to kill you, or have you
killed."
Subsequently this same Wilson said to P. P. Pratt and others:
"We Jackson County boys know how it is, and therefore have not the
extreme hatred and prejudice which characterizes the rest of the
troops. We know perfectly well from the beginning that the Mormons
have not been the aggressors at all. As it began in 1833 in Jackson
County, Mo., so it has been ever since.... We mob you without law;
the authorities refuse to protect you according to law, you then are
compelled to protect yourselves, and we act upon the prejudices of
the public, who join our forces and the whole is legalized for your
destruction and our gain ... When we drove you from Jackson County
we burned 203 of your houses, plundered your goods, destroyed your
press, type and paper, books, office and all--tarred and feathered old
Bishop Partridge--as exemplary an old man as you can find anywhere. We
shot down some of your men, and if any of you returned the fire, we
imprisoned you and had you on trial for murder. D--d shrewdly done,
gentlemen; and I came d--d near kicking the bucket myself; for on
one occasion while we were tearing down houses, driving families and
destroying and plundering goods, some of you good folks put a ball
through my son's body, and another through the arm of my clerk, and a
third pierced my shirt collar and marked my neck. No blame, gentlemen;
we deserved it, and let a set of men serve me as your community have
been served, and I'll be d--d if I would not fight till I died."
Most certainly this was an honest confession, and I can certify to
nearly all of his acknowledgments, for I have been driven from my home
and robbed of my hard-earned property more than once. There are many
others besides General Wilson who have acknowledged to the same things,
for I have personally heard them.
When the brethren were being hurried away, as prisoners, from their
homes, P. P. Pratt says:
"I went to General Moses Wilson in tears, and stated the circumstances
of my sick, heart-broken, destitute family, in terms which would have
moved any heart that had a latent spark of humanity yet remaining, but
I was only answered with an exultant laugh and a taunt of reproach by
this hardened murderer. Halting at the door of Hyrum Smith, I heard
the sobs and groans of his wife at Hyrum's parting. She was then near
confinement and needed more than ever the comfort and consolation of a
husband's presence. As we returned to the wagon we witnessed the sad,
parting of Sidney Rigdon and his family, and in the same wagon was
Joseph Smith, while his aged father and mother came up overwhelmed with
tears, and took each of the prisoners by the hand with a silence of
grief too great for utterance.
Little encouragement was left to those grief-stricken parents, for they
knew so well that they were in the hands of a mob who had snatched and
dragged them away as if they were murderers. Fresh to their minds was
recalled a scene that took place in earlier days, when, close to their
own thresholds, a demon in human form, in the dark hour of the night,
had fired at their son, just barely missing him. There were fifty-six
citizens thus dragged away from their homes, without any earthly hope
of deliverance, only as in God they put their trust. Judge King said to
H. C. Kimball:
"Joe Smith is not fit to live."
For further light concerning the good or evil wishes of this great mob
of Missourians, we will now return to the public square to hear the
abusive words of General Clark. Addressing the Mormons he said:
"It now devolves upon you to fulfill a treaty that you have entered
into.
"1st.--Your leading men be given up to be tried according to the law.
This you have already complied with.
"2nd.--That you deliver up your arms. This has been attended to [which
we did, surrounded by the mob, some of whom I heard say, 'Now we have
got their arms, it is as good as death to them.']
"3rd.--That you sign over your properties to defray the expenses of the
war. This you have also done.
"4th.--That you leave the state forthwith. And whatever may be your
feelings concerning this, or whatever your innocence, it is nothing to
me. General Lucas (whose military rank is equal to mine) has made this
treaty with you, and I approve of it. I should have done the same. I am
determined to see it executed. The character of this state has suffered
almost beyond redemption. And we deem it as an act of justice to
restore her character to its former standing among the states by every
proper means. The orders of the Governor to me were, that you should
be exterminated, and not allowed to remain in the state. And had not
your leaders been given up, and the terms of the treaty complied with,
before this time you and your families would have been destroyed and
your houses in ashes.
"There is a discretionary power vested in my hands, which, considering
your circumstances, I shall exercise for a season. You are indebted to
me for this clemency. I do not say you shall go now, but you must not
think if staying here another season or of putting in crops; for, if
you do, the citizens will be upon you. If I am called here again in
case of non-compliance of a treaty made, do not think that I shall do
as I have done now. You need not expect any mercy, but extermination.
For I am determined the Governor's orders shall be executed.
"As for your leaders, do not think, do not imagine for a moment, do not
let it enter into your minds, that they shall be delivered and restored
to you again for their fate is fixed, their die is cast. Their doom is
sealed. I am sorry, very sorry, gentlemen, to see so many intelligent
men found in this situation. Oh! if I could invoke the Great Spirit,
the unknown God--[I suppose without body, parts or passions]--to
rest upon and deliver you from that awful chain of superstition, and
liberate you from those fetters of fanaticism with which you are bound,
that you no longer do homage to a man! My advice is that you become
as other citizens, let by a recurrence of these events you bring upon
yourselves irretrievable ruin."
It vividly recurs to my mind that at the closing of General Clark's
hard talk, G. M. Hinkle also spoke to the large body of Saints, saying:
"I would advise you all to do as I have done, for I have got my hand
out of the lion's mouth, and I intend to keep it out hereafter."
It may not be out of place to relate a statement made to me by E. B.
Tripp, who authorizes me to use his name, regarding George M. Hinkle,
whose hand he said was out of the lion's mouth (taking his own word for
it.) Elder. E. B. Tripp says:
"In 1852, I lived in Wapelo, Louisa Co., Iowa G. M. Hinkle, a stranger
to me, came into my drug store. He introduced himself to me, saying:
'This is Mr. Tripp, I understand. I hear that you are going to Utah,
and I would like to have a private talk with you. I am the man who
betrayed Joseph Smith and others into the hands of the mob in Missouri.
I am a miserable man, and scarce know what to do with myself. I would
be willing to lay down my life if this would atone for the sin I
committed. What can I do, Mr. Tripp, for I know Mormonism is true?"
This is the substance of the conversation as reported by Brother Tripp,
who save him some good advice before he parted with him. Thomas B.
Marsh, one of the Twelve Apostles, apostatized during this dark hour
of Missouri persecution. I saw him and heard him speak then, and also
when he came to Utah and was rebaptized. I heard him confess with deep
regret, saying:
"Look at my trembling limbs and see the fate of an apostate, for I am
a wreck, but Mormonism is true, and I advise you not to do as I have
done, in my apostasy."
Gen. John C. Bennett, who once flourished in Nauvoo, apostatized
because of his iniquities. He died in Polk City, Iowa, a miserable
wreck, debased and degraded. When I was in Iowa on a mission I learned
of a party who once had a rope around his neck and over a limb. At that
time he barely escaped being hung up like a dog.
Prior to Joseph and Hyrum Smith, and others, being marched to Liberty
jail, General Lucas allowed the prisoners to see for a few moments, in
the presence of their guards, their weeping wives and children. Most of
them were not permitted to speak, being merely allowed to look at them
before being hurried away.
Mary Fielding Smith, wife of Hyrum Smith, a few days after his painful
parting from her husband, became a mother. The favored child thus born
amidst those warlike scenes is today known as Joseph Fielding Smith,
Counselor to the First Presidency.
The brethren were taken to Independence, Jackson County, Missouri,
to be murdered by those who only a few years before drove the Saints
from the country, murdering some, tarring and feathering others, and
expelling the remainder without color of law. Notwithstanding this, on
Sunday, November 4th, 1838, the Prophet preached to many who gathered
around them. The officers, finding that the people's feelings were
softened into tears of sympathy, had them removed to Richmond, where
they were chained down as felons and then removed to Liberty jail.
In September, 1888, in company with Elder Andrew Jenson and
Bishop Black, of Deseret, I visited this place, also Far West and
Adam-Ondi-Ahman. This trip brought vividly before me many sayings of
the Prophet, more particularly of his speaking of the Garden of Eden,
which he said was situated at Independence, which is only about ten
miles to the northwest of Liberty jai. The Prophet said it had been
manifested unto him that here was where our Father Adam was placed,
and where his home was until his fall, when he was driven out into the
dreary world, and from thence he took his departure northeast about
seventy miles, to where a stake of Zion was located, and it was named
Adam-Ondi-Ahman by revelation. This knowledge makes this land, which is
good and greatly blessed, all the more attractive to the Saints, and
creates a desire to cherish not only the memory of the land, but this
loathsome jail as well, which is now going to ruins.
The Bible tells us about the Garden of Eden, and why not locate it
here in this goodly land as well as any other part of the earth? Many
changes have taken place since Adam's time, as, for instance, the great
deluge and the division of the earth in the days of Peleg. Again, at
the crucifixion, when the solid rocks were rent, mountains cast up,
and great convulsions took place on the face of the whole earth. All
of these events would naturally tend to make it difficult to locate
the Garden without revelation, and this is how I became informed on
this subject. I was with the Prophet Joseph Smith sixty miles northeast
of Liberty jail in 1838, less than one year before he was imprisoned
there. We were standing with others on the hill Adam-Ondi-Ahman. The
Prophet said, pointing to a mound of stones:
"There is where Father Adam built an altar when he was driven from the
Garden of Eden and offered up sacrifice unto the Lord."
He further said that the Garden of Eden was in or near Independence,
the center stake of Zion. I thought it a great privilege to be at that
time with the Prophet, and to hear his words regarding the mound and
pile of rocks laid up at so early a period of the world's history.
Three years ago I visited the same altar with deep interest, and also
the spot of ground where the Prophet received the revelation, wherein
Adam-Ondi-Ahman is named as the place where Adam shall come to visit
his people, or the Ancient of Days shall sit, as spoken of by Daniel
the Prophet. Doc. and Cov., Sec. 115, page 415. The Prophet said that
this Michael is Adam.
I quote the following from the revelation:
"Is there not room enough upon the mountains of Adam-Ondi-Ahman ... the
land where Adam dwelt? ... Therefore come up hither to the land of my
people, even Zion."--Doc. and Cov., sec. 117, v. 8
Having lived and worked at the tin business in sight of this dungeon
where the Prophet was so unjustly imprisoned and suffered so much, this
knowledge of the country was welcome news to me. On one occasion, as
I was informed by the late Bishop Alexander McRae, who was imprisoned
in this same jail, and as he substantially related to me, five of the
prisoners, viz: Joseph Smith, Hyrum, his brother, Caleb Baldwin, Lyman
Wight, Sidney Rigdon and Bishop McRae were taking supper together. All
but Brother McRae partook of tea, as they were glad to get anything to
sustain life. Soon afterwards five of the inmates were taken sick and
some of them were blind for three days, after which they were afflicted
with sore eyes for a long time. Bishop McRae escaped this affliction
as he did not partake of the tea. All of the six prisoners agreed that
poison had been put in the tea, but how and by whom was unknown to them.
While the prisoners were confined in this jail, young Joseph Smith and
Emma, his mother, visited their husband and father. It was at this time
that Joseph's son, now the leader of the Reorganized church, claims
to have received a blessing under the hands of his father. Joseph F.
Smith, with his mother, visited his father in this same jail, and
although but an infant, received a blessing under his hands. Owing to
the delicate state of her health, Joseph F.'s mother had to be taken
on a bed in a carriage, to see, perhaps for the last time, her husband
as a prisoner for the gospel's sake. The meeting and parting on that
occasion must have been heartrending under the circumstances. Very few
can now realize such days as those of the imprisonment at Liberty jail.
From the day that Joseph Smith received the plates at the hands of
Moroni, the angel, until his incarceration in Liberty jail, his life
was one of persecution, trial and imprisonment, so much so that on one
occasion Joseph was led to pray:
"O God! where art thou? And where is the pavilion that covereth thy
hiding place? How long shall thy hand be stayed, and thine eye--yea,
thy pure eye--behold from the eternal heavens the wrongs of thy people,
and of thy servants, and thine ear be penetrated with their cries?
Yea O Lord, how long shall they suffer these wrongs and unlawful
oppressions, before thine heart shall be softened towards them, and
they bowels be moved with compassion towards them? O Lord God Almighty,
maker of the heaven and earth, and seas, and all things that in them
are, and who controlleth and subjecteth the devil and the dark and
benighted dominion of Sheol! Stretched forth thy hand; let think eye
pierce; let thy pavilion be taken up; let thy hiding place no longer be
covered; let thine ear be inclined; let thine heart be softened, and
thy bowels moved with compassion towards us. * * * Remember thy suffering
Saints, O our God."
The Prophet loved the Saints, and he knew of their extreme suffering,
and their moving through mud and rain, in poverty, leaving their homes
and all behind them, while he, with his brethren, was in a dungeon
liable to be poisoned at any time. They knew their lives were not safe
in such a mobocratic state as was Missouri then. However, Joseph had
consolation, dark as it appeared, for he promised his brethren that not
one of their lives should be lost. In the midst of their cries unto the
Lord, he was answered thus:
"My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversary and thine afflictions
shall be but a small moment; and then, if thou endure it well, God
shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes. Thou
art not yet as Job; thy friends do not contend against thee, neither
charge thee with transgression, as they did Job. * * * Wo unto all those
that discomfort my people, and drive, and murder, and testify against
them, saith the Lord of Hosts. A generation of vipers shall not escape
the damnation of hell. * * * Let thy bowels also be full of charity
towards all men and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish
thy thoughts unceasingly. Then shall thy confidence wax strong in the
presence of God, and the doctrine of the Priesthood shall distill upon
thy soul as the dews from heaven. The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant
companion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and
truth, and they dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without
compulsory means it shall flow unto thee for ever and ever."
When I looked upon the Liberty jail in 1834, again in 1838-39, and
for the last time in 1888, in the last stages of decay (it being 54
years from the time I first saw it), my soul was moved upon with deep
emotion, for thoughts of the past crowded upon my mind. Indeed, I felt
almost bewildered, and as if in a dream. It was only four years and
nine months after the Prophet left this dungeon that he was murdered,
dying as a martyr in Carthage jail, Hancock County, Illinois, on the
memorable 27th of June, 1844.
Elder Jenson, Bishop Black and myself obtained a photograph of the jail
as a relic, from which the engraving illustrating this article has been
taken. The jail was built about 1830, of hewn oak logs, and was only 14
by 14-1/2 feet in the clear. Soon after a stone wall two feet thick was
added, leaving a space of twelve inches between the logs and the stone
wall, which was filled in with loose stones, thus making a wall four
feet thick.
In order to show how particular the Prophet was regarding revelations
which he received from the Lord, I will relate an incident which
occurred in Liberty jail. While the Prophet was receiving a revelation,
the late Bishop Alexander McRae was writing as Joseph received it. Upon
this occasion Brother McRae suggested a slight change in the wording of
the revelation, when Joseph sternly asked:
"Do you know who you are writing for?"
Brother McRae, who at once discovered his mistake, begged the Prophet's
pardon for undertaking to correct the word of the Lord.
In March, 1839, and less than one month before leaving the jail, Joseph
received the word of the Lord, as follows:
"The ends of the earth shall inquire after thy name, and fools shall
have thee in derision, and hell shall rage against thee, while the pure
in heart, and the wise, and the noble, and the virtuous, shall seek
council, and authority, and blessings constantly from under thy hand.
And thy people shall never be turned against thee by the testimony of
traitors. And although their influence shall cast thee into trouble,
into bars and walls, thou shalt be had in honor, and but for a small
moment and thy voice shall be more terrible in the midst of thy enemies
than the fierce lion, because of thy righteousness; and thy God shall
stand by thee forever and ever. If thou art called to pass through
tribulation; if thou art in perils among robbers; if thou art in
perils by land or by sea; if thou are accused of all manner of false
accusations; if thy enemies fall upon thee; if they tear thee from the
society of thy father and mother, and brethren and sisters; and if,
with a drawn sword, thine enemies tear thee from the bosom of thy wife
and of thine offspring, and thine elder son (Joseph), although but 6
years of age, ... and thou be dragged to prison, and thine enemies
prowl around thee like wolves for the blood of the lamb; and if thou
should be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the
sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if
the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine
enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to
hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell gape open the
mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall
give thee experience, and shall be for thy good. The Son of Man hath
descended below them all; art thou greater than he? Therefore hold on
thy way, and the Priesthood shall remain with thee, for their bounds
are set and they cannot pass. Thy days are known, and thy years shall
not be numbered less; therefore, fear not what man can do, for God
shall be with you for ever and every."