Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-03-16

/ the arrest Of tho Prophet, his brother = y
rum. Elder TayiOr. and a Dir. HlcnaFds'
charged with melting riOt ana tHe ny, ~
strucJiOn OF the Erp0Siof property az
/ arrest was successfully resiste0 LOT soiho
I time. until IL became evident that lhe
/ State authorities would invoke the alo OF
I the military t0snlOrce the law. According
{ lv tho accused surrendered 70 the author
I lilies and were taken TO Carthage. they
were admitted TO bail, but were imme-
diateiy r5alrested upon a charge OF trea-
son on June 20, 1874, and confined IN the
debtors room of the county jail, their IN
generation being principally for the pur-
pose Of protecting them from anticipated
mob Violence,
THE MOB.
There was local military company,
called the Carthage Grays, which had been
formed TO protect the town A detach-
ment OF seven OF this company was de
tailed to guard the Jail, under command
Of Lieut.. Frank Worrell. AS soon as the
prophet and his associates were placed in
Jail the town began 10 be rife with rumors
OF approaching trouble. several families
hid themselves in the woods, and others
shut themselves upin their houses. Dur
ing the night several mysterious horse
men rode into the town, apparently made
TecOnn aissance, and gallOped away
dEMAns ne NUluANk 0i june - h9"AANhAa
and found the prisoners still secure, with
the guards at their posts. That
afternoon about 4 O'Clock body Of
about 100 armed men, having
their faces blackened and other
wise disguised. suddenly appeared IN the
outskirts OF the northwest part or the
town. They advanced to the Jail and
made a rush on the guards, who fired.
Nobody was hurt, which mas
"a
the guards were in collision with the
regulators. though am told the story has
this incident for its only foundation. The
attacking party crowded up the Stairway
10 the room OF the prisoners. The latter,
probably alarmed by the noise had barri-
caded the door as best they could. The
Prophet took a position where he could
command range OF the hallway should en-
trance be effected, while the others threw
themselves against the door.
At this juncture, while the assailants
were forcing an entrance, shot was fired
through the door from the outside. The
ball entered the LEFT breast OF Hyrum
Smith, killing HIM instantly. The door
few open and the Prophet fired several
shots from an Old-fashioned pepper-box
pistol into the crowd. wounding several
Of his assailants. The Gre was returned
with a yolley, in which Elder Taylor and
Joseph smith were both struck. Richards
escaped unhurt. The Prophet staggered
TO tue window and was about to jump
out. His appearance was greeted by
shower Of bullets from below. He cried
out, so my Godw chung convulsively to
the window-sill a moment, and fell heavily
to tire ground dead.
THE PLACE OF BURIAL UNKNOWN.
This was the bloody end of Joseph
Smith, the so-called Prophet OF the Lord
and founder Of the true Church of Latter
Day Saints. The bodies of the slain were
conveyed to that city by Carthage people,
and were secretly buried. To this day no
one knows the place OF iRterment. The
MOTmons claimed that the Prophet was
taken up to heaven in the flesh, sitting in
a chariot of glittering splendOr in the
midst Of 8 host Of rejoicing angels.
Several persons were indicted for the
murder of the Smiths, among them
Judge Sharp, referred to above He
says that at the trial the only evil
dence produced by the prosecution was
that of Daniels and a girl who waited
upon the dining-table at a hotel in War
saw. Daniels swore TO the story about
the killing as detailed in his pamphlet,
while the girl testified to certain remarks
made by Judge Sharp prior to and sue
ceeding the killing, which were easily
refuted by alibi proof The prosecution
abandoned this testimony, and depended
upon a speech made by the Judge
TO the militia company from which
the attacking party was formed. The
case was given to the jury on
this slight evidence, and verdict
0fnOt guilty quickly returned. After the
death OF the Prophet internal discussions
regarding the succession to the leadership
sprang up among the MormOns, at the
same time preparations being made to
seek new home in the Far West. Numer-
Gus depTedations and murders were COM
mitted, which resulted in the expulsion of
the MOrmons by military force. The
community took up its long march. fin
ally resting at Salt Lake, the new country
selected for them by Brigham Young,
their new President.