Assassination of Joseph and Hiram Smith (T. Lyne)
The Mormon Prophet and Patriarch.

At Carthage, Illinois
June 27th, 1844,

By an Eye Witness
Thomas A. Lyne

Late of the Stage

To which is annexed the SPEECH OF H. L. REID.

Also,
SPEECH OF JAMES W. WOODS,

NEW YORK, Printed by C. A. Calhoun
No. 1 Division Street. 1844

To which is added
A BRIEF OUTLINE of the FAITH AND DOCTRINE
of the
LATTER DAY SAINTS.

I certify that this Phamplet is a true statment of the late melancholly facts that transpired at Nauvoo and its vicinity.

Elder G. J. Adams.

A True and Descriptive Account of the Late and Ever to be
Lamented Troubles At Nauvoo

The undersigned offers this to his friends and a liberal public as a true statement, deeming this truly necessary, to correct the many exaggerations that the penny-a-liners
are ever ready to snatch at to feed the unhallowed maws of the mad religious fanatics who, had they power, would strew your limbs on the vast prairies of our once
happy republic, where every man once had the liberty of worshipping his God, as his reason dictated, "and there was none to make him afraid." Alas! those happy days
are gone, gone I fear never to return under the bright eschtcheon of our nations banner. But away with such gloomy forebodings, for they war with that nature that has
one spark of patriotism to kindle the fire of liberty's altar. Under emotions trying and painful we proceed to give a fair and impartial account of acts for hellishness of
character, I will give you the annals of sacred and profane history for latitude to find me an equal in enormity; cowardice, treachery, the faith of men, the honor of a
sovereigh state, coupled with the fidelity of the executicve of its government, you cannnot find a parallel to this most savage-like tragedy, enacted in the meridian of the
nineteenth centruy, when every hamlet rears its church spire as an insignia that there is the sanctuary of the Most High God. O! foul blot upon the page of a nation's
history, what mineral of virtue will extract thy infamy, that we may hail at home and abroad without a blush, that we are the sons of righteous America.

First, then, let the liberal and civilized world be instructed that Nauvoo is a city with a charter liberal; with all the privildges that a legislature could grant has been
lavished no doubt by the ascendant power to secure the "Mormon" influence as a strong card in the game of politics. Among other indulgences for our most "sweet
voices," was the act of habeas corpus, granted, when it has been called into action, to defend the "Mormons" from religious and political persecutions. The defeated
corniorants, that would at once slay soul and body to obtain the consummation of their hellish plans, have started all the little dogs, and disaffected of our land, to swell
the loud yell of usurpation of power by the Mormons, and rumour with her thousand tongues, vomiting forth her poisonous lies till truth itself dare scarce raise its head
to contradict the vile calumny. Among the city laws stands this conspicuous, that the Mayor and Common Council have the power to remove and abolish all unlicensed
establishments, which shall be declared, in their wisdom, as a nuisance-their authority Blackstone. Under this head, after mature deliberation, fell the filthy and disgusting
sheet, yclept, the "Mauvoo Expositor," having no purpose to work righteousness, but all evil, destitute of the common, but to them uncommon, quality which may be
had without cost, common honesty and common truth, having for its chief aim revenge on those who had cherished them as brothers, shared largely in their confidence,
and as such might have remained; but, satan-like, their ambition to be greater than the Master-builder, has hurled them from their once high estate; their minds
darkened, they stumbled from sin to sin, until patience ceased to be a virtue and the chruch excommunicated them. Of all enemies save us from the apostates of any
creed; match them alone, with those who will betray the confidence of others after having sacredly embraced it; that once gone, no circumference is wide enough for
their bounding wickedness; the smell and stain of blood is fuel to their Cain-like souls. Well, in view of evil which might be wrought by these half-a-dozen demons in
man's image, disgracing God;s fair outline, their engine that circulated the foul spewings of their dark and foul engenderings vis: their press was destroyed. This
destruction would, and I suppose will, be paid in full for the overt act, if it could be made out so. Under such trying curcumstance the lives & property of thousands was
threatened by those whose evil deeds they have scarcely frowned on, or if at all, more in sorrow than in anger, threatened with earthly annihilation. These men had a
desperate stake at issue, they had on a small capital, with the credit they had gained while members of the Mormon Church, built largely. Now we'll incite the spirit of
mobocracy, which has become an epidemic in our land, drive out the innocent community of Nauvoo; it clears us of our liabilities, a compromise with the sackers; we
shall then become the masters of the beautiful city of Nauvoo. O! the limits of a folio would not explain the deep moves of this wily party. Now for revenge, not pay, for
damages done, spouters of all vocations, from the blackleg to the minister of the gospel, were engaged; all sorts of inflammatory speeches trumpeted forth to work
upon the sincerity of the honest, by gross libels,-"trampling the sacred laws of the Constitution under foot"-"the liberty of the press"-"a law breaking people-"arouse
citizens of Illinois"-"buckle on your armour"-"the Mormons"-"the crisis has arrived that calls for all your energies to punish home this high-handed act"-"indiscriminate
extermination to man, woman, and child"-"be the word of our onset"-"vengence"-with such cheering epithets, to encourage the wicked to acts of blood upon the
Mormons. Citizens of the United States, do you know this community, they are your brethren, differing only, 'tis true, on most important points as to the Gospel of
Christ, but in that, and in all else, if our Constitution is worth any thing, your free and equal citizens whose fathers purchased by the dear sacrifice of their blood, the
rights that many are now ready to destroy. Who is there so tratorous to the love of country as would try to alienate one true heart from the stars and stripes of our
hitherto justly boasted republic, I hope the number is few; remember when you make war upon men, for their religious feelings you touch the chords that will produce
the most dreadful discord; all ties sink into nothhingness when their God and their faith is a consideration, to which all temporal things unhesitatingly give place. I need
not refer to the cause that drove the pilgrims to our land, back to the manifold persecution since the days of Christ and his followers. As to the liberty of the press being
made a pertext for this ungodly move to drive the Mormons I think in the present case, the word "abusers" of the press would be most appropriate if inserted. What are
the knights of the type afraid of that they so readily join their power with the wicked? do they think this will become a precedent, and they will have to limit their gall for
the future, and every honest man's character shall not be at the meriful option of every unprincipled editor? we are protected, say they be our glorious Constitution, and
 Copyright (c) 2005-2009, Infobase Media Corp.
under its protecting wings every scoundrel that can beg or filch a few hundred dollars, may purchase this formidable engine, and with the broad charter ofPage                1 /the
                                                                                                                                                                      liberty of   6
press, may at once elevate himself to the dignity of editorship, the guardian of the people's morals, without a requisite of a moral religious character; but, abundantly rife
in every essential of wickedness, we wish for no censorship over the press, but let the men that stand at the head of our public journals be patronised for the
not refer to the cause that drove the pilgrims to our land, back to the manifold persecution since the days of Christ and his followers. As to the liberty of the press being
made a pertext for this ungodly move to drive the Mormons I think in the present case, the word "abusers" of the press would be most appropriate if inserted. What are
the knights of the type afraid of that they so readily join their power with the wicked? do they think this will become a precedent, and they will have to limit their gall for
the future, and every honest man's character shall not be at the meriful option of every unprincipled editor? we are protected, say they be our glorious Constitution, and
under its protecting wings every scoundrel that can beg or filch a few hundred dollars, may purchase this formidable engine, and with the broad charter of liberty of the
press, may at once elevate himself to the dignity of editorship, the guardian of the people's morals, without a requisite of a moral religious character; but, abundantly rife
in every essential of wickedness, we wish for no censorship over the press, but let the men that stand at the head of our public journals be patronised for the
wholesome truths that shall grace their columns, rather than the disgusting ribaldry that is now disseminating its poisonous influence over our once justly governed land.
O! for an acting discriminating power, that we might shear some of these unrighteous would-be editors of their large liberty, the freedom of the press. Such was the
filthy and depraved character of the "Nauvoo Expositor." not as a useful press, but as a most offensive nuisance; destroued in the wisdom of the Mayor and Council,
with the honest intention of paying for the same; no mob was required to carry this into execution; the marshal, Mr. Green, going with a few individuals takes this most
pernicious abuser of the liberty of the press, and with the aid of slege-hammer breaks it to pieces, and burns the fixtures. Now, let me add, by way of trespassing upon
the rights of the press, as a palliation, here was the character of an entire city defamed beyond all limits, the characters of innocent and timid females exposed to the
world as lost and abandoned to every principle of virture, by suffering this vehicle to issue more of its obscene numbers where, in a city of a population of 15,000, they
had not for its patrons, a tythe of the twentieth part of that respectable number, conveying the notion to the world that half the population was infected, or we, tacitly
acknowledging the same to exist; was it safe under such desperate circumstances to allow it to vomit forth another number to excite the surrounding counties, that were
already strongly prejudiced against the Mormon body, in consiquence of the vile misrepresentations as to their religious obsservances. But, to leave this part of the
subject, they can only feel, and then judge, who have known that desperate diseases require like rememdies; while they waited the laws' delay, the Mormons would
have been driven from their homes, and I add, without a lie, the shedding of much innocent blood. What control a mob of the 19th centure, under a religious enthusiasm
that they would render their God an important service by destroying this people from the land where the narrow chanbers of death hold the bones of their fathers.

The world is ignorant of this fact, that a conspiracy was formed some months prior to this, having for its object the entire distruction of the Smith family, but God for his
own wise purposes permitted it not; time I believe will develope his design; gradually the evil one was approximating his machinations to a bloody climax; now to act
under the ambush of the law, we will send a writ for the Mayor and Common Council of Nauvoo to come to Carthage, and be tried for the offence of destroying the
press under the support of the Laws, Fosters and Higbees the constable, was not what an officer should be, viz, a gentleman. I was standing near Joseph Smith when
this high authority was served; after some altercation as to the right of dragging a mayor and Corporation to a county spuire for trial. I gave my advice under the
threatening aspect of things; right or wrong I would not go, his life was all they wanted, not justice, knowing this would be the result. They had a right to try the case
before the Municipal Court at Nauvoo, or at the nearest justice, which was at Apaneaus; my man with a little brief authority, with imprecations, insisted on their going to
Carthage: the act of habeas corpus rescued them from this arbitrary course, and let me add, a fair and impartial trial was held as to the Carthage writ, and they were
honourably acquitted. Now large masses of people were gathering, in the interim, at Carthage and Warsaw; the militia from several counties, as if some dreadful
invasion was threatened by the allied powers of Europe, were coming in all directions. I wonder if these brave spirits that are so ready to exterminate their neighbors, I
might say brothers by the ties of consanguinity, would grasp the war knife and the rifle with the same alacity in defence of their country and their flag? I doubt it; I would
only trust them in the body of a formidable "van and rear."

Now know, O! people of the world! Joseph Smith's position Lieutenanat General of the forces of Illinos, subject to the order of the Governor, and the United State of
America, Mayor of the city of Nauvoo; in possession of all the authority that those high stations, military and civil, could confer on him; add to this the founder of a
church, who, in the short space of fourteen years, in defiance of all religious persecution, can tell the astounded world his followers at an honest estimate are 150,000 to
200,000. Letters were addressed to the executive of the state, asking advice and his interference. In the interim, Nauvoo and its inhabitants threatened with destruction
and total extermination, prompt were the measures proposed and as promptly obeyed; the Legion were ordered to protect the city, the wives and children of those
absent and present; for learn, O! brave spirits, there are from seven hundred to a thousand men absent, good and true, who would die cheerfully in the cause of God, in
defence of their country, their wives and little ones; and these are Mormons, preaching the everlasting gospel, which is the gospel of Jesus christ re-established in the
last days. A few hours after orders were given, four thousand men were seen in Nauvoo, with a courage not to be disputed; one half of this number were men who had
been goaded, whipped. and their brethren slaughtered in the state of Missouri, hunted from the soil where they had reared their comfortable dwellings, and planted their
vineyards; their old wrongs half forgotten, in their charity, and forgiven; obeying the divine commandment of their Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, came back again with
the persecuted man; but still those brave spirits were quieted by the kind voice of him who now sleeps the peaceful rest of a just man made perfect; and the head of a
great and a mighty people has gone to the world of spirits. Brethren we will put our trust in Israel's God to protect our church and homes. On the 21st of June the
Legion were reviewed by Joseph Smith and his staff; strange were my feelings when riding by his side, scanning feathres of men of every clime and every creed: there
were honest infidels there, thank God not against our country or its blessed laws, but against the wicked and hellish spirit of mobocracy; arrayed in battle order to try
by deadly conflict, whether we, the sons of America, have a right to worship our God in our way.-We will not be the aggressor, but contend unto the death. The
privileges which God and our constitution has guarantied to us, to wit, the honest enjoyment of all blessings that the free denizens of the United States are entitled to, of
a temporal character, and the unquestionable right to believe in the Old and New Testament, which we believe means what it says, and says what it means. We are
commanded to search the Scriptures. Do so; and compare them with the Mormon creed, and you must become proselytes to the religion of the "Latter-day Saints."
The city was now well guarded, and prepared for the contest. All was excitement without the city, and in the towns on the river; farmers forsaking their homesteads, the
steamboats well freighted with timid women and their frightened protectors; while at Nauvoo, in the prattle of children to the anxious parent was asked the fearful
question, Well the mob drive us away and burn our homes, and kill our parents? Is this America? And, has priestcraft spread its unhallowed leaven throughtout our
land, that for opinion sake, as to the mode to climb to heaven, man will butcher his fellow man, and lay his fair country a waste, which has been hailed and sung in
earth's remotest ends, as the "land of the free and the home of the brave": let us close the book of our imagination, and call it a dream, it is too frightful to be reality.
Messengers were passing back and forth with instructions from Nauvoo and Carthager; the mob burning to revenge themselves on a people who had never injured
them; but their feelings had been played upon by the enemies of Mormonism, who in their holy zeal to destroy the, had caution enough to screen themselves, and to let
you stand as the assassinators; they were the planners, and you the tools to work with; they aloof from the law and safe, while you would stand branded by the world
as murderers, and your souls lost to heaven-for no shedder of innocent blood shall enter there. The Governor of Illinois arrives at Carthage,-is familiar with the abettors
of this work,-demands the mayor and common council of Nauvoo on the original writ issued at Carthage-it is not now a question of law,-but obey the mandate sent, or
take the consequences. And what are they? Why, consider every house in Nauvoo with a keg of powder under it, and a spark ready to ignite; and, I cannot answer for
the violence of a mob upon the inhabitants; disband the Nauvoo legion-they are not required-I will send a company to defend you. Captain Singleton, with about sixty
men to defend Nauvoo, arrived. Surrender the State arms;-come without a guard to Carthage-my honor and the faith of a sovereign state is pledged for your personal
safety. Every request of the Governor had been, as good citizens, complied with; a patient. suffering, and law abiding people, and as such stand recorded in the ledger
of heaven. Show me a community threatened as they were by a desperate mob, with their wounds hardly healed from their sufferings in Missouri, their substance
wasted, their forms of religion scoffed at, rated as fanatics, denounced as men of the basest characters, and then hear their leader mildly say; Brethren to your several
homes; trust once more to the powers that be, and your prayers to Israel's God for our deliverance: and, like dutiful children they obeyed that kind voice-to my
astonishment, I confess. I defy the world to produce a sect of party who would have been passive under like circumstances. Think you one fear urged submission? let
my simple NO, be word enough for the refutation of the base slander. They came there ready and willing to die, if the sacrifice was necessary, for their church and
God.

On Monday, J. and H. Smith, Dr Richards J. Taylor, with a few friends, went to Carthage, too late that day to transact business-Joseph and Hirum lodged that night in
or near the chamber of the Governor. The following day he wrote a letter to his wife, which quieted the fears of the people; its tenor was encouraging; he had passed a
good night; but the very atmosphere of Carthage was foul with imprecations that burst from hearts of murderers, already so, save in opportunity to complete the act that
has forever damned them, learn fiends in human shape, you have gone a step beyond repentance; to your graves you'll crawl, dreading exposure as you move through
the mazes of(c)
 Copyright    live; but the eyeInfobase
                 2005-2009,      of God isMedia
                                           on you, and should you escape unwhipt of justice, through the lenity of your executive, the curses of the honest will
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every turn, while the prayers of the Saints will fill all space in Jehovah's mansion, till their wrongs are well avenged. Be sure, you are fully damned here, and in the world
to come. O! murderers of your own souls, your country's honour, and its sacred laws! hide your painted carcasses from the bright god of day; seek the dark caves of
earth, or speed to the dark chambers of hell, to your kindred spirits, where without doubt you have pre-existed. Have you mothers, wives, children, may they quickly
On Monday, J. and H. Smith, Dr Richards J. Taylor, with a few friends, went to Carthage, too late that day to transact business-Joseph and Hirum lodged that night in
or near the chamber of the Governor. The following day he wrote a letter to his wife, which quieted the fears of the people; its tenor was encouraging; he had passed a
good night; but the very atmosphere of Carthage was foul with imprecations that burst from hearts of murderers, already so, save in opportunity to complete the act that
has forever damned them, learn fiends in human shape, you have gone a step beyond repentance; to your graves you'll crawl, dreading exposure as you move through
the mazes of live; but the eye of God is on you, and should you escape unwhipt of justice, through the lenity of your executive, the curses of the honest will cross you at
every turn, while the prayers of the Saints will fill all space in Jehovah's mansion, till their wrongs are well avenged. Be sure, you are fully damned here, and in the world
to come. O! murderers of your own souls, your country's honour, and its sacred laws! hide your painted carcasses from the bright god of day; seek the dark caves of
earth, or speed to the dark chambers of hell, to your kindred spirits, where without doubt you have pre-existed. Have you mothers, wives, children, may they quickly
fly your presence, lest some portion of the fiend, that is now all your own, be transmitted to them, that & there still remain enough of hell to mar the fair work of heaven.
The following day they gave bonds for their appearance at the Circuit Court of Hancock co. state of Illinois. A writ for high treason was then sued by Messrs. Augustin
Spencer and Norton; for some fancied offence they had received at the hands of Joseph Smith. The officer was then commanded in the name of the people, to receive
the said Joseph Smith and Hirum Smith into his custody, in the jail of the county aforesaid, there to remain until discharged by law. Given under my hand and seal, this
25th day of June, A. D. 1844, Signed R. F. Smith, J. P.

Now this was a false commital, to imprison without an examination as to their guilt; but as it is not our purpose in these few pages to question the legality of their
proceedings at Carthage, we will refer you to the annexed remarks of Messrs, Wood & Reid, attorneys at law. Much might be said in condemnation of the militia
encamped at Carthage: we will pass it over slightly, for we are sick of painting horrors, only where it would be a crime to be silent; let us remark, that good breeding,
which holds the half-civilized world in subjection, had forgot to take up its quarters with the Carthage Greys and the Militia of Warsaw; but continued its march,
ashamed to stand a witness of the disgraceful scenes that were about to follow. The Governor, to please the troops, sent to uphold the supremacy of the laws brought
General Joseph and General Hyrum Smith and presented them to the soldiery, and for the honor intended them they received groans and hisses. We don't say the
Governor was aware of this hostile feeling toward them, or that in his heart he commends them for it; but to keep up appearances, for this unmilitary conduct, they were
ordered under an arrest. How much they may have enjoyed the unmanly joke in secret, 'tis not our purpose to say here: we believe the Macdonough gentlmen were
highly displeased. But order was soon restored, the Greys restored to favor, as the sequel will show. The Governor feeling that the excitement as he thought had
subsided, ordered the unnecessary troops, and the mob, to disperse to their several homes.

June 27th, 'the pernicious day should stand aye accursed in the calendar' the Governor left Carthage with the McDonough troops, friendly to the Mormons, or at least
to good order, as a guard to accompany him to Nauvoo, and left some 60-70 of the Carthage disaffected as a guard to the jail that contained Joseph Smith, Hirum
Smith, Elder Tayolr and Doctor Richards. Now, while the Governor was at Nauvoo, kindly received by its citizens, and admonishing them to forbear fro all acts of
violence, with remarks of a pastor-like character, that they should be praying saings, not military saints,-under the virtue of his high authority informing them that if any
thing of a serious character should befall the lives or property of the prime movers of this outbreak, the Mormons must be held responsible, with many more conciliating
remarks, he then turned his back upon Nauvoo, fully impressed no doubt with his own superiority, when contrasted with the despised "Mormons." But what was going
on at Carthage at this hour. The Illinoian honor gone, as well as credit!

In a paltry jail in the close neighborhood of a wood, the Lord of heaven with his all-seeing eye was noting every demon that was stealthily issuing therefrom, and signing
to the recording angel to register them in the book that seals forever the children of the damned. Here stood some eight men, entrusted with the honor and faith of the
State, and the pledge for the personal safety of four defenceless men-the remaining guard of some 50 or 60, a quarter mile away: does not this seem like management,-
the god of day seems hurrying down the west lest he should be a witness to this most unnational and bloody deed. No country must own these men; they are
mendicants that dwell in the purlieus of the damned. On they crouch their way; they have lost the upright posture; two hundred of them, their fiendish lineaments daubed
black, red and yellow; they have reached the jail; the guard of eight offer some resistance; their pieces discharged without effect, they are secured; up they rush a small
flight of stair; a slight door opposes them; volley after volley passes through the door; it is slightly on the jar, and the only weapon, a six barrelled pistol, left by some
visitor, pointed through the door; three barrels discharged, in the desperate hope the guard would come to their relief; but all in vain-in an instant more and they are
welcomed to the presence of their God; Joseph has four wounds, the "least a death to nature"; as if not enough, after falling from the jail window to earth, a hundred to
receive him, and one butcher unsated, pierced his body through with a knife or bayonet. Hirum Smith also received four balls, two passed into his head, one entering
the left side and passing through the right, the last thro' the left leg: Elder Taylor, five balls; they are flesh wounds, principally about the legs-one ball through his hand.
He has the prayers of the Saints to Isarel's God for his recovery. Doctor Richards' escape is miraculous, a very large man, and in the midst of a shower of balles, he
stood unscathed, with the exception of a ball leaving a slight mark such as the head of a pin might make, close under the left ear, grazing the jugular.

Now the fiends, without doubt, had their horses close at hand.-Now back to Warsaw, or some such place, to boast of this heroic act!-that 200 painted devils had
killed two innocent men and wounded one, while in the prisoners sanctuary. The glory of the acievement be ever with you, and the curse of every honest heart to keep
it company. Now all was on the move to get clear of the excited Mormons. Carthage that night was emptied. The murdered men, with a few exception, was all that
remained of mortality. All was consternation; a messenger, hastening with the sad news to Nauvoo, is met about three miles from Carthage; the Governor orders him
back to Carthage; passes through with his guard some 18 miles beyond Carthage, to a place of safety; he is heard of next at Quincy, collecting troops. The news so
sad to wives, to mothers and the Church, ere the dawn of another day has reached Nauvoo. Did you ever experience one of those awful pauses that precede the loud
bursting thunder of the gulf. Such was the silence that reigned at Nauvoo; the dread calm was broken by the wail of women and the loud sighs of men. In that hour of
affliction you could hear the voice of prudence checking the blood now coursing wildly thro' many a giant frame, with hearts swelling with indignation, and arms ready to
strike. Patience, brethren, our country's laws will redress us; and if not, then will our God. Such is the faith and teachings of that creed that in an hour like the one we
have dwelt on, subdued their hot blood, and made them men again. The neighboring counties and towns were all astir: the Mormon Prophet and his brother Hirum,
Patriarch of the Church, had fallen martyrs to their faith:-they had sealed with their blood its divinity. The priests' smile was turned to a frown as he heard the infidel utter
his prediction-Mormonism would soon number a host as sand upon the sea-shore: the patriot sighed for the deep stain cast upon his country, questioning with himself
the stability of his government; and the man without a creed asked, why is this persecution? It caught the ear of the priest, and he scowled with a short answer;-They
are deluded, and say they are the true chruch of Christ! This looks half like it, said the sceptic-I will examine it! So will thousands, said we aloud and passed on.

The bodies were sent for, half doubting whether they would be permitted to gaze again on those dead features that had in life dwelt kindly on them-that had freed them
from the chains of a false creed-smiled in their hours of joy, comforted them in the hour of their distress. To the Carthage road all eyes were turned. Near the half-built
temple I stood, running over each even of the last few days, to see if I could realize this unnatural deed; when the free grief of women wailed on the silence of the spot,
told me of its truth. I hastened to the road-there came the clay of men beloved in life and honored in their death. I placed myself in this throng of men, and then thought
life a dream. The Prophet and a friend to me who but a few short days ago gave his counsel with a smile that bespoke the goodness of his heart, and the kind "good
day" of Hirum, as he passed me in the hall,-one thought of doubt came; but it passed away, and left me stronger in the faith. This unostentatious cortege now reached
the mansion where an aged mother lingers, and the wife and children of Joseph Smith. We bore the bodies to the dining-hall. I will not describe that genuine grief! O!
the sobs of that poor old mother! Imagine you the rest! Dr. Richards, a piece of manliness from head to foot, now told the strong points of the tale of blood, that for
cowardice stands unmatched.-Mildly then he spake, adminishing them to keep the peace: he had pledged his honor and his life for their good conduct; it was enough-
they were as passive as obedient children to a kind parent. Others spoke; night came; and that vast multitude passed to their homes (save the guard) to meditate on
scenes of persecutions gone, and with them Prophet and Chief. The morrow came, and in coffins black and plain rested the manes, on which thousands wept and
passed. Guess you what passed within their hearts. Mr. Phelps gave us an excellent discourse, and at the same hour, of five, was borne without a mark of show to the
sepulchre, for a short rest, Joseph and Hirum, and when the loud trump sounds o'er earth and air, they'll spring to life immortal, rejoicing with the just. Where then will
stand their murderers?-howling with the damned!

Thos. A. Lyne
Copyright  (c) 2005-2009, Infobase Media Corp.                                                                                                                  Page 3 / 6
P.S.-The writer requests that all who were concerned in this nameless butchery will purchase a copy of this pamphlet, preserve it under their pillow, and in their hour of
exit, before death has glazed their eyes, read it, and then ask mercy if they dare. T. A. L.
passed. Guess you what passed within their hearts. Mr. Phelps gave us an excellent discourse, and at the same hour, of five, was borne without a mark of show to the
sepulchre, for a short rest, Joseph and Hirum, and when the loud trump sounds o'er earth and air, they'll spring to life immortal, rejoicing with the just. Where then will
stand their murderers?-howling with the damned!

Thos. A. Lyne

P.S.-The writer requests that all who were concerned in this nameless butchery will purchase a copy of this pamphlet, preserve it under their pillow, and in their hour of
exit, before death has glazed their eyes, read it, and then ask mercy if they dare. T. A. L.

Statement of Facts

At the request of many persons who wish that the truth may go forth to the world in relation to the late murder of Joseph and Hirum Smith, by a band of lawless
assissins, I have consented to make a statement of the facts so far as they have come to my knowledge , in an authentic shape, as one of the attorneys employed to
defend the said Smiths against the charges brought against them, and other persons at Carthage, in the State of Illinois.

On Monday the 24th inst.. at the request of Gen. Joseph Smith, I left Fort Madison in the Territory of Iowa and arrived at Carthage where I expected to meet the
General, his brother Hyrum and the other persons implicated with them: they arrived at Carthage late at night, and next morning voluntarily surrendred themselves to the
constable, Mr. Bottersworth, who held the writ against them on a charge of riot for destroying the press, type and fixtures of the Nauvoo Expositor, the property of
William and Wilson Law, and other dissentors charged to have been destroyed on the 10th inst.

Great excitement prevailed in the county of Hancock, and had extended to many of the surrounding counties. A large number of the militia of several counties were
under arms at Carthage the Head Quarters of the commanding Gen. Deming; and many other troops were under arms at Warsaw and other places in the
neighborhood. The governor was at Head Quarters in person, for the purpose of seeing that the laws of the land were executed, and had pledged his own faith and the
faith of the State of Illinois that the Smiths and the other persons concerned with them should be protected from personal violence, if they would surrender themselves
to be dealt with according to law. During the two succeeding days his Excellency repeatedly expressed to the leagal counsellors of the Smiths his determination to
protect the prisoners and to see that they should have a fair and impartial examination so far as depended on the Executive of the State. On Tuesday morning soon after
the surrender of the prisoners on the charge of riot, Gen. Joseph smith and his brother Hyrum were both arrested on a charge of treason against the State of Illinois.-
The affidavits upon which the writs issued were made by Henry Norton and Augustine Spencer.

On Tuesday afternoon the two Smiths and others persons on the same charge of riot appeared before R. F. Smith, a justice of the peace residing at Carthage, and by
advice of counsel, in order to prevent, if possible, any increase of excitement, volutarily entered into recognizance in the sum of five hundred dollars each with
unexceptionable security, for their appearance at the text term of the Circuit Court for said county. The whole number of persons redognized is fifteen, most if not all of
the leading men in the Mormon church.

Making out the bonds and justifying bail necessarily consumed considerable time, and when this was done it was near night and the Justice adjourned his court over
withouth calling on the Smiths to answer to the charge of treason or ever intimating to their counsel or the prisoners that they were expected to enter into the
examination that night. In less than an hour after the adjournment of the court, constable Bettersworth who had arrested the prisoners in the morning appeared at
Hamilton's Hotel, at the lodgings of the prisoners and their counsel and insisted that the Smiths should go to jail, Mr. Woods of Burlington, Iowa, and myself, as counsel
for the prisoners, insisted that they were entitled to be brought before the justice for examination before they could be sent to jail. The constable to our surprise
thereupon exhibited a mittemus from said justice as folllows:

STATE OF ILLINOIS
Hancock County

The people of the state of Illinois to the keeper of the Jail of the said county greeting:

Whereas Joseph Smith and Hyrum Smith of the county aforesaid have been arrested upon the oath of Augustine Spencer and Henry O. Norton for the crime of treason
and has been brought before me as a Justice of the Peace in and for said county, for trial at the seat of justice thereof; which trial has been necessarily postponed by
reason of the absence of material witnesses to wit: Francis M. Higbee and other; therefore I command you in the name of the people to receive the said Joseph Smith
and Hyrum Smith into your custody in the jail of the county aforsaid, there to remain until discharged by due course of law.

Given under my hand and seal this 25th day of June, A. D. 1844,
(Signed,) R. F. Smith, J. P. [L.S.]

His excellency did not think it within the sphere of his duty to interfere, and the prisoners were removed from their lodgings to jail. The recitals of the mittimus so far as
they relate to the peisoners having been brought before the justice for trial, and it there appearing that the necessary witness of the prosecution were absent, is wholly
untrue, unless the prisoner could have appeared before the justice without being present in person or by counsel; nor is there any law of Illinois within my knowledge
which permits a justice to commit persons charged with crimes, to jail without examination as to the probablility of their guilt.

On Wednesday forenoon the Governor in company with one of his friends visited the prisoners at the jail, and again assured them that they should be protected from
violence, and told them that if the troops marched the next morning to Nauvoo as his Excellence then expected they should be taken along in order to insure their
personal safety.

On the same morning some one or more of the counsel for the prosecution expressed their wish to me, that the prisoners should be brought out of jail for examination;
they were answered that the prisoner had already been committed, and that the justice and constable had no further control of the prisoners; and that if the prosecutors
wished the prisoners brought out of jail, they should bring them out on a writ of Habeas Corpus or some other due course of law.-The constable after this conversation
went to the jail with the following order to the jailor:

STATE OF ILLINOIS,
Hancock county.

To David Bettersworth, Constable of said county:

You are commanded to bring the bodies of Joseph Smtih and Hyrum Smith from the jail of said county, forthwith before me at my office for an examination on the
charge of treason, they having been committed for safe keeping until trial could be had on such examination, and the state now being ready for such examination.

Given under my hand and seal this 26 day of June 1844
 CopyrightR.(c)
(Signed,)    F. 2005-2009,   Infobase Media Corp.
                Smith, J. P [L.S.]                                                                                                                             Page 4 / 6

And demanded the prisoners, but as the jailor could find no law authorizing a justice of the peace, to demand prisoners commied to his charge, he refused to give them
charge of treason, they having been committed for safe keeping until trial could be had on such examination, and the state now being ready for such examination.

Given under my hand and seal this 26 day of June 1844
(Signed,) R. F. Smith, J. P [L.S.]

And demanded the prisoners, but as the jailor could find no law authorizing a justice of the peace, to demand prisoners commied to his charge, he refused to give them
up, until discharged from this custody by due course of law. Upon the refusal to give up the prisoners, the company of Carthage Greys marched to the jail, by whose
orders I know not, and compelled the jailor against his will and conviction of duty, to deliver the prisoners to the constable, who forthwith, took them before Justice
Smith, the Captain of the Carthage Greys. The counsel for the prisoners then appeared, and asked for subpoenas for witness on the part of the prisoners, and
expressed their wish to go into their examination, as the witnesses could be brought from Nauvoo to Carthage; the justice thereupon fixed the examination for 12
o'clock, on Thursday the 27th inst: whereupon, the prisoners were remanded to prison. Soon after a council of the military officers was called by the Governor, and it
was determined to march on the next morning, the 27 inst. to Nauvoo with all the troops except one company which was to be selected by the Governor from the
troops whose fidelity was more to be relied on to guard the prisoners whom it was determined should be left at Carthage. On Thursday morning another consultation of
officers took place and the former orders for marching to Nauvoo with the whole army were countermanded. One company were ordered to accompany the Governor
to Nauvoo; the Carthage Grays, who had but two days before, been under arrest for insulting the commanding General, and whose conduct had been more hostile to
the prisoners, than that of any other company, were selected to guard the prisoners, and the other troops including those rendezvoused at Golden's Point, from
Warsaw , and who had been promised that they should be marched to Narvoo, were disbanded. A guard of only eight men was stationed at the jail, whilst the rest of
the Grayes was in camp at a quarter of a mile's distance, and whilst his excellency was harranguing the peacaeble citizens of Nauvoo, and asking them to give up all
their own arms, the assissins were murdering the prisoners in jail, whom the Governor had pledged himself and the faith of the State to protect.

H. T. Reid

At the request of the friends of Joseph and Hyrum Smith, I have consented to give a statemnet of such matters as I had a knowledge of in relation to their murder at
Carthage, and what occured under my observation. I arrived in Nauvoo from Burlington, Iowa, on Friday June 21, inst., about 9 o'clock, P. M., found all things quiet,
and an interview on Saturday morning the 22nd, with Joseph and Hyrum Smith, who was in consultation with some of their friends in relation to a communication from
Gov. Ford, during the interview heard Gen Joseph Smith give orders to disband the Legion, and withdraw the guards and sentinels, who were co-operating with the
police to preserve the peace of the city, as he said by order of Gov. Ford; that I went from Nauvoo to Carthage, on the evening of the 22d, when I had an interview
with Gov. Ford, assuring him as to the quiet of Nauvoo, and that Smith and his friends were ready to obey the laws. I was told that the Constable with a posse had that
evening gone to Nauvoo with a writ for Smith and others, and that nothing short of an unconditional surrender to the laws could allay the excitement. I was then
informed by Gov. Ford he was pledged to protect all such persons as might be arrested and that they should have an impartial examination, and that if Smith and the
rest against whom warrants had been issued, would come to Carthage by Monday the 24th inst, it would be a compliance on their part, and on Sunday morning the
23d, Gov. Ford pledged his word that if Gen. Smith would come to Carthage, he would by him be protected with such of his friends as might accompany him, and that
I as his counsel should should have protection in defending Smith; that I returned to Nauvoo, on Sunday evening the 23d. and I found Gen. J. Smith and Hiram Smith,
making prepartation to go to Carthage on Monday, and on Monday morning the 24 I left the city of Nauvoo in company with Joseph and Hiram Smith and some fifteen
other persons, parties and witnesses for Carthage; that about four miles west from Carthage, we were met by a company of about 60 men under Capt. Dunn; that at
the request of Gen. Joseph Smith, I advanced and communicated with the Commander of the company, and was informed he was on his way to Nauvoo, with an order
from Gov. Ford, for the State Arms at that place; that it was agreed by myself on behlf of Gen. Smith, that the order for the arms should be endorsed by Gen. Smith,
and that he should place himself under the protection of Captain Dunn, to retrun to Nauvoo and see the Governor's order promptly obeyed, and return with Cap. Dunn
to Carthage; Capt. Dunn, pledging his word as a military man, that Smith and his friends should be protected; that the order was endorsed by Gen. Smith, which was
communicated by Captain Dunn to Gov. Ford, with a letter from Gen. Smith informing the Gov., that he would accompany Captain Dunn to Carthage. I left the
company and proceeded to Carthage, that about 12 at night of the 24th Capt. Dunn returned with the State Arms from Nauvoo accompaned by Joseph and Hyram,
with some 13 others, who were charged with a riot in destroying the Printing Press of the Nauvoo Expositor, that on the morning of the 25th, Joseph and Hyrum Smith
with others charged, surrendered themselves to the Constable, and at the same time Joseph and Hiram Smith were arrested on a charge of Treason against the State of
Illinois, that about 3 o'clock P. M. on the 25th the Justice, proceeded to the examination in relation to the riot and after a good deal of resistance on the part of the
prosecution, we were permitted to enter into a recognizance to answer at the next term of the Circuit Court; that we were engaged until dark, in making out and giving
our recognizances; that in consequence of the rumors as to the excitement at Warsaw and other points, and to allay the fears of the citizens of Nauvoo, I requested
Governor Ford to detail a company to Nauvoo to protect the city, which request was promptly complied with, and that night Captain Singleton, with a company of men
from McDonough county marched to Nauvoo and took possession of the city and remained until the even of the 27th, when they took up their line of march for
Carthage.

After the matter of the riot was disposed of, the Justice left, without saying anything in relation to the examination for treason, and in about one hour the constable
returned with a mittimus, a copy of which accompanies the statement of my colleague, H. T. Read, a copy of which was demanded and refused; that I requested the
officer to wait until I could see Gov. Ford, and was told he would wait five minutes, and as I went to the door I met Cap. Dunn, with some twenty men to guard the
prisoners to jail; that I accompanied Gov. Ford to the justice R. F. Smith, who gave as a cause for issuing the warrant of committal; that the prisoners were not
personally safe at the hotel.

I then requested the Governor to have a company detailed to guard the jail, which was done, and they arrived at the jail about the same time as the prisoners. On the
morning of the 26th, the Governor visited the jail in company with a friend, at which interview the Governor again pledged himself for their perosnal safety, and said if
the troops went to Nauvoo, as was then contemplated, that they should go along to ensure their protection; that after the interview at the jail, the counsel for the
prosecution wanted the prisoners brought before the justice for examination, to which the counsel for the prisoners replied, that they were committed until discharged
by due course of law, and that we could do nothing until the prisoners were legally before the court, where we would appear and defend; that the justice, R. F. Smith
gave the constable an order (a copy of which accompanies the statement of H. T. Reid, Esq.,) for the jailor to deliver up the prisoners, which the jailor refused to do;-
that the constable then repaired to the jail with a company called the "Carthage Greys." of whom the justice, R. F. Smith, was the captain, but not then in command;
and by intimidation and threats, froced the jailor to give up the prisoners to the constable, who took them before the justce, R. F. Smith, at the Court House; that on the
motion of the counsel for the prisoners, the examination was postponed until the 27th, 12 o'clock, and subpoenas issued for witnesses on the defence. The two Smiths
were then remanded to jail and orders were issued for a consultation of the officers, with the commander-in-chief, and it was determined that the troops should take up
a line of march at 8 o'clock on the morning of the 27th. for Nauvoo, and after the consultation, the justice, who was one of the officer in command, altered the return of
the subpoenas until the 29th, and continued the haring until that time, without consulting either their prisoners or the counsel; that on the morning of the 27th, the order
for marching to Nauvoo, was countermanded, and all the troops disbanded but the company under Capt. Singleton at Nauvoo, Capt. Dunn's company of horse, and
the Carthage Greys; that the Governor determined to visit Nauvoo, escorted by Capt. Dunn's company; and the Carthage Greys were left as a guard for the prisoners
at the jail; that after the troops were disbanded, I requested Gov. Ford to detail some men to guard the route to Warsaw, as I apprehended much danger from that
place, but I do not know whether it was done or not, as I left Carthage about 11 o'clock, A. M., and came to Nauvoo; that Gov. Ford and his aid, Col. Buckmaster,
escorted by Capt. Dunn's company arrived in Nauvoo about 5 o'clock, P. M., where he addressed the citizens, and promised them protection, and a just execution of
the laws, and immediately left the city for Carthage.

James W. Woods,
Attorney at Law, of Burlington, Iowa.
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A Brief Outline of the
Faith and Doctrine of the Latter-Day Saints
the laws, and immediately left the city for Carthage.

James W. Woods,
Attorney at Law, of Burlington, Iowa.

A Brief Outline of the
Faith and Doctrine of the Latter-Day Saints

The first principle of theology as held by this Chuch, Faith in God the Eternal Father, and in his Son Jesus Christ, who verily was crucified for the sins of the world, and
who rose from the dead on the third day, and is now seated at the right hand of God as a mediator, and in the Holy Ghost who bears record of them, the same to day
as yesterday, and forever. The second principle is Repentance towards God; that is all men who believe in the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, are required to turn away
from their sins, to cease from their evil deeds, and to come humble before the throne of grace with a broken heart and a contrite spirit. The third principle is Baptism by
immersion in water, in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, for remission of sins, with the promise of the Holy Ghost to all who believe and obey the gospel.
The fourth principle is the laying on of hands in the name of Jesus Christ, for the gift of the Holy Ghost. This ordinance is to be administered by the apostle or elders of
the Chruch, upon all those who are baptized in the Chruch. Through these several steps of faith and obedience, man is made partaker of the Holy Ghost, and numbered
with the children of God. Through this process man is adopted into the Chruch and kingdom of God, as one of his Saints: his name is then enroled in the book of the
names of the righteous and it then becomes his duty to watch, to pray, to deal justly; and to meet together with the saints as oft as circunstances will admit of; and with
them to partake of bread and wine in remembrance of the broken body, and shed blood of Jesus Christ; and in short, to continue faithful unto the end, in all the duties
which are enjoined by the Law of Christ. Fifth, it is the duty and privilege of the saints thus organized upon the everlasting gospel, to believe in and enjoy all the gifts,
powers and blessings which flow from the Holy Spirit. Such for instance as the gifts of revelation, prophecy, visions the mystery of angels, healing the sick by laying on
of hands in the name of Jesus, and in short all the gifts as mentioned in scripture, or as enjoyed by the ancient saints.

This is a brief outline of the doctrine of this Chruch, and we believe that it is the only system of Doctrine which God ever revealed to man in a gospel dispensation, and
the only system which can be maintained by the New Testament.




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