Still after all this we found him guilty of similar crimes again, and it was found to our satisfaction that he was conspiring against the peace and safety of the citizens of this state--after learning these facts we exposed him to the public; he then immediately left the place abruptly; threatening to drink the hearts blood of many citizens of this place. Previous to this last disclosure, the hand of fellowship was withdrawn from him, May 11, 1842, by the First Presidency, six days previous to the time he pretended to withdraw from the Church, which you will see published in the _Times and Seasons_, June 15, 1842. I was also present at the time when he gave this testimony before the city council, as printed in the _Times and Seasons_, July 1, 1842, on page 841, which reads as follows: Dr. John C. Bennett, ex-Mayor, was then called upon by the Mayor to state if he knew aught against him; when Mr. Bennett replied: "I know what I am about, and the heads of the Church know what they are about, I expect. I have no difficulty with the heads of the Church. I publicly avow that any one who has said that I have stated that General Joseph Smith has given me authority to hold illicit intercourse with women, is a liar in the face of God, those who have said it are damned liars; they are infernal liars. He never either in public or private gave me any such authority or license, and any person who states it is a scoundrel and a liar. I have heard it said that I should become a second Avard by withdrawing from the Church, and that I was at variance with the heads and should use an influence against them because I resigned the office of mayor; this is false. I have no difficulty with the heads of the Church, and I intend to continue with you, and hope the time may come when I may be restored to full confidence, and fellowship, and my former standing in the Church, and that my conduct may be such as to warrant my restoration--and should the time ever come that I may {75} have an opportunity to test my faith, it will then be known whether I am a traitor or a true man." Joseph Smith then asked: "Will you please state definitely whether you know anything against my character either in public or private?" General Bennett answered: "I do not; in all my intercourse with Gen. Smith, in public and in private, he has been strictly virtuous." ALDERMEN. NEWEL K. WHITNEY, HIRUM KIMBALL, ORSON SPENCER, GUST. HILLS, G. W. HARRIS, COUNCILLORS. WILLARD RICHARDS, WILSON LAW, JOHN TAYLOR, BRIGHAM YOUNG, JOHN P. GREENE, HEBER C. KIMBALL, WILFORD WOODRUFF, GEORGE A. SMITH. JAMES SLOAN, recorder. May 19th, 1842.