ESQUIRE COLE'S DOGBERRY PAPER--SECOND MEETING OF THE CITIZENS.
The work of printing still continued with little or no interruption,
until one Sunday afternoon, when Hyrum became very uneasy as to the
security of the work left at the printing office, and requested Oliver
to accompany him thither, to see if all was right. Oliver hesitated
for a moment, as to the propriety of going on Sunday, but finally
consented, and they set off together.
On arriving at the printing establishment, they found it occupied by
an individual by the name of Cole, an ex-justice of the peace, who was
busily employed in printing a newspaper. Hyrum was much surprised at
finding him there, and remarked, "How is it, Mr. Cole, that you are so
hard at work on Sunday?"
Mr. Cole replied, that he could not have the press, in the day time
during the week, and was obliged to do his printing at night, and on
Sundays.
Upon reading the prospectus of his paper, they found that he had agreed
with his subscribers to publish one form of "Joe Smith's Gold Bible"
each week, and thereby furnish them with the principle portion of the
book in such a way that they would not be obliged to pay the Smiths
for it. His paper was entitled, _Dogberry Paper on Winter Hill_. In
this, he had thrown together a parcel of the most vulgar, disgusting
prose, and the meanest, and most low-lived doggerel, in juxtaposition
with a portion of the Book of Mormon, which he had pilfered. At this
perversion of common sense and moral feeling, Hyrum was shocked, as
well as indignant at the dishonest course which Mr. Cole had taken, in
order to possess himself of the work.
"Mr. Cole," said he, "what right have you to print the Book of Mormon
in this manner? Do you not know that we have secured the copyright?"
"It is none of your business," answered Cole, "I have hired the press,
and will print what I please, so help yourself."
"Mr. Cole," rejoined Hyrum, "that manuscript is sacred, and I forbid
your printing any more of it."
"Smith," exclaimed Cole, in a tone of anger, "I don't care a d--n for
you: that d--d gold bible is going into my paper, in spite of all you
can do."
Hyrum endeavored to dissuade him from his purpose, but finding him
inexorable, left him to issue his paper, as he had hitherto done;
for when they found him at work, he had already issued six or eight
numbers, and had managed to keep them out of our sight.
On returning from the office, they asked my husband what course was
best for them to pursue, relative to Mr. Cole. He told them that he
considered it a matter with which Joseph ought to be made acquainted.
Accordingly, he set out himself for Pennsylvania, and returned with
Joseph the ensuing Sunday. The weather was so extremely cold, that they
came near perishing before they arrived at home, nevertheless, as soon
as Joseph made himself partially comfortable, he went to the printing
office, where he found Cole employed, as on the Sunday previous. "How
do you do, Mr. Cole," said Joseph, "you seem hard at work." "How do you
do, Mr. Smith," answered Cole, dryly.
Joseph examined his _Dogberry Paper_, and then said firmly, "Mr. Cole,
that book, [the Book of Mormon] and the right of publishing it, belongs
to me, and I forbid you meddling with it any further."
At this Mr. Cole threw off his coat, rolled up his sleeves, and came
towards Joseph, smacking his fists together with vengeance, and roaring
out, "Do you want to fight, sir? do you want to fight? I will publish
just what I please. Now, if you want to fight, just come on."
Joseph could not help smiling at his grotesque appearance, for his
behavior was too ridiculous to excite indignation. "Now, Mr. Cole,"
said he, "you had better keep your coat on--it is cold, and I am not
going to fight you, nevertheless, I assure you, sir, that you have got
to stop printing my book, for I know my rights, and shall maintain
them."
"Sir," bawled out the wrathy gentleman, "if you think you are the best
man, just pull off your coat and try it."
"Mr. Cole," said Joseph, in a low, significant tone, "there is law, and
you will find that out, if you do not understand it, but I shall not
fight you, sir."
At this, the ex-justice began to cool off a little, and finally
concluded to submit to an arbitration, which decided that he should
stop his proceedings forthwith, so that he made us no further trouble.
Joseph, after disposing of this affair, returned to Pennsylvania, but
not long to remain there, for when the inhabitants of the surrounding
country perceived that the work still progressed, they became uneasy,
and again called a large meeting. At this time, they gathered their
forces together, far and near, and organizing themselves into a
committee of the whole, they resolved, as before, never to purchase
one of our books, when they should be printed. They then appointed a
committee to wait upon E. B. Grandin, and inform him of the resolutions
which they had passed, and also to explain to him the evil consequences
which would result to him therefrom. The men who were appointed to do
this errand, fulfilled their mission to the letter, and urged upon Mr.
Grandin the necessity of his putting a stop to the printing, as the
Smiths had lost all their property, and consequently would be unable to
pay him for his work, except by the sale of the books. And this they
would never be able to do, for the people would not purchase them. This
information caused Mr. Grandin to stop printing, and we were again
compelled to send for Joseph. These trips, back and forth, exhausted
nearly all our means, yet they seemed unavoidable.
When Joseph came, he went immediately with Martin Harris to Grandin,
and succeeded in removing his fears, so that he went on with the work,
until the books were printed, which was in the spring of eighteen
hundred and thirty.