John C. Bennett
First Letter (June 27, 1842)
[edit]NAUVOO, ILLS., June 27, 1842.
To the Editor of the Journal: I was in your city a few days since for the purpose of taking legal advice in relation to the contemplated Bankruptcy of Joseph Smith, the notorious Mormon Prophet and swindler; -- and procuring the commissions for the officers of the line and the new appointees to brevets in the staff of the Nauvoo Legion, for distribution prior to the general parade on the 4th of July next; but had no time to prepare an article for the press, as I was bound to be in Nauvoo on the 36th instant. But I now write you from the Mormon Zion, the city of the Saints, where I am threatened with death by the holy Joe, and his Danite band of murderers, in case I dare make my disclosures in relation to the conduct of that polluted mass of corruption, iniquity and fraud, -- that King of Impostors, -- the holy and immaculate Joe Smith. I shall however, expose him, and if I fall by the ruthless hands of such foul assassins, let my blood be avenged by the friends of God and my country. Remember he has threatened me with DEATH in propria persona, and if I should be immolated to satiate his hellish malice, let his blood atone for it -- put his "head in a charger," But I fear him not -- he is the most consummate blackguard, and dastardly coward. He is ready at all times to assassinate a man of equal corporeal strength, or to inflict corporal punishment on a man of feeble frame; but he fears his equals, and dreads his superiors. Joe Smith stands indicted for murder, treason, burglary, and arson in Missouri, and he defies the laws and the legally constituted authorities to deliver him over for trial. -- What a horrible state of society when men fear to execute the laws! -- especially in relation to the most foul impostor that ever disgraced the earth! If Governor Reynolds, of Missouri, will make another demand for Joe Smith alone, disconnected with any other person, -- (for there are thousands of innocent, unoffending, good and holy people among the Mormons, who never ought to suffer, and never shall by my hands, or through my instrumentality -- men, women and children who have suffered more than death for the infamous prophet -- and if Governor Carlin will place the writ in my hands, I will deliver him up to justice, or die in the attempt, unless restrained by the constituted civil authority. Thousands and tens of thousands are ready to obey the call, and enforce the laws, and the holy Joe shall tremble at the sight of the gathering hosts. Let the watchword pass with the celerity of lightning, and let the citizen-soldier be ready, -- I will lead you on to victory, and lay the rebels low. The Constitution and the laws shall triumph, and misrule , violence, and oppression wither like a blighted flower. :et not an Executive whom he has vilified and abused, as he has Governor Carlin, both in the private circle and public congregation, fear or neglect to do his duty in this case, and deliver up this noted refugee, charged with the blackest crimes known to the laws, who now boldly stalks abroad in our public ways. If Joe is innocent, let him be acquitted; but if he is guilty, let his life atone for it. I regard him as a foul and polluted murderer, and on the forthcoming of his State writ, Joe shall be delivered up.
Now, remember, that if I should be missing, Joe Smith either by himself or his Danite band, will be the murderer. Illinoisians, then let my blood be avenged! They seek my life by day and by night -- look well to the issue! I am in the infamous impostor's city; but I fear him not, neither do I regard his idolatrous god. He believes not in the God of Heaven, and I fear no other.
I now defy him, and all his holy hosts. I dare him to personal violence. There are eyes that see that he knows not of, and ears to hear that he understands not.
Now, Governor, do your duty. And citizens of Illinois, be in readiness to sustain your laws. I furnished the State arms to the Nauvoo Legion on a legal requisition, and on a legal requisition they shall be delivered up. The public arms are in a bad situation, and suffering material injury, and they had better be placed in the hands of more deserving men, for the State is sustaining a great loss. If the Governor wishes them for other troops, they are at his service. I derived the command of the Nauvoo Legion, and as Major General I have it, and am liable to trial only on an order from the Governor, detailing a general Court Martial of General officers from the other divisions of the State -- no brevet officer can affect me.
It is true that I had Joe appointed, or elected Lieutenant General, as a mere play thing, knowing that there was no such officer contemplated by the Constitution, but, it answers Joe well enough, as he does not know enough of military matters to tell the difference between a Corporal, and a General, -- so, Lieutenant General is as good as any otherral to Joe. In his public speeches he says -- "hear your Lieutenant General! the greatest military commander that ever lived since the days of Washington. -- General Scott is a mere pigmy compared to me! I command all the armies of the United States! -- and the Nauvoo Legion was formed to avenge blood in Missouri!!"
Joe is a great man of the kind -- but God will damn the kind -- for, if the devil don't get Joe Smith, there is no use for any devil. But to the damnable iniquity of this base impostor, and to copy, to wit:
May 17, 1842. "Bro. JAMES SLOAN, -- You will be so good as to permit Gen. Bennett to withdraw his name from the Church Record, if he desires to do so, and this with the best of feelings towards you and General Bennett. JOSEPH SMITH."
In accordance with the above I have permitted General Bennett to withdraw his membership from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, this 17th day of May, 1842, -- the best of feelings subsisting between all parties. JAMES SLOAN, General Church Clerk and Recorder.
From the (Nauvoo) "Wasp," of May 21, 1842.
"New election of Mayor, and Vice Mayor, of the City of Nauvoo, on the resignation of General Bennett. On the 17th instant, General John C. Bennett, resigned the office of Mayor of the city of Nauvoo, and on the 19th, General Joseph Smith, the former Vice Mayor was duly elected to fill the vacancy; and on the same day General Hyrum Smith was elected Vice Mayor, in place of General Joseph Smith, elected Mayor. The following vote of thanks was then unanimously voted to the Ex-Mayor, General Bennett, by the city Council, to wit:
Resolved, by the City Council of the City of Nauvoo,
That this Council tender a vote of thanks for General John C. Bennett, for his great zeal in having good and wholesome laws adopted for the government of the city, and for the faithful discharge of his duty while Mayor of the same.
Passed May 19th, 1842. JOSEPH SMITH, Mayor. JAMES SLOAN, Recorder.
From the "Times and Seasons" of June 15th, 1842:
NOTICE: The subscribers, members of the first Presidency of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, withdraw the hand of fellowship from Gen. John C. Bennett, as a Christian; he having been labored with from time to time, to persuade him to amend his conduct, apparently to no good effect.
JOSEPH SMITH, HYRUM SMITH, WM. LAW.
The following members of the Quorum of the Twelve concur in the above sentiments:
Brigham Young, Willard Richards. Lyman Wight, Heber C. Kimball, John E. Page, William Smith,, Wilford Woodruff, John Taylor George A. Smith
We concur in the above sentiments:
W. K. WHITNEY, V. KNIGHT, GEORGE MILLER. Bishops of the above mentioned Church.
Nauvoo, May 11th, 1842
Now it happens that John E. Page was in Pittsburgh, William Smith in Pennsylvania, and Lyman Wight in Tennessee, at the above date; -- this is the way Holy Joe does business. On Saturday, the 18th of June, I was excommunicated from this holy sect. Now look at the dates; -- on the 18th day of June I was excommunicated, and on the 17th of May previous I withdrew from this noble band of brothers. The withdrawal of fellowship was DATED BACK in order to have a pretext for my expulsion, and to destroy my influence before I could do any injury to the GREAT PROPHET, and was presented to Orson Pratt, one of the twelve, for his signature some days after I showed him my official withdrawal, and Mr. Pratt refused to sign it. Mr. Pratt is a gentleman of undoubted veracity and I am willing to abide his testimony. Call upon him. Mr. Editor, what think you of these extraordinary papers? -- What was all this for? I will tell you -- it was to destroy my influence, before I should expose Joe's attempt at seduction. -- Many of his followers will swear to any thing he desires them to, and think they are doing God's service, even when they KNOW it to be false. And to begin.
2d. Joseph Smith, the great Mormon seducer, one who has seduced not only hundreds of single and married females, but more than the great Solomon, attempted to seduce Miss Nancy Rigdon, the eldest single daughter of Sidney Rigdon, to submit to his hellish purposes, and become one of his clandestine wives under the new dispensation. Call upon Miss Rigdon, who repulsed him with commendable firmness, and I will abide her testimony -- call, likewise, upon Gen. George W. Robinson, and Col. F. M. Higbee, to state what they know upon this subject. Gen. Robinson and Col. Higbee, can tell some astounding facts in relation to this matter. Joe approached Miss Rigdon "in the name of the Lord, and by his authority and permission," as he said. Joe attacked Mr. Rigdon, Gen. Robinson, Col. Higbee and myself, In order to destroy the influence of all of us to prevent the exposition of this case. -- But it is all true, and the legal evidence shall be forthcoming. Call upon Miss Martha Brotherton, of Warsaw, and see what she will say as to the base attempt at seduction in her own case. She can tell a tale of woe that would make humanity shudder. Call upon Miss Mitchell, of this city, one of the most chaste and spotless females in the west, and see what she knows as to the PROPHET'S SECRET WIVES. Hundreds of cases can be instanced, and if the Danites do not murder me, you shall hear a tale of pollution and sorrow. Joe's licentiousness is unparalleled in the annals of time. I have the evidence, and it shall come; and no attacks on me to divert the public mind from himself, and his iniquity shall avail him. My purpose is fixed, and the world shall know who the great impostor is. -- Time will not permit my going into further detail in this letter; but an abused and insulted public shall know all about it.
3d. Joe's extensive land frauds in Iowa and Illinois will soon come to light. I will save his Eastern creditors some hundreds of thousands of dollars, by exposing these frauds in the face of open day -- by the legal records of the country, and oral testimony. All is in readiness.
4th. I will expose his actings and doings in Nauvoo Lodge, U. D. when none but the Mormon brethren were present; -- that he (Joe Smith) and five others, were entered, passed, and raised, before the Lodge was installed by the Grand Master; and that they all passed through a second time afterwards, with the exception of one, who is now abroad; and many other like irregularities, and departures from the ancient land-marks. He has, likewise, established a new lodge of his own, by inspiration. entitled "ORDER," in which there many curious things, and relative to which I have much to say hereafter. The following is a part of the obligation -- "I furthermore promise and swear that I will never touch a daughter of Adam UNLESS SHE IS GIVEN ME OF THE LORD," so as to accord with the NEW DISPENSATION and the "ancient order of things."
5th. The attacks on me in the "Wasp" are all for public effect, and to divert the public eye from Joe's infamous conduct. My affidavit as taken before Esq. Wells, and my statements before the City Council, in relation to the holy Joe, were made under DURESSE -- my life was threatened unless I submitted to the requisition of Joe. I then preferred the course I took to DEATH, as I knew the public were not apprized of the facts, and I could have been murdered and no person would have been the wiser; but the public are now apprised of the matter, and I am ready and willing to die in exposing this impious man, and the people will avenge my blood. I never feared death, but I chose not to die before I rendered God and the people signal service in bringing to light the hidden things of darkness. But more of this hereafter.
6th. The whole city is now in an uproar in relation to the doctrine of consecration as taught on yesterday -- The people are ALL required to come forward and consecrate ALL their property to the LORD by placing it at the APOSTLE'S FEET, or in the hands of JOE SMITH!!!!!! There is much flouncing on this subject, and what will be the issue God only knows. I will give you some important facts in my next.
7th. The life of Captain Amos Davis, with some others, has been threatened as well as my own; and I hereby put the public on the look-out. I will write you as time permits. In haste,
Yours respectfully, JOHN C. BENNETT.
Second Letter
[edit]For the Sangamo Journal. CARTHAGE, Hancock County, July 2, A. D. 1842.
To the Editor of the Journal, I am now in this place, in order to attend to some of my official duties, as Master in Chancery; and having some leisure time, I shall proceed with my history of Joe Smith and his Saints -- It is my determination to state facts, and such facts as will arouse the public indignation, if there is yet virtue and courage left in man -- for we are exhorted to be enterprising and courageous -- but the beast and false prophet (Joe Smith) shall tremble in the days of his captivity like an aspen leaf in the wilderness. The "Lord's anointed," as Joe is called, must be washed in the laver of the law until his polluted carcass, and corrupt soul, shall be purified by fire. And to begin:
1st. THE DURESSE. -- On the 17th day of May, A.D. 1842, Joe Smith requested to see me alone in the preparation room of the Nauvoo Lodge, U. D., on some important business. We entered, and he locked the door, put the key in his pocket, and drew a pistol on me and said -- "The peace of my family requires that you should sign an affidavit, and make a statement before the next City Council, on the 19th, exonerating me from all participation whatever, either directly or indirectly, in word or deed, in the spiritual wife doctrine, or private intercourse with females in general; and if you do not do it with apparent cheerfulness, I will make catfish bait of you or deliver you to the Danites for execution tonight -- for my dignity and purity must and shall be maintained before the public, even at the expense of life, -- will you do it or die?" I replied that he had better procure some other person or persons to do so, as there were a plenty who could do it in truth. "No," said he "that will not do -- for it is known that you are well acquainted with all my private acts, better than any other man, and it is in your power to save me or damn me; and as you have now withdrawn from the church in an honorable manner, over my own signature, a privilege never granted to any other person, you must and shall, place it out of your power to injure me or the church, -- do it or the Mississippi is your portion -- will you do it"? I remarked that it was a hard case, and that I would leave peaceably, and without any public exposition, if he would excuse me. He replied, "I tell you as I was once told, 'your die is cast -- your fate is fixed -- your doom is sealed,' if you refuse. Will you do it, or die?" I remarked that I would, under the circumstances, but that it was hard to take the advantage of an unarmed man. "If you tell that publicly," said he, "death is your portion -- remember the Danites!" He then unlocked the door -- we went into the room below, and I gave the affidavit as subscribed before Alderman Wells, (who was then doing business in the lower room), and made the statement required before the City Council on the 19th. I was not aware until Sunday last that any other person was apprized of the fact of the threat of murder, but on that day Colonel Francis M. Higbee told me in the presence of General George W. Robinson, that if it came to the worst, he was in possession of a secret that would open the eyes of the people, and that he would file his affidavit if necessary; but he would not tell me what the secret was. -- General Robinson, however, informed me afterwards that it was a knowledge of Joe's threats of murder. On the 30th of June, 1842, I called upon Colonel Higbee, for his affidavit, which was taken before General Hiram Kimball, an Alderman of the city, and is in the following words, to wit:
State of Illinois, ) Hancock County, ) ss.
Personally appeared before me, Hiram Kimball, an Alderman of the city of Nauvoo, Francis M. Higbee, who being duly sworn according to law, deposeth and saith that Joseph Smith told him that John C. Bennett could be easily put aside or drowned, and no person would be the wiser for it, so, that it ought to be attended to; -- and he further remarked that the sooner this was done the better for the Church, fearing, as he said, that Bennett would make some disclosures prejudicial to said Smith. This was about the time of Bennett's withdrawal from the Church, or a short time before -- and further this deponent saith not.
FRANCIS M. HIGBEE.
Sworn to and subscribed this 30th day of June, A. D. 1842.
HIRAM KIMBALL, Alderman.
and further this deponent saith not.
My affidavit, and statement, under DURESSE, were published in the Nauvoo Wasp of the 25th of June, 1842. Is it not high time that this band of murders should be made to feel the just penalty of the law? It is certainly a most alarming state of society when men are above the reach of the law, and free to perpetrate the blackest crimes of cruelty and oppression. All this in a land of boasted freedom! Great God! where is the arm of power! Where is liberty, and the rights of man? Arise, ye officers of justice, and assert the majesty of your insulted laws. Let the sound of the clarion give the alarm! and horsemen and chariots will tell the story, until one stone shall not be left upon another, or a vestige of iniquity and crime to pollute the goodly land.
2nd. THE FULFILLMENT OF PROPHECY. -- In 1841, Joe Smith predicted or prophesied in a public congregation in Nauvoo, that Lilburn W Boggs, ex-Governor of Missouri, should die by violent hands within one year. From one or two months prior to the attempted assassination of Gov. Boggs, Mr. O. P. Rockwell left Nauvoo for parts unknown to the citizens at large. I was then on terms of close intimacy with Joe Smith, and asked him where Rockwell had gone? "Gone," said he, "GONE TO FULFILL PROPHECY!" Rockwell returned to Nauvoo the day before the report of the assassination reached there and the Nauvoo Wasp remarked, "It yet remains to be known who did the noble deed!" Rockwell remarked to a person now in Nauvoo, and whose name I forbear to mention for the present, from motives of prudence and safety to the person, but which shall be forthcoming in due time, that he had "been all over Upper Missouri, and all about where Boggs lives," and this was communicated to me by that person before I withdrew from the church, and we had considerable conversation upon that daring act. Rockwell s a Danite. Joe's public memory is very treacherous on this subject, I presume; but his private memory is so good that he had a guard around his house every night, with the State cannon and a full supply of small arms, for the protection of his person against any attempted arrest. -- He, likewise, requested me to write to Gov. Carlin for his protection, which I agreed to do, and accordingly did, asking the Governor whether he would be protected from any illegal act of violence, -- to which the Governor replied that ALL citizens should receive equal protection, but that he knew of no privileged man or order of men, and that the dignity of the State should be preserved according to the strict letter of the constitution and the laws. This letter I refused to show to Joe, as open hostilities had come between us, and he accordingly detailed a Court Martial to try me for treason against the citizens of the State of Illinois!!! This Court I regarded as illegal and treated with the utter contempt which such an assemblage of inferior officers will always receive at my hands. Now I call upon Colonel Francis M. Higbee to come out and tell what he told General Robinson and myself in relation to the MURDER of a certain prisoner in Missouri. Col. Higbee, do not fear to tell the dreadful story -- tell exactly how Joe had the murder done up, and what part he ORDERED you to take in the affair, but which you did NOT take. Tell it as Robinson knows it, and as you told me, and DO NOT FEAR Gov. Reynolds will make another demand, and Joe shall be delivered over. I will visit Missouri and tell the dreadful story. Let the call be made, and the laws shall be executed.
3d. My late visit to Springfield. On my arrival in Carthage I found, as all the citizens well know, that I was followed by Mr. O. P. Rockwell, a Danite, who on his arrival late in the night, made strict enquiries as to where I was -- his ostensible business was to put a letter in the post office!! but judge ye the real design. I was prepared for the gentleman and he approached me not; but another swift rider, Captain John D. Parker, another Danite, followed me to Springfield, to carry a letter to Dr. Helm; but he had another object, and you may well suppose what it was. I told Captain Parker that I was aware of his object, but I feared him not. At Virginia, in Cass County, on my return, Parker met me again, and I called the attention of the stage driver to him, who thereupon put two additional balls into his pistol, and then informed me that he was ready for him or any other person having the same object in view. Many of the Danites have been around me, in Nauvoo for the purpose of secret murder, in order to save the arch impostor, Joe from public infamy.
4th. Mrs. Sarah M. Pratt, wife of Professor Orson Pratt, of the University of the city of Nauvoo. Joe Smith stated to me at an early day in the history of that city, that he intended to make that amiable and accomplished lady one of his spiritual wives, for the Lord had given her to him, and he requested me to assist him in consummating his hellish purposes, but I told him that I would not do it -- that she had been much neglected and abused by the church during the absence of her husband in Europe, and that if the Lord had given her to him he must attend to it himself. I will do it, said he, for there is no harm in it if her husband should never find it out. I called upon Mrs. Pratt and told that Joe contemplated an attack on her virtue, in the name of the Lord, and that she must prepare to repulse him in so infamous an assault. She replied, "Joseph cannot be such a man. I cannot believe it until I know it for myself or have it from his own lips; he cannot be so corrupt." Well, I replied, you will see unless he changes his mind; accordingly in a few days Joe proposed to me to go to Ramus with him. I consented to go, and we started from his house about 4 o'clock P. M., rode into the prairie a few miles, and returned to the house of Captain John T. Barnett, in Nauvoo, about dusk, where we put up the horse with Barnett's permission. He, Joe, pretended we were looking for thieves. We then proceeded to the house where Mrs. Pratt resided, and Joe commenced discourse as follows: "Sister Pratt, the Lord has given you to me as one of my spiritual wives. I have the blessings of Jacob granted me, as he granted holy men of old, and I have long looked upon you with favor, and hope you will not deny me." She replied: "I care not for the blessings of Jacob, and I believe in no such revelations, neither will I consent under any circumstances. I have one good husband, and that is enough for me." Joe could not come it! He then went off to see Miss _____ at the house of Mrs. Sherman. He remained with her an hour or two and then returned to Barnett's, harnessed our horse, started for Ramus, and arrived at Carthage at early breakfast. We then went to Ramus, and returned to Carthage that night, and put up at the house of Esq. Comer. Next day we returned to Nauvoo. I called upon Mrs. Pratt and asked her what she thought of Joseph? She replied, "He is a bad man beyond a doubt." Mrs. Pratt in a conversation with Mrs. Goddard, wife of Stephen H. Goddard, said, "Sister Goddard, Joseph is a corrupt man; I know it, for he made an attempt upon me." Three times afterwards he tried to convince Mrs. Pratt of the propriety of his doctrine, and she at last told him: "Joseph, if you ever attempt any thing of the kind with me again, I will tell Mr. Pratt on his return home. I will certainly do it." Joe replied, "Sister Pratt, I hope you will not expose me; if I am to suffer, all suffer; so do not expose me. Will you agree not to do so?" "If," said she, "you will never insult me again, I will not expose you unless strong circumstances require it." "Well, sister Pratt," says Joe, "as you have refused me; it becomes sin, unless sacrifice is offered;" and turning to me he said, "General, if you are my friend I wish you to procure a lamb, and have it slain, and sprinkle the door posts and the gate with its blood, and take the kidneys and entrails and offer them upon an altar of twelve stones that have not been touched with a hammer, as a burnt offering, and it will save me and my priesthood. Will you do it?" I will, I replied. So I procured the lamb from Captain John T. Barnett, and it was slain by Lieutenant Stephen H. Goddard, and I offered the kidneys and entrails in sacrifice for Joe as he desired; and Joe said, "all is now safe -- the destroying angel will pass over, without harming any of us." Time passed on in apparent friendship until Joe grossly insulted Mrs. Pratt again, after her husband had returned [home], by approaching and kissing her. This highly offended her, and she told Mr. Pratt, who was much enraged and went and told Joe never to offer an insult of the like again. Joe replied, "I did not desire to kiss her, * Bennett made me do it!" Joe, you can't come it! Mrs. Pratt is far above your foul and polluted breath, your calumny and detraction. I now appeal to Mrs. Pratt if this is not true to the very letter. Just speak out boldly.
_________
- We have omitted several names in this letter, being unwilling to injure the feelings of individuals unnecessarily. Their names however can be seen in the original manuscript by any person who desires to do so. Editor Journal.
5th. Miss Nancy Rigdon, daughter of Sidney Rigdon, Esq. Joe Smith said to me last summer, "If you will assist me in procuring Nancy as one of my spiritual wives, I will give you five hundred dollars, or the best lot on Main Street." I replied, "I cannot agree to it. Elder Rigdon is one of my best friends, and his family are now pure and spotless, and it would be a great pity to approach the truly virtuous." "But," says Joe, "the Lord has given her to me to wife. I have the blessings of Jacob, and there is no wickedness in it. It would be wicked to approach her unless I had permission of the Lord, but as it is, it is as correct as to have a legal wife in a moral point of view." It may be so, said I, but you must see her yourself; I cannot approach her on a subject of the kind. Then I supposed the matter had ended; but at the funeral of Mr. Ephraim R. Marks, Mrs. Hyde told Miss Rigdon, that Joseph desired to see her at the printing office, where Mrs. Hyde resides, on special business. She said she would go, and accordingly did, but Joe was busily engaged at his store; Dr. Willard Richards, however, one of the holy twelve Mormon apostles, whom I had long suspected as being up to his eyes in the business with Joe, came in and said, "Miss Nancy, Joseph cannot be in today, please call again on Thursday." This she agreed to do; but she communicated the matter to Colonel Francis M. Higbee, who was addressing her, and asked his advice as to the second visit. I then came to a knowledge of the facts, and went immediately to Joe, and said to him, "Joseph, you are a Master Mason, and Nancy is a Master Mason's daughter, so stay your hand, or you will get into trouble." Joe said, "you are my enemy, and wish to oppose me." -- "No," said I, "I am not your enemy, but you had better stop where you are."
I then went to Col. Higbee and told him Joe's designs, and requested him to go immediately and see Miss Rigdon and tell her the infernal plot -- that Joe would approach her in the name of the Lord, by revelation, &c., and to put her on her guard, but advise her to go and see for herself what Joe would do. He did so, and she went down. Joe was there, and took her into a private room, LOCKED THE DOOR, and commenced by telling her that he had long loved her, and had asked the Lord for her, and that it was his holy will that he should have her -- he told her that it would not prevent her from marrying any other person -- that he had the blessings of Jacob granted to him -- and all that was right; he desired to kiss her, and wished her to kiss him, but Joe couldn't come it. She said she would alarm the neighbors if he did not open the door, and let her out -- he did so, and requested Mrs. Hyde to explain matters to her. Joe swore her to eternal secrecy. Mrs. Hyde told her that these things looked strange to her at first, but she would become more reconciled on mature reflection. Miss Rigdon replied, "I never shall." Joe agreed to write her, and did so in a few days thro' Dr. Richards. That letter is now safe in the hands of her friends. I have seen it, so has her father, and various other persons. -- On Tuesday last, Joe came up to Mr. Rigdon's, accompanied by his High Priest, Geo. Miller, of sable notoriety, for a witness, and by boisterous words and violent gestures tried to deny the attempted seduction and alarm the girl; but she told him he was a cursed liar, and that he could not face her to it. Joe then made a full acknowledgment of the whole affair. All the family, and many other persons were present. The holy George observed, "You must not harm the Lord's anointed -- the Lord will not suffer his anointed to fall!!!" Now call upon Miss Rigdon for the truth of the foregoing. Joe, did you offer another lamb in sacrifice as a burnt-sin offering on an altar of twelve stones? If not, look out for the destroying angel, for he will surely get you.
6th. Now I call upon Miss Martha Brotherton, of Warsaw, to come out and tell boldly the base attempt on her virtue when in Nauvoo -- how she was locked up -- and the proposals that were made to her. I saw her taken to the accursed room, and now let her come out boldly and tell the corruptions of these holy men. The public requires it -- justice and honor require it.
7th. I will now append my own affidavit:
State of Illinois, ) ss. Hancock County. )
Personally appeared before me, Samuel Marshall, a Justice of the Peace in and for said county, John C. Bennett, who being duly sworn, according to law, deposeth and saith -- that the affidavit taken before Esq. Wells on the 17th of May, and the statements before the City Council of Nauvoo on the 19th, as published in the Wasp of the 25th of June, 1842, are false, and were taken under Duresse as stated in this letter -- that he has seen Joseph Smith in bed with Mrs. Fuller,
[[unconfirmed section, reportedly in this statement: and Mrs. _____, and that he has seen him in the act of cohabitation with Mrs. _____, and Mrs. _____, all four of whom he seduced by telling them that the Lord had granted the blessings of Jacob, and that there was no sin in it -- that he told him that Bates Noble married him to _____ _____, and that Brigham Young married him to _____ _____, and that he had free access to Mrs. _____, Mrs. _____, Mrs. _____, and various others, whose husbands he had sent off preaching, and not now necessary to mention -- and further this deponent saith not. end of unconfirmed section]]
JOHN C. BENNETT.
Sworn to and subscribed this 2nd day of July, 1842.
SAMUEL MARSHALL, J. P. (seal)
It is quite likely that many of the persons whom I have named in my affidavit, and many others whom I may hereafter name, will flounder, but the truth shall now come, and stand in bold relief before the world. Most of the Mormons will swear to any thing that Joe tells them to, and the public must look for it. -- All, therefore, who remain after these astounding disclosures, must be branded with infamy, as they will undoubtedly be partakers in their adulteries, thefts, robberies, and murders.
8th. Mrs. Melissa Schindle, wife of Col. George Schindle. -- I now proceed to give the affidavit of Mrs. Schindle, which is in the following words, to wit:
State of Illinois, ) ss. McDonough County.)
Personally appeared before me, Abraham Fulkerson, one of the Justices of the Peace in and for said county, Melissa Schindle, who, being duly sworn according to law, deposeth and saith, that in the fall of 1841, she was staying one night with the widow Fuller, who has recently been married to a Mr. Warren, in the city of Nauvoo, and that Joseph Smith came into the room where she was sleeping about 10 o'clock at night, and after making a few remarks came to her bed-side, and asked her if he could have the privilege of sleeping with her. She immediately replied NO. He, on the receipt of the above answer told her it was the will of the Lord that he should have illicit intercourse with her, and that he never proceeded to do any thing of that kind with any woman without first having the will of the Lord on the subject; and further he told her that if she would consent to let him have such intercourse with her, she could make his house her home as long as she wished to do so, and that she should never want for anything it was in his power to assist her to -- but she would not consent to it. He then told her that if she would let him sleep with her that night he would give her five dollars -- but she refused all his propositions. He then told her that she must never tell of his propositions to her, for he had ALL influence in that place, and if she told he would ruin her character, and she would be under the necessity of leaving. He then went to an adjoining bed where the Widow ____ was sleeping -- got into bed with her and laid there until about 1 o'clock, when he got up, bid them good night, and left them, and further this deponent saith not.
MELISSA (her X mark) SCHINDLE. Subscribed and sworn to before me, this 2d day July, 1842.
A. FULKERSON, J. P. (seal).
Joe, did you offer another sacrifice? If not, the destroying angel will come -- but as you succeeded with Mrs. Fuller, that night, as you told me, that may take off the cure. Joe says "there are wonderful things in the land of Ham, and terrible things by the Red Sea."
I must now bring this short letter to a close, but will write in a few days.
Yours, respectfully. JOHN C. BENNETT
Third letter
[edit]Carthage, Ills., July 4, 1842. To the Editor of the Journal:
In your paper of the 1st inst., you call upon me, and others to make some disclosures in relation to Joe Smith, the arch-impostor, to which I now proceed to respond. I have already written you two letters on the subject; one of which I presume you have received before this, and the other will reach you in a few days. I will now give you some singular facts.
1st. JOE'S BANKRUPT APPLICATION. -- The Bankrupt Law, section 2, provides that no conveyances of property shall be made in contemplation of bankruptcy, subsequent to the 1st. of January, 1841; and an Act concerning Religious Societies, under which the Mormon Church was incorporated, provides for the appointment of TRUSTEES, not a SOLE TRUSTEE IN TRUST, who are authorized "to purchase a quantity of land not exceeding five acres." &c. &c. See act approved Feb. 6, 1842.
From a Book of Mortgages and Bongs, page 95 City of Nauvoo, Hancock Co., Ills. ) Feb'y 2d, A. D. 1842) To the County Recorder of the County of Hancock:
Dear Sir -- At a meeting of the "Church of Latter Day Saints" at this place, on Saturday the 30th day of January, A. D. 1841, I was elected sole Trustee for said Church, to hold my office during life, (my successor to be the first Presidency of said Church), and vested with plenary powers as sole Trustee in Trust for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to receive, acquire, manage and convey property, real, personal, or mixed, for the sole use and benefit of said church, agreeable to the provisions of an act entitled "An act concerning Religious Societies," approved February 6, 1835.
JOSEPH SMITH, (L. S.)
State of Illinois,) ss. Hancock County, )
This day personally appeared before me, Daniel H. Wells, a Justice of the peace, within and for the county of Hancock aforesaid, Isaac Galland, Robert B. Thompson and John C. Bennett, who being duly sworn depose and say that the foregoing certificates of Joseph Smith is true.
ISAAC GALLAND R. B. THOMPSON JOHN C. BENNETT
Sworn to and subscribed this third day of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty-one, before me,
DANIEL H. WELLS, Justice of the Peace.
Compendious extracts from the Records of Hancock County: In Book R, page 21, there is a deed from Joseph Smith and wife to Julia M. Smith, Joseph Smith, jr., F. G. W. Smith and Alexander Smith, (the first an adopted daughter, and the remainder all small children of Joseph and Emma Smith), executed Dec. 21, 1841, and recorded January 1st, 1842, for lots 1, 2, 3, and 4, block 12 in the city of Nauvoo, -- for the consideration of "one hundred dollars to them in hand paid," -- property worth about three thousand dollars.
Another in the same book, page 151, from the same to the same, (Joseph Smith and his wife to their children, executed March 17th, 1842, and recorded April 9th, 1842, for the east half of the south east 31, 5 north, 8 west; and west half of north-east five, and east half of north-east 6, 4 north, 8 west -- for the consideration of two thousand dollars.
Another in the same book (R.) pages 159, 160, and 161, from Joseph Smith and wife to Joseph Smith, as sole Trustee in trust for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, executed Oct. 5th, 1841, and recorded April 8th, 1842, (the same day he visited Carthage to file his schedule for bankruptcy) and I have no doubt the deed was executed on the 16th or 17th of April, 1842, and dated back to Oct. 5th, 1841, for so Joe informed me, and Mr. Marshall, Mr. Sherman and others, of Carthage, will state that the writing was fresh, and changed materially in appearance soon after, for ($230) two hundred and thirty lots, or thereabouts, mostly of the "White Purchase," for the consideration of "the sum of one dollar to them in hand paid, on a just and lawful settlement between themselves in person, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. -- (Property worth from one hundred and fifty to two hundred thousand dollars, at the rate that Joe is selling it).
Another in book I, page 329, from Ebenezer F. Wiggins to Emma Smith, executed May 15th, 1841, and recorded June 30th, 1841, for west half of northwest quarter 30, 7 north, 8 west, and the west half of north-east 30, 7 north, 8 west, for the consideration of ($2,700), two thousand seven hundred dollars -- ([s]aid for by Joe, and worth about three thousand dollars).
Another in the same book (I.) page 243, from Daniel H. Wells and wife to Joseph Smith, jr., (Joe's son), executed May 5th, 1841, and recorded May 6th, 1841, for lots 1 and 4, block 22, in Wells' addition to Nauvoo, for the consideration of one hundred dollars.
Another in the same book, page 354, from Robert B. Thompson and wife to Emma Smith, (Joe's wife), executed July 24th, 1841, and recorded July 27th, 1841, for south-east fractional quarter of section 2, north 6, 9 west, containing 123 43/100 acres, for the consideration of ($4,000), four thousand dollars.
Another in the same book, page 355, from same to Frederick G. W. Smith, (Joe's son), executed July 24th, 1841, and recorded July 27th, 1841, for part of block 156, in Nauvoo,, for the consideration of ($500), five hundred dollars.
If an official certificate is required, call upon Chauncey Robinson, Esq., the Recorder of Hancock, and he will certify that these are correct extracts from the county records. -- There are various other matters of record that could be made to operate against this king of swindlers and impostors, Joe Smith; but I presume that the foregoing will be sufficient to give him a comfortable home in the State penitentiary, at Alton, for some years to come, if Missouri does not get him first.
If oral testimony is required, call upon Gen. George W. Robinson, Col. Francis M. Higbee, and others, who are acquainted with the transactions. Call out these witnesses in relation to the SHAM sales of valuable property made to Willard Richards, N. K. Whitney, and others, by Joe, in order to prepare for the bankruptcy. The Hotchkiss purchase, called Church property -- but which is not paid for -- was given in by Joe in his schedule as his own individual property, which it undoubtedly was; but the White Purchase, (S. E. Fractional quarter of section 2, 6N. 9W.) WHICH IS PAID FOR, was deeded to Thompson, Joe's Clerk, who had no property, and from Thompson to Emma Smith, (Joe's wife) and from Joseph Smith and wife to Joseph Smith, SOLE TRUSTEE IN TRUST, &c. I now call upon General Robinson and Colonel Higbee, to come out in the Sangamo Journal, over their own names, and tell what they know of Joe's swindling operations. Come out, gentlemen, boldly; the public good requires it at your hands. -- Forbearance is no longer a virtue in this business. I call, likewise, upon Messrs. Kilbourne, of Montrose Iowa, to come out in the Journal and tell what they know of Joe's swindling in Iowa lands, and of the thefts and robberies committed by his Danite Band; and I hope they will respond to the call without delay. Let no man fear to speak out boldly. Remember that the White Purchase was CALLED church property, but it was and is Joe's own individual estate. He said in a public congregation in Nauvoo, a few weeks ago, "I own a million dollars in property, in this city, and around it." Can this swindler take the benefit of the bankrupt law! Never! No, never!! Let a prosecution be at once instituted against his holiness, and let the law have its just operations ONCE.
2nd. JOE'S HOLY LODGE CALLED "ORDER."
I alluded to this holy institution in one of my former letters. Joe says he has given them the Master's word by revelation. In the preparation they are stripped naked so as to see if they will pass the holy examination as required in Deuteronomy, 23rd chapter and 1st verse. They are then clothed upon and the precious ointment poured upon the head, running down upon the beard and the skirts of the garment. The ungodly oath, a part of which I gave you is then administered in order to prepare them for the SPIRITUAL WIFE operations, and save Joe from public disgrace and infamy. Some of them, however, are not in the SECRETS, -- They are taken in as blind in order to deceive the people. If they are charged with iniquity, they say, "Look at William Marks and others like him! Do they indulge!" No, gentlemen, but this is not exploited to THEM. Joe says, "Sidney Rigdon and Orson Pratt, and William Marks must never know the SECRETS, or they will apostasize." Rigdon and Pratt are not yet members, however, and I hope they never will be; and Marks has a very strong squinting at apostacy. If Sidney Rigdon will suffer a base attempt on his daughter's chastity; Orson Pratt another on his wife; and William Marks will look tamely on at these disclosures, and say nothing, I am much mistaken in the man. The public look to Rigdon, Pratt and Marks and other kindred spirits, to speak at this eventful crisis -- they have seen and heard, and FELT in their own families, the corruptions of this Smith, that soul-damning impostor. Come out NOW, or bow down and lick the dust, worship at his shrine, and chain your fate to the wheels of damnation, and the car of iniquity. The issue is made up, -- it cannot be averted; and I pray God that the "bitter cup may not pass." You ALL, with Francis M. Higbee, George W. Robinson, Chauncey L. Higbee, Henry Marks, and hundreds of others, KNOW that I have told the unvarnished truth, and the people at large will believe me, -- yes, they will believe me, tho; I have not yet told HALF THE DREADFUL STORY!! "Come out from among the ungodly, and be ye separate." Gen. Robinson writes me under date of July 3d -- Joe says to the people, "Look out! look out!!! Those men, I will venture to say; will come out on me, with all in their power, and say and do all they can to put me down; but do not believe one word of their cursed lies; for I KNOW I am Prophet." Yes, and Pratt, and Rigdon, and Robinson, and the Higbees, and the Marks, and hundreds of others KNOW you to be a LIAR, Joe, -- And Pratt and others have told you so in the face of open day. YOU LIED in the name of the Lord!!! Remember that, you base blasphemer, -- remember that, and weep! -- Look at your black catalogue of crimes -- your seductions and attempted seductions in the name of your Maker -- your thefts -- your robberies -- and your murders! Why, Satan blushes to behold so corrupt and loathsome a mortal, -- one whose daring deeds of crime so far surpass hell's darkest counsels, as to hide the sable Prince in impenetrable darkness forever!
3rd. NAUVOO LODGE, U. D. The original records show that Joseph Smith, Job Snyder, Brigham Young, Peter Haws, Willard Richards, and one other, I think Adara Lyman, were initiated, passed and raised, before the installation of the Lodge, and all but one have passed through since, -- Joe by the hands of the Grand Master Jones, and the remainder by other brethren. That record was sealed up, and a new one commenced -- the second was sealed up, and a third commanded, -- and then a new record book procured and such parts copied as they were willing should go out to the Grand Lodge, and such only.
Let the original book be produced and these facts will appear -- I stand pledged that they shall appear. A part of the original record is in my hand writing, as all know; and if they will produce a record that has any of my hand writing in it, (for the new one has nothing but my name), I will show all the facts unless the leaves have been torn out. Mr. Stoddard was suspended for blackballing Mr. Sessions, but it was not put to record. The charge of H. G. Sherwood and Samuel H. Smith, against Robert D. Foster, during the trial of which Foster received such a severe rebuke by Joe, never appeared upon record, and Joe said, as the case was likely to effect his brother Samuel, "I will see the records in hell and burn this house, before it shall be said that a Smith ever failed to accomplish a thing he undertook, or before anything shall be recorded that may ever operate against Samuel -- and if we can't get a charter without that, the Grand Lodge may go to the Devil." Is this not so? I appeal to George W. Robinson, Francis M. Higbee, and Hiram Kimball, all Master Masons. These are only some of the actings and doings of the Nauvoo Lodge, U. D., under the Supervision of Joe and his servile priest, George Miller -- the little creature that does Joe's dirty work. Let the Grand Lodge look to this. Why does not Nauvoo Lodge, U. D., deal with Joe for the attempted seduction of Nancy Rigdon, a Master Mason's daughter, and for the actual seduction of several Master Masons' wives and sisters and daughters! -- Simply because they say Joe is a Prophet, and the Lord's anointed must not be harmed; the Lord will not suffer his anointed to fall! O, tempore! O, mores!
4th. I am now going over to Missouri to have Joe taken to justice; and then I am going to New York to publish a book, to be called "The History of the Saints," in which I shall tell most of the actings and doings at Nauvoo for the last two years, of most of their great men, and some of their great women, too; so look out for breakers. We shall have full disclosures if the Danites don't catch me -- they are after me like prowling wolves, by Joe's special orders. In haste,
Yours respectfully, JOHN C. BENNETT.