The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-11-08
PROPHET s. ASSASSINATION.


taincd a somewhat prolonged contro-
versy with The Tribune concerning the
murder of Joseph and HIvrum Smith,
the first 'prophct and patriarch
of the Mormon church. We had said
that those men had been killed by their
own brethren in the church who had be,
come cnraged ut their leaders for causes
which they deemed to he sufficient TO
Justify their deadly anger, We pro
dlccd extracts from ihc sermons of cnrly
Mormon leaders in Utah in support Of
our contention, but the News was not
content with them and continued the
old effort TO promote Mormon hate
against the Gcntics by declaring that
the two martyrs" were killed by Il
lawlcss mob of "outsidcrs. "
il is The effort OF this paper always
to present the truth; il is our desire to
give accurate information upon matters
of Mormon history, and when we do
present that truth, we do it with con
lidcncc that we shall be able TO vim
dicatc our position. Today The Tribune
presents a document that goes to the
very core of the matter 1t is taken
from The Contributors Of April, 1854.
(yolume >, number Z, pages 25l-60) 1t
was written by Elder Horace Cum
mings, who was Il wcll-known writer for
the Mormon church. The information
he gives was obtained from former
Bishop Dcnison l.. Harris of Monroe,
Sewer county, Utah. So that we have
the valuable condition Of a Mormon
ccclcsiast who was at Nauvoo, and par
ticipatcd in the events described, as
our informant; distinguished Mormon
writer and speaker as historian; and an
authoritative Mormon periodical as pub
licist-(thc Contributor was the official
organ of the Mutual Improvement as
sociations). We opine that even the
Dcscrct News will admit that any pre-.
scutation made under that condition
ought to be regarded as being of con.
vInclng strength and ample crcdibillty.
Here is the matter;
Those who have read the lie OF Jo-
Seph Smith, the prophet. must be Ia
miliar with the fact that from ms earl
lest hoyhood he was ever the object oil
bitter persecution. notwithstanding the
numerous published accounts OF mob
biDgs. drvimgs, bodily injuries, aSSra-
waiting accusations, mock trials, aud muir
dcrous attempts upon his lifc which he
endured. and with which the people are
familiar, there are, no doubt, many
events aud trials yet hidden from the
world in the bosomS of his most familiar
friends. which may have caused him far
greater agony than many ol those with
which the people are acquainted. Among
these the following narrative may be
t,..T,, hon
ished. and the facts 1T contains may have
had an important influence In hasten
ing. If not actually accomplishing the
death OF the prophet
Early in the spring of lSli very strong
and bitter feeling was aroused against
Joseph. among many OF his brethren In
and around NauVoO; and some who held
high positions i'm the church and were
against him and sought by various means
in their power to do him injury. Many
murmurcd and complained, and some ot
The more wicked, even watched their op-
portunlty To take his life. and were con-
tinually plotting to accomplish that end
AT length this wicked feeling became
so strong and general, among certain
class, that 1t was resolved to form an
organization, or secret combination that
would better enable them TO accomplish
their wicked purposes.
Accordingly n secret meeting was ap-
pointed 10 take place I'm the new brick
house of William Law, Joscph's FIRST
counselor. on a certain sabbath. and inNi-
tatiouS to attend IL were carefully extend
ed TO members of the church whom 1t was
thought were disalrcc,cd. or In sympa Thy
with these wicked views and desires
Among those who received invitations to
attend this meeting was Brother Den
ison l.. Harris, now the bishop OF Mon
roc, Sewer county, Utah. then but a
young man Of seventeen years of age.
Austin 4, Cowles. at that time mem
Der of the high council, was one OF the
| l...t,I ,IBps i'm irl
being Il near ncighbor and on intimate
terms with Brother Harris, he had given
young DCnison an invitation To the secret
meeting and told him also TO invite his
| father. but TO be sure aud not breathe
a word about IL TO anyone else. as it
was TO he kept profound secret. Den
| ison was much perpicNcd over the inVi-
tation he had received, and certain things
! that Brother CowlcS had told him. and
while sitting ON his fathers woodplc.
thinking them over and wondering what
he had better do, another young man;
named Robert Scott. who lived but a
short distance away. came over sat down
ON the log, and the two began 10 con-
verse upon various subjects such as gen.
orally engage the conversation of young
men Of their age. 1t seems they had been
I intimate companions for several years;
and they had not conYersed long before
/ each discovered that the other had some
thing on his mind that troubled him. but
which he did not like to reveal. Finally,
one proposed that, as they had always
been con1dants. they now exchange Sc
crets, on condition that neither should
! reveal what the other told him.
J Both readily agreed to this, and when
each had told the cause of his anxiety
! IT proved to be the samc-both had re-
ceivcd an invitation to the same secret
meeting. Robert Scott. having been
reared by William Law. seemed TO be
almost a member OF his family, and on
! this account had been invited by him
TO attend tho meeting.
/. 'Well. Dem" said Robert, after short
pause, ARE you going To attend the meet
! ing"
~ don't know" replied Denison "arc
you?'
II don't know whether To 20 or not
said Robert: suppose we 20 In the
house and tell your father OF his invita-
| ton. and sec what he says about IL
They entered the house and consulted
for some time with Denison's father
E,mir Harris. who was brother of Mar
| tin Harris. one OF the three witnesses
OF the Book Of Mormon. They informed
| him of his invitation To the same meet
\ ing and told him many other things
| that Brother Cowles had told Dcnison.
He decided 10 20 at once and lay the
| whole matter before the prophet, Joseph