Essentials in Church History: A History of the Church from the Birth of Joseph Smith to the Present Time (1922), with Introductory Chapters on the Antiquity of the Gospel and the "Falling Away"Smith, Joseph Fielding
History
Essentials in Church History: A History of the Church from the Birth of Joseph Smith to the Present Time (1922), with Introductory Chapters on the Antiquity of the Gospel and the "Falling Away"
Smith, Joseph Fielding
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- History
Monday, November 12, 1838, Judge King sent out armed men to obtain
witnesses, some of whom came and testified willingly to falsehoods;
others came reluctantly. Among the witnesses who testified against
the brethren were: Dr. Sampson Avard, originator of the "Danites,"
who, later, was excommunicated from the Church for the offense; John
Corrill, George M. Hinkle, Reed Peck, John Cleminson, Burr Riggs,
William W. Phelps, John Whitmer, and others who formerly belonged
to the Church. The testimony of the prosecution continued until the
18th. Then the court called for witnesses for the defense; forty or
more names were given, and the Reverend-Captain Rogart was dispatched
with a company of militia to get them. He got them and brought them,
not to the court, but to prison, and confined them there. During the
week, the judge taunted the brethren because no witnesses appeared in
their defense. Other names were given, and the same reverend-captain
was sent for them. He did not find many, for the witnesses, learning
what had happened to their fellows, could not be found. The few he
did discover he also brought and cast behind the bars. In this manner
the mock trial proceeded from day to day. On the 24th, twenty-three
of the defendants were released, and by the 28th all the others were
acquitted or admitted to bail, excepting the following: Joseph Smith,
Sidney Rigdon, Hyrum Smith, Lyman Wight, Caleb Baldwin and Alexander
McRae, who were ordered to be taken to Liberty, Clay County, and there
committed to stand trial on the various charges named; Parley P. Pratt,
Morris Phelps, Luman Gibbs, Darwin Chase and Norman Shearer, who were
taken to Richmond Jail, there also to await trial for the same "crimes."
Nature of the Testimony
Some of the witnesses testified that the Church was a temporal kingdom,
which would, according to the teachings of its leaders, eventually
"fill the whole earth and subdue all other kingdoms." The seventh
chapter of Daniel was referred to several times. The brethren were
asked by the judge if they believed in Daniel's prophecy and when they
answered in the affirmative, Judge King turning to his clerk said:
"Write that down; it is a strong point for treason." The defendants'
attorneys, Doniphan and Rees, protested saying, "Judge, you had better
make the Bible treason." These attorneys advised their clients not to
make any defense or attempt to furnish other witnesses, for it was
useless. Doniphan observed that if a cohort of angels were to come
down, and declare the prisoners innocent, it would all be the same, for
Judge King had determined from the beginning to cast them into prison.
Malinda Porter, Delia F. Pine, Nancy Rigdon, Jonathan W. Barlow, Thoret
Parson, Ezra Chipman and Arza Judd, Jr., volunteered to testify for
the defense, but were prevented from giving testimony favorable to the
accused at the point of the bayonet.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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