JOSEPH ARRESTED AT QUINCY--DISCHARGED AT MONMOUTH--JOSEPH CHARGED WITH
AN ATTEMPT TO ASSASSINATE EX-GOVERNOR BOGGS.
In the month of December, 1840, we received for Nauvoo, a city charter
with extensive privileges; and in February of the same winter, charters
were also received for the Nauvoo Legion, and for the University of the
city of Nauvoo.
Not long after this the office of Lieutenant-General was conferred upon
Joseph, by the vote of the people and a commission from the Governor
of the state. In the early part of the same winter, I made Brother
Knowlton a visit on Bear-Creek. While there I had the misfortune to
sprain one of my knees, in getting out of a wagon, and, a cold settling
in the injured part, rheumatism succeeded. Soon after I returned home,
I was confined to my bed, and for six weeks I had watchers every night.
Sophronia was then with me, her husband being absent on a mission,
and she assisted Lucy and Arthur in taking care of me. They were
indefatigable in their attentions, and by their faithful care I was
enabled, after a long season of helplessness, to stand upon my feet
again.
On the twenty-fifth of January, 1841, Mary Smith, Samuel's wife, died,
in consequence of her exposures in Missouri.
On the fifth of June the same year, Joseph went, in company with
several others, on a visit to Quincy. As he was returning, Governor
Carlin sent one of the Missouri writs after him, and had him arrested
for murder, treason, etc., etc. Joseph choosing to be tried at
Monmouth, Warren county, the officers brought him to Nauvoo, and, after
procuring witnesses, they proceeded to Monmouth. Esquire Browning spoke
in Joseph's defense, and was moved upon by the spirit that was given
him, in answer to the prayers of the Saints; and, suffice it to say,
he gained the case. The opposing attorney tried his utmost to convict
Joseph of the crimes mentioned in the writ, but before he had spoken
many minutes, he turned sick, and vomited at the feet of the judge;
which, joined to the circumstance of his advocating the case of the
Missourians, who are called _pukes_ by their countrymen, obtained for
him the same appellation, and was a source of much amusement to the
court.
When Joseph returned, the Church was greatly rejoiced, and besought him
never again to leave the city.
About the first of August, Don Carlos was taken sick, and on the
seventh he died. The particulars of his death will be given hereafter.
On the first day of September, Robert B. Thompson, who was Hyrum's
brother-in-law, and associate editor with Don Carlos of the _Times and
Seasons_, died of the same disease which carried Carlos out of the
world--supposed to be quick consumption.
On the fifteenth of September Joseph's youngest child died: he was
named Don Carlos, after his uncle.
On the twenty-eighth of September, Hyrum's second son, named Hyrum,
died of a fever.
The succeeding winter we were left to mourn over the ravages which
death had made in our family, without interruption; but sickness ceased
from among us, and the mob retired to their homes.
On the sixth of May, 1842, Lilburn W. Boggs, ex-governor of Missouri,
was said to have been shot by an assassin. And, in consequence of the
injuries which we had received, suspicion immediately fastened itself
upon Joseph, who was accused of having committed the crime. But, as he
was on that day at an officers drill in Nauvoo, several hundred miles
from where Boggs resided, and was seen by hundreds, and, on the day
following, at a public training, where thousands of witnesses beheld
him, we supposed that the crime, being charged upon him, was such an
outrage upon common sense, that, when his persecutors became apprised
of these facts, they would cease to accuse him. But in this we were
disappointed, for when they found it impossible to sustain the charge
in this shape, they preferred it in another, in order to make it more
probable. They now accused my son of sending O. P. Rockwell into
Missouri, with orders to shoot the ex-governor; and, from this time,
they pursued both Joseph and Porter, with all diligence, till they
succeeded in getting the latter into jail in Missouri.
Joseph, not choosing to fall into their hands, fled from the city, and
secreted himself, sometimes in one place, sometimes in another. He
generally kept some friend with him, in whom he had confidence, who
came frequently to the city. Thus communication was kept up between
Joseph, his family, and the Church. At this time, Brother John Taylor
lay very sick of the fever, and was so reduced that he was not able to
stand upon his feet. Joseph visited him, and, after telling him that
he wished to start that night on a journey of fifty miles, requested
Brother Taylor to accompany him, saying, if he would do so, he would
be able to ride the whole way. Brother Taylor believing this, they set
out together, and performed the journey with ease. This time Joseph
remained away two weeks; then made his family and myself a short visit,
after which he again left us. In this way he lived, hiding first in one
place, and then in another, until the sitting of the Legislature, when,
by the advice of Governor Ford, he went to Springfield, and was tried
before Judge Pope for the crime alleged against him; namely, that of
being accessory to the attempted assassination of ex-Governor Boggs. He
was again discharged, and, when he returned home, there was a jubilee
held throughout the city. The remainder of the winter, and the next
spring, we spent in peace.
About the middle of June, 1843, Joseph went with his wife to visit Mrs.
Wasson, who was his wife's sister. Whilst there, an attempt was made
to kidnap him, and take him into Missouri, by J. H. Reynolds, from
that state, and Harmon Wilson, of Carthage Hancock county, Illinois,
who was a Missourian in principle. You have read Hyrum's testimony,
and can judge of the treatment which Joseph received at their hands.
Suffice to say, he was shamefully abused. Wilson had authority from the
governor of Illinois to take Joseph Smith, Junior, and deliver him into
the hands of the before named Reynolds; but as neither of them showed
any authority save a brace of pistols, Joseph took them for false
imprisonment. He then obtained a writ of habeas corpus of the master in
chancery of Lee county, returnable before the nearest court authorized
to determine upon such writs; and the Municipal Court of Nauvoo being
the nearest one invested with this power, an examination was had before
said court, when it was made to appear that the writ was defective and
void: furthermore, that he was innocent of the charges therein alleged
against him. It was in this case that Hyrum's testimony was given,
which is rehearsed in a preceding chapter.
Not long after this I broke up house-keeping, and at Joseph's request,
I took up my residence at his house. Soon after which I was taken very
sick, and was brought nigh unto death. For five nights Emma never left
me, but stood at my bed-side all the night long, at the end of which
time, she was overcome with fatigue, and taken sick herself. Joseph
then took her place, and watched with me the five succeeding nights,
as faithfully as Emma had done. About this time I began to recover,
and, in the course of a few weeks, I was able to walk about the house
a little, and sit up during the day. I have hardly been able to go on
foot further than across the street since.
On the third day of October, 1843, Sophronia, second daughter of Don
Carlos, died of the scarlet fever, leaving her widowed mother doubly
desolate.