The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1870-07-15
mORMONIsM In 1874.
The Murder OF Joseph and Hyram
Smith.

The Murder OF Joseph and Hyram
Smith. . .....
From the Muscatine Qowa) Journal, 2sth.l
Twenty-slx years ago yesterday, June
~, 1874, Joseph Smith, the Mormon
prophet and his brother Hyram, were
killed by mob while confined in Jail at
Carthage, Ill, twenty-five miles from this
city. Many of the older citizens will recol
lect the circumstances. Mormonism was
then in the height of its prosperity. Nau-
VOC was then city of is, 900 inhabitants,
with numerous Mormon nsiehborhoods
near and far. Mormon missionaries were
scattered over half the civilized world.
The Mormon leaders were in their glory.
A million dollar temple was under way.
10 Smith was a sort of autocrat, ruling
with high hand, and becoming more and
more avaricious as well as ambitious, and
less and less regardful of the rights of
otherS.
! Nsuvoo was becoming a city of refuge
for all the robbers, thieves and murderers
for hundreds of miles around. Many came
from Missouri, and no requisition from the
Governor of that State was permitted to be
enforced until it had been passed upon by
the Council of Nauvoo. The Danites. a
murderous band, were not idle. There
were terror and indignation through all that
region of couRtry. Some of the Mormons
themselves had grown restIve and rebellious
until finally considerable faction deter.
mined to shake off the rule of Smith and
expose his crimes For this purpose they
proc the materials for printing q paper
which they proposed to start in Nauvoo,
right in the face of the Prophet This he
would not permit. The Council was called
together and it was decreed that the print
ing press and materials must be DESTROYED.
1t was done.
The people outside determined that the
Smiths should now be brought to Justice.
Hundreds of armed men were gathered at
Carthage, Warsaw, and other places in the
vicinity. Governor Ford had been apprised
of the contemplated collision, and came on
the ground to preserve the peace. Under
solemn assurances from the Governor that
their personal safety should not be endan-
gered, Joseph and Hyram Smith gave them
selves up to the authorities OF the state and
were taken to Carthage for preliminary ex-
animation, which they underwent and gave |
the required bail for their appearance be- |
fore the District Court On being dis |
charged they were Immediately re-arrested |
on charge Of treason against the State of |
Illinois and confined in Jail Rumors that
they would be lynched by q mob were al |
ready rife. The militia had not been dis |
banded, Governor Ford sent q Carthage
company to guard the Jail where the |
Smiths we're confined, and himself went to |
Nauvoo to further interview leading Nor
mons. On the day following, June 9th, |
1874, about 4 o'clock p. m, the Jail was |
surrounded by company of about 200 !
disguised men. The Carthage company |
were at q convenient distance away. The |
guard at the jail fred a blank cartridge at |
the mob, evidently acting in accordance
with prearranged plan. The mob rushed |
in and fred upon the prisoners, Hyram
Smith fell dead, shot through the
head. Joseph was armed with a re-
volver, and resisted as long as he could,
wounding two or three of the mob before
he was overpowered. But he was soon dis
sbled, and after being woundedIwas killed
outright, three or four balls passing
through his body. Though many rejoiced
at the death Of the Smiths, very few ap-
proved the method of their taking of.
The Mormons continued on at Nauyoo
two or three years longer, Brigham Young
having been chosen leader, when they took
up their line of march for their present To-
cation at Great Salt Lake City. The glory
of Nauvoo soon departed. The splendid
temple erected there, long since tumbled
into ruins. The remains of it are still
pointed out to travellers. Scarcely anything
is left of this once famous city but the grand
site on which it stood.