Persecutions of the Saints
1838
Clark's Fitness for His Job
General John B. Clark was a resident of Jackson County. So was General
Samuel D. Lucas. Both assisted in driving the "Mormons" from that
county in 1833. Governor Lilburn W. Boggs was also from Jackson, and
aided in that expulsion. At that time he was lieutenant governor, and
worked secretly. These three men hated the Latter-day Saints with a
mortal hate. General Clark was not the ranking officer in the state
militia in 1838, but Boggs knew, from former experiences, whom to
depend upon to execute his dastardly job. Few of the other generals,
though several of them disliked the "Mormons," could debase themselves
enough to reach the level required to execute the governor's inhuman
decree. Clark, who received the command, and Lucas who assisted him,
were the two most fitted to carry out the order of extermination.
The Haun's Mill Massacre
There were a great many petty officers, and some sectarian priests,
who could descend to any level. Human butchery, if "Mormons" were the
victims, was to them but a recreation. Such a man was Col. William
O. Jennings, of the state militia. Another was Captain Nehemiah
Comstock, who served under Jennings. These "brave" men with an armed
force of characters like themselves--all from the state troops--were
assembled, at the close of the month of October, 1838, near a small
settlement of the Saints at Haun's Mill, on Shoal Creek, about twelve
miles due east of Far West. On the 28th day of that month, a Sunday,
Jennings approached the settlement and proposed a treaty of peace. The
members of the Church located there, who were quietly minding their
own business, knew not, when they were at peace, why they should be
called on to enter into such an agreement. However, knowing the status
of affairs throughout upper Missouri, they gladly entered into such a
treaty, and continued with their domestic affairs, feeling perfectly
secure. In the meantime Col. Ashley had informed Col. Jennings of the
governor's order of extermination. Thereupon Jennings and Nehemiah
Comstock gathered their forces, about two hundred and forty men, and
immediately started for Haun's Mill.
Monday, October 29, 1838, passed in peace and quiet. Tuesday the 30th
was clear and pleasant, an Indian summer day. In the afternoon, the
Saints were engaged in their daily pursuits, the men in the fields and
the shops; the women attending to domestic duties, and the children
playing on the banks of the creek. Suddenly Jennings and his force
approached at full speed, riding upon the settlement. David Evans,
perceiving their evil intentions, raised his hands as a sign of peace;
but they heeded him not. Continuing their advance, they commenced to
fire. The stricken people fled, seeking shelter and endeavoring to
escape. Some fled into the thickets near their homes, and by this means
escaped. For lack of time and want of a better protection, several of
the men and boys rushed into the blacksmith shop. The cracks between
the logs of the shop were so wide that the fiends on the outside could
see their victims within. Surrounding the place, they poured volley
after volley through the cracks with deadly effect. Several intended
victims rushed from the shop amidst the fire of the mob; some escaped
to the thicket; others were shot. Miss Mary Steadwell, while fleeing,
was shot in the hand and fainted; falling over a log she remained
protected by it. After the work of destruction was over, more than
twenty musket balls were discovered in the log. Yet the executioners
were principally seeking for the men, and let most of the women escape.
After completing all the execution possible on the outside of the shop,
the ruffians pushed through the door and finished their bloody work.
The terrible scene enacted there was one of the utmost brutality.
It is told in the "History of Caldwell County," Missouri, with such
excuses for the attack as the writers of such a history could employ.
Nevertheless the diabolical deeds of these members of the state
militia, are partly related as follows:
"Esq. Thomas McBride was an old soldier of the Revolution. He was
lying wounded and helpless, his gun by his side. A militiaman named
Rogers came up to him and demanded it. "Take it," said McBride.
Rogers picked up the weapon, and finding that it was loaded,
deliberately discharged it into the old man's breast. He then cut
and hacked the old veteran's body with a rude sword, or corn knife,
until it was frightfully mangled. Wm. Reynolds, a Livingston County
man, killed the little boy Sardius Smith, 10 years of age. The lad
had run into the blacksmith shop and crawled under the bellows for
safety. Upon entering the shop the cruel militiaman discovered the
cowering, trembling little fellow, and without even demanding his
surrender, fired upon and killed him, and afterwards boasted of the
atrocious deed to Charles R. Ross and others. He described, with
fiendish glee, how the poor boy struggled in his dying agony, and
justified his savage and inhuman conduct in killing a mere child
by saying, 'Nits will make lice, and if he had lived he would have
been a Mormon.'"
The names of those killed are as follows: Thomas McBride, Levi N.
Merrick, Elias Benner, Josiah Fuller, Benjamin Lewis, Alexander
Campbell, Warren Smith, George S. Richards, William Napier, Austin
Hammer, Simeon Cox, Hiram Abbott, John York, John Lee, John Byers,
Sardius Smith and Charles Merrick. Some of these were mere children.
Many others were severely wounded but managed to escape with their
lives, among them a boy, Alma Smith, who had the flesh of his hip shot
away. He had the presence of mind to lie perfectly still and the fiends
thought he was dead. Alma was miraculously healed through prayer and
faith.
After this terrible work the murderers proceeded to rob the houses,
wagons and tents, and left the widows and children who escaped
destitute of the necessities of life. They even stripped the bodies of
the slain, and carried off their booty, shouting in fiendish glee and
boasting of their deeds of blood, as though they were deeds of valor,
worthy of the greatest praise and honor.
Gathering of the Mob-Militia
The same day of the massacre at Haun's Mill, General Samuel D. Lucas,
in command of two thousand men, arrived at Far West. With him were
Brigadier Generals Doniphan, Parks, Graham and Wilson, the latter
another ruffian. General Clark was at Chariton, under a forced march,
with the governor's exterminating order and a force of about one
thousand men.
As the troops approached Far West towards the evening of that day, they
formed in double file about one half mile from the city. With a flag of
truce they sent messengers to the city. They were met by Captain Morey,
with a few other individuals, who desired to know what the gathering
of the large armed force could mean, for as yet the "Mormon" people
had not learned of the Boggs exterminating order. To their horror they
were told that the body of troops were state militia, ordered there
by the governor, to exterminate the people and burn the place. They
demanded three persons in Far West, Adam Lightner, a non-"Mormon,"
John Cleminson, who had lost the faith, and his wife, to be brought
to them. When these three came out, the messengers told them to leave
Far West at once and save their lives, for they would be protected.
The determination of the force of militia was to destroy Far West and
kill the inhabitants. All three nobly said if the people were to be
destroyed they would return and die with them. The officers immediately
returned to the camp.
Charles C. Rich was then dispatched with a flag of truce toward the
camp of militia to have an interview with Generals Atchison and
Doniphan, who in the past had shown some sympathy for the "Mormons." On
his way he was fired at by Captain Bogart. Nevertheless, he continued
on his way and was granted the interview with Doniphan, who informed
him that General Atchison had been "dismounted" a few miles back, by
order of the governor, for being too merciful to the "Mormons." He then
plead with Doniphan to use his influence to protect the city from an
attack, at least until the following morning. Doniphan replied that
the governor had ordered the extermination of the "Mormons," but his
order had not arrived, and until it did there would be no attack upon
the Saints. However, he could not vouch for the action of Cornelius
Gilliam's company, which had just arrived, painted and decorated as
Indians; their commander styling himself the "Delaware Chief." These
savages spent the night in making hideous yells and other disturbances.
When Charles C. Rich returned to Far West and reported, Col. George M.
Hinkle, who commanded the forces at Far West, sent another messenger
to the mob-militia to plead for the lives of the people. He returned
without a satisfactory answer and reported that he had learned that
several members of the Church had been captured by some of the troops,
and had been brutally murdered, with no one to raise a voice in protest.
During the night the Saints made such temporary fortification as they
were able and with grim determination prepared to fight the best they
could to the last, being outnumbered more than five to one. Recruits
were hourly joining the forces of their enemies. Among these came Col.
Jennings and his band, fresh from the great "victory" at Haun's Mill.
The Saints spent an anxious night in solemn supplication to the Lord.
The women gathered such few loose articles as might be carried, and
prepared for flight if the chance was offered them. Lyman Wight, with
a small force, came from Adam-ondi-Ahman and succeeded in gaining Far
West during the night.
The Siege of Far West
Early on the morning of the 31st, Col. Hinkle sent another messenger
to General Doniphan. When he returned he stated that Doniphan had said
that the governor's order had arrived and Lucas was preparing to carry
it out. "He would be damned, if he would obey the order," was the
report, "but Lucas could do as he pleased."
The army, while encamped, permitted no person to go out or come in
the city. Those who attempted it were shot at. Corn fields were
destroyed and cattle, sheep and hogs wantonly killed by members of the
mob-militia.
Colonel Hinkle's Treachery
About eight o'clock Col. Hinkle sought another interview, this time
with General Lucas, to learn if some compromise could not be arranged
to avoid a battle. Lucas promised to meet him with a flag of truce at
two o'clock. At the time appointed the interview was held. Hinkle, John
Corrill, who had within the past few weeks become disaffected, William
W. Phelps and a Captain Morrison, met with Lucas and his aids when the
following propositions were presented to Col. Hinkle for acceptance in
behalf of the "Mormons:"
"To give up their leaders to be tried and punished. "To make an
appropriation of their property, all who had taken up arms, to the
payment of their debts and indemnity for damage done by them. "That the
balance should leave the state, and be protected out by the militia,
but to be permitted to remain under protection until further orders
were received from the Commander-in-Chief. "To give up the arms of
every description, to be receipted for."
At least, these were the terms according to the report Lucas made to
Governor Boggs. What else he may have said is not on record. To these
terms Col. Hinkle agreed, but asked to be given until the next day
to comply with them. Lucas consented to this on the condition that
Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon, Lyman Wight, Parley P. Pratt and George
W. Robinson be turned over to the camp of the militia as hostages.
If in the morning Hinkle failed to comply with the terms, these men
would be returned to Far West, and the attack should commence on the
city. If he did comply, then these brethren, among others, should be
retained as prisoners to be tried. Hinkle returned to Far West and
reported to Joseph Smith that the officers of the state militia desired
an interview with the brethren mentioned, hoping that the difficulties
might be settled without carrying out the exterminating order. Said
Parley P. Pratt: "We had no confidence in the word of a murderer and
robber; but there was no alternative, but to put ourselves into the
hands of such monsters, or to have the city sacked, and men, women and
children massacred. We therefore commended ourselves to the Lord, and
voluntarily surrendered." As they approached the camp in compliance
with this order, General Lucas, with a guard of several hundred men,
rode up, and with a haughty air ordered his men to surround the
brethren. Colonel Hinkle was heard to say: "General, these are the
prisoners I agreed to deliver up." The prisoners were then marched
into the camp surrounded by several thousand savage looking soldiers.
"These all set up a constant yell," says Brother Pratt, "like so many
bloodhounds let loose upon their prey. . . . If the vision of the
infernal regions could suddenly be opened to the mind, with thousands
of malicious fiends, all clamoring, exulting, deriding, blaspheming,
mocking, railing, raging and foaming like a troubled sea, then could
some idea be formed of the hell which we had entered."
The prisoners were placed under a strong guard and forced to remain
without shelter during the night in inclement winter weather. The guard
blasphemed; mocked the Savior; demanded miracles and said: "Come,
Smith, show us an angel; give us one of your revelations; show us a
miracle; come, there is one of your brethren in camp whom we took
prisoner yesterday in his own house, and knocked his brains out with
his own rifle, which we found hanging over his fire place; he lies
speechless and dying;[1] speak the word and heal him, and then we will
all believe; or, if you are apostles or men of God deliver yourselves,
and then we will be "Mormons."[2]
Condemned to be Shot
Thursday morning, November 1, 1838, Hyrum Smith and Amasa Lyman were
brought by Col. Hinkle into the camp. That night a court martial was
held, at which, besides the commanding officers of the mob-militia,
Col. Hinkle, Judge Austin A. King, District Attorney Birch, and the
Reverends Sashiel Woods, Bogart and several other priests, played a
part. The prisoners were sentenced to be shot on the public square in
Far West, Friday morning at 9 o'clock. This was, let it be said to
their honor, over the protest of Generals Doniphan and Graham, and
perhaps a few others. General Doniphan was given the order to carry out
the execution. It was a most fortunate thing that he was selected, for
he refused to obey the command. The order given him was as follows:
"Brigadier General Doniphan:
"_Sir_: You will take Joseph Smith and the other prisoners into the
public square of Far West, and shoot them at 9 o'clock tomorrow
morning."
"Samuel D. Lucas," "Major General Commanding."
General Doniphan replied to this order by saying to his superior:
"It is cold blooded murder. I will not obey your order. My brigade
shall march for Liberty tomorrow morning at 8 o'clock; and if you
execute these men, I will hold you responsible before an earthly
tribunal, so help me God."
"A. W. Doniphan," "Brigadier General."
Although this was an act of insubordination, it frightened the criminal
general and his willing aids. No charge was ever made against Doniphan,
for they dared not make one.
Plundering of the Militia
Col. Hinkle, according to his agreement, marched the militia companies
at Far West out of the city and grounded their arms, which were the
private property of the men who held them. Then the mob force was
let loose. They entered the city without restraint, on pretext of
searching the homes for additional arms. They tore up floors; ruined
furniture; destroyed property; whipped the men and forced them to sign
deeds to their property at the point of the bayonet; and violated the
chastity of women, until their victims died. About eighty men were
taken prisoners and the people were ordered to leave the state, and
were forbidden, under threat of death, to assemble more than three in a
place. Notwithstanding all this, General Lucas reported to the governor
how orderly and decorous were his troops.
Prisoners Taken to Independence
The prisoners after an earnest appeal, were permitted to visit their
homes, under a strong guard, to obtain a change of clothing. They were,
however, given strict command not to speak, or enter into conversation
with the members of their families. When the Prophet visited his home
the children clung to his garments. He requested the privilege of a
private interview with his family, which was denied him. Hyrum Smith,
whose wife less than two weeks later was confined,[3] drew attention
to the condition in his home; but received in answer only gibes and
insults. Parley P. Pratt underwent a similar scene, and in the anguish
of his soul appealed to General Moses Wilson, who answered him with an
exultant laugh, and a taunting reproach.
After these painful scenes, the prisoners were started for
Independence, under a strong guard commanded by Generals Lucas and
Wilson. On the way orders came from General Clark to have the prisoners
sent to him, but this General Lucas was not willing to do. Clark,
without question, wanted the honor of putting the prisoners to death.
Through his vanity, Lucas wanted to exhibit them before their enemies
in Jackson County, and pose as a great hero in triumph. Between the
rivalry of the two, not forgetting the hand of the Lord which was over
them, their lives were spared.[4]
Prisoners in Richmond
On the 3rd of November, 1838, the prisoners arrived in Jackson County
and the next day were taken by order of General Lucas, to Independence.
General Clark, however, would not permit them to stay, desiring to gain
possession of them himself. Therefore, he sent Col. Sterling Price with
instructions to have them removed immediately to Richmond, Ray County.
They arrived in Richmond on the 9th, and were imprisoned in a vacant
house. On their way they met General Clark, and asked him why they had
been carried from their homes and what the charges were against them.
Clark said he was not then able to determine, but would be prepared to
tell in a short time. When they were confined Clark sent Price with
two chains and padlocks and had the prisoners fastened together. The
windows were then nailed down; the prisoners were searched and the only
weapons they had (their pocket knives) were taken away. While this was
going on armed guards stood with cocked guns pointed at them. Here the
brethren were kept many days awaiting trial.
Rebuking the Guards
While incarcerated in this prison, the brethren were guarded by some
of the vilest wretches that could be found, who spent their time in
the presence of their prisoners relating their horrible deeds of
wickedness. This thing continued for some time, when the Prophet,
unable to stand it any longer, arose and rebuked them. The occurrence
is graphically related by Elder Parley P. Pratt in the following words:
"During this time Elder Rigdon was taken very sick, from hardship
and exposure, and finally lost his reason; but still he was kept
in a miserable, noisy and cold room, and compelled to sleep on the
floor with a chain and padlock round his ankle, and fastened to
six others. Here he endured the constant noise and confusion of
an unruly guard, the officer of which was Colonel Sterling Price,
since governor of the State.
"These guards were composed generally of the most noisy,
foul-mouthed, vulgar, disgraceful rabble that ever defiled the
earth. . . . Mrs. Robinson, a young and delicate female, with
her infant, came down to see her husband [George W. Robinson],
and to comfort and take care of her father [Sidney Rigdon] in
his sickness. When she first entered the room, amid the clank of
chains and the rattle of weapons, and cast her eyes on her sick and
dejected parent and sorrow-worn husband, she was speechless, and
only gave vent to her feelings in a flood of tears. This faithful
lady, with her little infant, continued by the side of her father
till he recovered from his sickness, and till his fevered and
disordered mind resumed its wonted powers.
"In one of those tedious nights we had lain as if in sleep till
the hour of midnight had passed, and our ears and hearts had been
pained, while we had listened for hours to the obscene jests, the
horrid oaths, the dreadful blasphemies and filthy language of our
guards, Colonel Price at their head, as they recounted to each
other their deeds of rapine, murder, robbery, etc., which they had
committed among the 'Mormons' while at Far West and vicinity. They
even boasted of defiling by force wives, daughters, and virgins,
and of shooting or dashing out the brains of men, women and
children.
"I had listened till I became so disgusted, shocked, horrified,
and so filled with the spirit of indignant justice that I could
scarcely refrain from rising upon my feet and rebuking the guards;
but had said nothing to Joseph, or any one else, although I lay
next to him and knew he was awake. On a sudden he arose to his
feet, and spoke in a voice of thunder, or as the roaring lion,
uttering, as near as I can recollect, the following words:
"SILENCE, _ye fiends of the infernal pit. In the name of Jesus
Christ I rebuke you, and command you to be still. I will not live
another minute and hear such language. Cease such talk, or you or I
die THIS INSTANT!_
Majesty in Chains
"He ceased to speak. He stood erect in terrible majesty. Chained,
and without a weapon; calm, unruffled and dignified as an angel,
he looked upon the quailing guards; whose weapons were lowered
or dropped to the ground, whose knees smote together, and who,
shrinking into a corner, or crouching at his feet, begged his
pardon, and remained quiet till a change of guards.
"I have seen the ministers of justice, clothed in magisterial
robes, and criminals arraigned before them, while life was
suspended on a breath, in the courts of England; I have witnessed a
Congress in solemn session to give laws to nations; I have tried to
conceive of kings, of royal courts, of thrones and crowns; and of
emperors assembled to decide the fate of kingdoms; but dignity and
majesty have I seen but once, as it stood in chains, at midnight,
in a dungeon in an obscure village of Missouri."[5]
General Clark at Far West
In the meantime (November 4), General Clark arrived at Far West with
1600 men, and 500 more on the outskirts of the city. He ordered General
Lucas to send to Adam-ondi-Ahman and there take all the "Mormon" men
prisoners and secure their property, till the best means could be
adopted for paying damages due to the mob troubles. On the 5th, Clark
ordered all the men at Far West to form in line, when the names of
fifty-six were called and they were made prisoners to await trial for
something which was not defined. On the 6th, he again gathered the male
portion of the population and read to them a written address which he
had prepared.
His Harangue
Feeling safe in the presence of so many helpless men, and flanked by
his troops, he made bold to impress upon the brethren the enormity of
their crimes. He read to them a number of stipulations to which they
must comply. The first, second and third, to the effect that they must
surrender their leading men, deliver their arms, and sign over their
properties to defray expenses of the "war." This, he said, they had
done. The fourth is here repeated:
"Another article yet remains for you to comply with, and that
is, 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, who is equal in authority with me, has made
this treaty with you--I approve of it--I should have done the same
had I been here. I am therefore determined to see it fulfilled. The
character of this state has suffered almost beyond redemption, from
the character, conduct and influence that you have exerted, and we
deem it 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 your
leaders not been given up, and the terms of the treaty complied
with, before this, you and your families would have been destroyed
and your houses in ashes.
"There is a discretionary power vested in my hands which I shall
exercise in your favor for a season; for this lenity you are
indebted to my clemency. I do not say that you shall go now, but
you must not think of staying here another season or of putting in
crops, for the moment you do this the citizens will be upon you.
If I am called here again, in case of a non-compliance of a treaty
made, do not think that I shall act any more as I have done--you
need not expect any mercy, but extermination, for I am determined
the governor's order shall be executed. As for your leaders, do not
once think--do not imagine for a moment--do not let it enter your
mind that they will be delivered, or that you will see their faces
again, for their _fate is fixed--their die is cast--their doom is
sealed."_
He then very graciously pleaded with them, and invoked the "Great
Spirit, the unknown God," to make them sufficiently intelligent to
break the chains of superstition, that they no longer worship man, and
never again organize with bishops, presidents, etc., but to become like
other men.
Trial in Daviess County
About this time Governor Boggs wrote General Clark to hold a military
court in Daviess County, and try those "guilty of the late outrages,
committed towards the inhabitants of said county." He was desirous
of having the whole matter "settled completely, if possible" before
the forces should be disbanded. "If the 'Mormons' are disposed,"
said Boggs, "voluntarily to leave the state, of course it would be
advisable in you to promote that object, in any way deemed proper.
The ringleaders of this rebellion, though, ought by no means to be
permitted to escape the punishment they merit." General Robert Wilson
was detailed to Daviess County to take possession of the prisoners. All
the men in the town of Adam-ondi-Ahman were placed under arrest, and a
court of inquiry instituted with the mobber Adam Black on the bench.
Notwithstanding this, after three days of examination, Black acquitted
them all. No one knew better than he of their innocence.
The Charges Against Joseph Smith and Companions
General Clark spent some time searching the laws to find some authority
by which the Prophet and companions could be tried for treason by court
martial. He even sent to Fort Leavenworth seeking such information,
which could not be found. It caused him extreme annoyance that no law
could be invoked to try private citizens by military code when there
was no war. He knew some charges would have to be preferred against the
accused, so he wrote the governor saying he had, on November 10, 1838,
made out charges against the prisoners and had called Judge Austin A.
King to try them as a committing court. He also suggested that they be
tried by court martial, especially, said he, should Joseph Smith be
so tried, but he could not discover authority for such procedure, and
requested the opinion of the attorney general on that point. "There
being no civil officers in Caldwell," he said, "I have to use the
military to get witnesses from there, which I do without reserve." The
civil officers in Caldwell, being "Mormons" had all been cast into
jail, and of course were not available. He closed his epistle by saying
the accused brethren were guilty of "treason, murder, arson, burglary,
robbery, larceny, and perjury." The reply he received was to turn the
prisoners over to the civil law, which order hurt him very much, for
he hoped to have the pleasure of attending to their execution, after
a military trial. In fact, he and Lucas had on several occasions set
the date of execution, but the hand of the Lord was always over the
afflicted brethren.
The Trial
Monday, November 12, 1838, Judge King sent out armed men to obtain
witnesses, some of whom came and testified willingly to falsehoods;
others came reluctantly. Among the witnesses who testified against
the brethren were: Dr. Sampson Avard, originator of the "Danites,"
who, later, was excommunicated from the Church for the offense; John
Corrill, George M. Hinkle, Reed Peck, John Cleminson, Burr Riggs,
William W. Phelps, John Whitmer, and others who formerly belonged
to the Church. The testimony of the prosecution continued until the
18th. Then the court called for witnesses for the defense; forty or
more names were given, and the Reverend-Captain Rogart was dispatched
with a company of militia to get them. He got them and brought them,
not to the court, but to prison, and confined them there. During the
week, the judge taunted the brethren because no witnesses appeared in
their defense. Other names were given, and the same reverend-captain
was sent for them. He did not find many, for the witnesses, learning
what had happened to their fellows, could not be found. The few he
did discover he also brought and cast behind the bars. In this manner
the mock trial proceeded from day to day. On the 24th, twenty-three
of the defendants were released, and by the 28th all the others were
acquitted or admitted to bail, excepting the following: Joseph Smith,
Sidney Rigdon, Hyrum Smith, Lyman Wight, Caleb Baldwin and Alexander
McRae, who were ordered to be taken to Liberty, Clay County, and there
committed to stand trial on the various charges named; Parley P. Pratt,
Morris Phelps, Luman Gibbs, Darwin Chase and Norman Shearer, who were
taken to Richmond Jail, there also to await trial for the same "crimes."
Nature of the Testimony
Some of the witnesses testified that the Church was a temporal kingdom,
which would, according to the teachings of its leaders, eventually
"fill the whole earth and subdue all other kingdoms." The seventh
chapter of Daniel was referred to several times. The brethren were
asked by the judge if they believed in Daniel's prophecy and when they
answered in the affirmative, Judge King turning to his clerk said:
"Write that down; it is a strong point for treason." The defendants'
attorneys, Doniphan and Rees, protested saying, "Judge, you had better
make the Bible treason." These attorneys advised their clients not to
make any defense or attempt to furnish other witnesses, for it was
useless. Doniphan observed that if a cohort of angels were to come
down, and declare the prisoners innocent, it would all be the same, for
Judge King had determined from the beginning to cast them into prison.
Malinda Porter, Delia F. Pine, Nancy Rigdon, Jonathan W. Barlow, Thoret
Parson, Ezra Chipman and Arza Judd, Jr., volunteered to testify for
the defense, but were prevented from giving testimony favorable to the
accused at the point of the bayonet.
November 29, 1838, Joseph Smith and fellow prisoners were committed to
the keeping of the sheriff of Clay County, who took them to Liberty and
cast them in prison. Parley P. Pratt and fellows were likewise retained
in Richmond, and thus ended this "trial" before Judge King.
Notes
1. This was a brother named Carey, who had been beaten over the head
until his brains oozed out. He died shortly afterwards, having been
exposed in that condition without shelter, all afternoon and night.
2. _Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt_, p. 204.
3. During these trying scenes, November 13, 1838, while Hyrum Smith,
with the Prophet and the other prisoners, were incarcerated, Joseph
Fielding Smith, who afterwards became President of the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was born at Far West. When he was
but a few days old, members of this mob-militia entered the home,
ransacked it, and turned the bedding, on which the infant lay, upside
down, smothering him until his life was apparently gone when he was
discovered.
4. Parley P. Pratt declared that General Wilson made the following
statement: "It was repeatedly insinuated, by the other officers and
troops, that we should hang you prisoners on the first tree we came to
on the way to Independence. But I'll be d--d if anybody shall hurt
you. We just intend to exhibit you in Independence, and let the people
look at you, and see what a d--d set of fine fellows you are. And,
more particularly, to keep you from that old bigot of a general, Clark,
and his troops, from down county, who are so stuffed with lies and
prejudice, that they would shoot you down in a moment."
5. _Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt_, pages 228-9.