Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1844-07-16
From Nauv00.
MORMON DIFFICULTIES.
Murder Of Joe Smith and his brother Hi

| Murder or Joe SHlt ana ms OrOtHeT III
ram, IN the Carthage jail.
Information was received in this city on
the fourth, Of the murder of Joe Smith.
The intelligence was communicated at
| first in vague and contradictory rumors,
tina, led many at first to believe the whole
affair to be deception. But later infor-
nation has confirmed the report, and there
is no longer any doubt that the Mormon
/ Prophe, has come to his end that he and
his associates, after they had surrendered
themselves to the Governor, under the
pledge that they should be projected and
have fair trial, have been basely muir
dered. The most credible statement we
have seen Of the affair, is the following
from the Springfield Times
I" Gov. Ford, who went up 10 Carthage
at the request of large number OF the
steps to allay the Disturbances likely to
grow out of the lawless proceedings alleg-
ed against the Mormons, the most import
art Of which was, we believe, the desiruc-
ton of printing press at Nauvoo, said o
have been done by order Of the Nauvoo
city Council at the ins,igalon Of Smith,
made requstlon for Smith and The other
persons engaged in the outrage. Antici-
pating a refusal and probable resistance on
the par, of Smith and the Mormons, he
made requisiton for some two or three
thousand troops from Hancock and two or
three of the adjoining counties, which was
promptly complied with. The Governor
then sent a civil officer with writ, accom-
panied with several citizens, demanding
the surrender Of the Prophet and such
others rs were concerned in the destruc-
ton Of the press, with ar assurance that if
not complied with, immediate measures
would be taken TO enforce compliance.
The demand was refused, and the officer
returned to Carthage. The Governor
then at once ordered the necessary pre-
paration to enforce a compliance by coer-
C We mea ures but before the arrange
ments were perfected, Smith, advised,
probably, OF the means being adopted for
an enforcement Of the demand, sent
messenger to the Governor 10 inform him
Of his willingness 10 surrender himself and
comrades upon condition Of the Govern
or's assurance that their persons should be
protected from illegal violence, which
condition was Of course complied with
Accordingly Smith, his brother Hiram,
and some others, voluntarily delivered
themselves into the hands Of the proper
officers, and were put ia the Jail at Car
thage, under guard of twenty five men,
as we'll to prevent molestation from with
out, as to secure them from escape. The
troops were then disbanded and returned
to their homes, no further necessity being
supposed Cor their detention. On Thurs
day evening about five o'clock, (Smith and
his comrades having put themselves in Gus
tody on the day previous, as we are in
formed, while the guard surrounding the
Jail were on duty, large company of
armed men, supposed to be numbered from
$50 to 200, disguised by having their
faces blackened, was seen approaching
the Jail in single fi'e, at but short dis
lance. with evident intentions Of an attack.
The guard, supposing the men TO be Nor
mons coming to the rescue Of Smith and
his brother, fired upon them, woanding
some two or three. Smith and his broth
er, noticing the approach of the men, and
also supposing them to be Mormons, hoist
ed the window Of the room in which they
were confined, being in the second story,
with the intention, it is presumed, of pre-
venting any aggression on their part,
when volley was fired from the assail-
ants, resulting in an instantaneous death OF
the three; the Prophet. from what we are
informed took place, fell on the outside to
the ground. JoesSm,h's body, it is said,
was perforated with five or six ball holes
that of his brother with greater num-
Der. 1t is further related az soon as Joe's
body reached the ground, one of the as
sailants approached it, and thrusting his
bayonet through it, exclaimed, {" am now
revenged for the death of my fa,her."-
This is supposed TO have had reference TO
the death of some one in Missouri at the
time Of the Mormon difficulties in that
State, when they were driven from it,
From this circumstance, and the fact that
the assailants were disguised, il is believed
that they were an organized bard from
Missouri, who had formed the determine
ton to assassinate Smith at all hazards-a
supposltion strengthens by the rumor that
number Of Missourians were known to
have crossed the river to the Illinois side,
ioi tH0 puipoSc VI oiultS III tbS ottoCn up
on Nauvoo, should Smith and his adhe
rents resist to that extremity.
No censure is attached TO Gov. Ford,
who, i: is believed, has acted throughout in
this affair, with the utmost prudence and
Judgment in his exertions to procure the
arrest of Smith and his confederates, and
TO secure then, from violence after the ar
rest"
Since the above was put in type, we
have receiv ed the following official state
ment Of the affair by Gov. Ford.
TO THE PEOPLE OF ILLINOIS.
desire TO make brief but true state.
ment of the recent dsgraceful affair at
Carthage, in regard to the Smiths, so far
as circumstances have come TO my knowl-
edge. The Smiths, Joseph and Hiram,
have been assassinated in Jail, by whom is
not known, but will be ascerlained. |
pledged myself for their safety. and upon
the assurance of that pledge they surren-
dered as prisoners. The Mormons sur
rendered the public arms in their posses
sion, and the Nauvoo Legion submitted TO
the command of Cant SINGLETON of Brown