History of the Prophet Joseph, by His MotherSmith, Lucy
History
History of the Prophet Joseph, by His Mother
Smith, Lucy
Smith, Joseph, Jr., 1805-1844
On the sixth of May, 1842, Lilburn W. Boggs, ex-governor of Missouri,
was said to have been shot by an assassin. And, in consequence of the
injuries which we had received, suspicion immediately fastened itself
upon Joseph, who was accused of having committed the crime. But, as he
was on that day at an officers drill in Nauvoo, several hundred miles
from where Boggs resided, and was seen by hundreds, and, on the day
following, at a public training, where thousands of witnesses beheld
him, we supposed that the crime, being charged upon him, was such an
outrage upon common sense, that, when his persecutors became apprised
of these facts, they would cease to accuse him. But in this we were
disappointed, for when they found it impossible to sustain the charge
in this shape, they preferred it in another, in order to make it more
probable. They now accused my son of sending O. P. Rockwell into
Missouri, with orders to shoot the ex-governor; and, from this time,
they pursued both Joseph and Porter, with all diligence, till they
succeeded in getting the latter into jail in Missouri.
Joseph, not choosing to fall into their hands, fled from the city, and
secreted himself, sometimes in one place, sometimes in another. He
generally kept some friend with him, in whom he had confidence, who
came frequently to the city. Thus communication was kept up between
Joseph, his family, and the Church. At this time, Brother John Taylor
lay very sick of the fever, and was so reduced that he was not able to
stand upon his feet. Joseph visited him, and, after telling him that
he wished to start that night on a journey of fifty miles, requested
Brother Taylor to accompany him, saying, if he would do so, he would
be able to ride the whole way. Brother Taylor believing this, they set
out together, and performed the journey with ease. This time Joseph
remained away two weeks; then made his family and myself a short visit,
after which he again left us. In this way he lived, hiding first in one
place, and then in another, until the sitting of the Legislature, when,
by the advice of Governor Ford, he went to Springfield, and was tried
before Judge Pope for the crime alleged against him; namely, that of
being accessory to the attempted assassination of ex-Governor Boggs. He
was again discharged, and, when he returned home, there was a jubilee
held throughout the city. The remainder of the winter, and the next
spring, we spent in peace.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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