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
Shortly after the party with the Prophet left Geneseo on the 27th, the
advance guard of the brethren, nine in all, from Nauvoo came up, and
Reynolds and Wilson began to tremble fearing for their lives. Reynolds
asked if "Jim" Flack was in the crowd. When he was informed that he
would be present the next day, the criminal sheriff replied: "Then I am
a dead man; for I know him of old." When Stephen Markham, who had gone
to locate the brethren from Nauvoo, rode up, Reynolds said, "Do I meet
you as a friend? I expected to be a dead man when I met you again,"
but he was assured that he would not be hurt. Thursday, June 29, James
Flack with others of the brethren met the company a short distance
south of Monmouth. President Joseph Smith took Flack to one side and
charged him not to harm Reynolds, for he had given his word of honor
that he would not be injured. This Flack promised to do although he had
cause for vengeance.
Arrival at Nauvoo
Other bodies of men from Nauvoo joined the company from time to time
and when they reached that place there were about one hundred and forty
riding on horse back, who were joined by the populace in procession
and thus they marched into the town. President Smith was greeted with
cheers and the firing of cannon. He was still a prisoner in the hands
of Reynolds and Wilson, and they in turn were prisoners in the hands
of Sheriff Campbell. The Prophet took them to his house and placed
Reynolds and Wilson at the head of the table, where about fifty persons
were served. This was a very different reception from the one he had
received from these men when they took him prisoner in Lee County, at
the Wasson home.
The Trial Before the Municipal Court
The same day they arrived in Nauvoo the municipal court convened, and
a requisition was made on Reynolds to return the writ, but he refused
to recognize the summons, whereupon the Prophet petitioned the court
for a writ of habeas corpus to be directed to Reynolds, commanding him
to bring his prisoner before the court. The summons was issued and
Reynolds complied with the attachment and delivered the Prophet into
the hands of the marshal of the city. That afternoon President Smith
addressed the people at great length, declaring that he would not
peacefully submit again to such ill-treatment. While he was speaking
Reynolds and Wilson with a lawyer named Davis, of Carthage, left for
that place threatening to raise the militia and come again and take
President Smith out of Nauvoo.
Saturday, July 1, 1843, the court convened to examine the writ of
habeas corpus. Messrs. Cyrus Walker, Shepherd G. Patrick, Edward
Southwick and a Mr. Backman defended Joseph Smith while Attorney Mason
was counselor for Reynolds. Witnesses were examined and the case tried
on its merits, Hyrum Smith, Parley P. Pratt, Brigham Young, George
W. Pitkin, Lyman Wight and Sidney Rigdon giving testimony, at the
conclusion of which the prisoner was discharged.
The Citizens of Lee County Thanked
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account