The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1844-05-30
From the St. Louis Republican.
10 SMITH.

% "a
10 SMITH.
Dissensioa among the Mormons at Nau-.
roo.-We have good reason for placing re-
lance in the details of a letter, the contents
of which are hereafter stated, giving an ac-
count of an egeute at the chief city of the
Mormons, Nauvoo. The occurrence took
place on the 26th. On that day-says the
writer4a fracus of an alarming anti impor-
tant character occurred in NauV0o, threaten-I
ing with impending destruction the Mormon
government and even the life ofthe Prophet
himself. 1t originated under the following
circumstances: 10 Smith, Prophet and Nay
o~releof, having ordered his police TO arresfa
man By he name of Spencer, for an assault
on his brother in his own hoese-the resi-
dence Of his mother ~also--the accused re-
fused 70 become prisoner, alleging that Il
was illegal 10 arrest without writ from the
Mayor. All the parties, however, collected
round the Masonic Hall, or courthouse. 10.
Smith, Mayor, being present, ordered the
police and the people to take said Spencer
into custody. Tine constable having placed
hands on him, Spencer put himself a fight
ing position, and was assisted by DIR. Foster
and his brother, younger Foster, and also
james Higby-who said that they would not
submit to the authority of the Prophet. 10.
Smith put bands, toQ,o assist in taking him,
when the younger Foster took out a pistol,
presented it, and said he would shoot the
Prophet. At this moment came up, and
saw the struggle. The Prophet got hold of
the pistol, and held firmly round the britch
unit, by the assistance of Rockwell, a second
the Prophet succeeded in getting the pistol
from Foster. The DR.. and Lasner at this
time took up stands, and vociferated they
would kill the Pfophet-said he was a vii
liam and an imposter, and that he knew it.;
they would be doing a meritorious act to rid
the world ofsuch villain, an imposter and
tyrant. Higden. said be would certainly
shoot him-at any rate told him he remem-
bered by-gone timesAknew of blood being
shed on the island opposite: that he, the.
Prophet, was the right man. lie (Rigby)
belonged TO his band-had sustained him by
money and force he knew the Mormon Pro-
phet, 10 Smith, was the author of murders,
and it was high time he should die, and he
would kill him. The Prophet got his hand
cut and bis nervous system shook. Finally,
the authorities succeeded in bringing up the
three travefsers before the court. 1t would
be too long TO write all the trial. Let The
following suffice: The tru-rrs1Ts manifested
no. disposition to withdraw their threats-on
the contrary, demanded their pistol from the
Mayor, who gave it to them-said he was
always %lenieht, and would tyrannize over no
man. Foster took the pistol, and took an
other from his breast, examined 10 see all
was properly loaded, and betrayed much wick
edness and desperation. Phe court having
heard the evidence, the Prophet made many
observations about his clemency-adverted
to the threats, and denied ever having been
priVy to %anyInurders on the. island-said he
would maintain his authority and the law,
should it life, and then fined the trav-
ersers-Spencer for assalting his brother, a
cripple, in 500; and said Spencer, DR.. Fos-
ter and his brother, young Foster each 800,
for resisting the city authorities. Appeals
were taken on all the suits. The case is, at
present, undergoing a second trial before a.
Squire in the upper part of the city, where
the mother, a brother Of Spencer, and his
two daughters, are called on to give evi-
dence before a jury. The verdict is not yet
returned. Spencer, in The p~leadings, when
the elder brother objected 10 his mothers
evidence, on the ground of.age and forget
~fulness, called on his brothers. daughters,
who were present, and whose memories, he
assured the court, were as bright as their
faces (and they are undoubtedly hand
some) The court, however, overruled his
motion.
10 Smith has a number of enemies and
his influence is beginning TO decline, but /
think his doctrine is. on the increase.
There are about fifty masons and stone cut
tiers engaged about the Temple. 1t win be
the most extraordinary building on the A
merican continent. We have a regular thea
ire, got up by the Mornons themselves. Last
night the play of Pizarro went off in good
style TO a large audieace, of which about
one hundred were ladies'. was ~astonished
to see such an array of beauty in the new
Jerusalem.
APPALLING srrtATIoN.-The ridge Of shelfI
along which we travelled, was fenced in on
one Side by the mountain, which rose almost
perpendiculafly thousands of feet above my
head; while beneath me beyond its outer
edge, was a sheer precipice, descending
to the depth of the valley, fom which | had
been toiling upwards for two weary hours
while, as ifto renderthe gloomy abyss still
more uninviting, the hoarse echoes of a tor
rent, which was roaring and tumbling among
the scattered fragments ofrock, that had been
H go LE