The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-01-08
MONEY MAD FROM THE FIRST

MONEY MAD FROM THE FIRST.
In the local columns of Friday morn
ing S Tribune there appeared short
story recited by visitor here concern
ing his family's recollection of the
bringing forth Of the Book of Mormon
; The story differs materially from others
that hnve been told in respect 10 this
matter; but that is not surprising, be.
cause even the rectals of those who
had connection with the enterprise diff
fer widely in many details.
Probably the family of Martin Har.
rls possessed the best knowledge Of the
ataIr, aside from the Smiths, as il is A
matter of Mormon history that Harris
FURNISHED the money with which TO
bring the book out in the first place.
He even went so far as to mortgage
part of his property to raise funds,
We have copies of some affidavits along
tins line which may prove Of interest.
since the matter has been brought up
by the story Of the visitor here. The
first is made by Abigail Harris. wife of
Peter Harris, brother of Martin. and is
as follows:
I made visit to Martin Harris, and was
Joined In company by Joseph Smith.
| sen, liather OF the founder of Mormon
lsml and his wife The Gold Bible bus-
| ness. so-called, was the topic OF convcrsa-
non. 70 which paid particular attention
matter They told me that the report
that Joseph Smith. Jun. had found the
Golden de- Plates was true, and ,ha, he was
was translated. the plates were to be pub
licly exhbited-admittance twenty-five
cents She calculated il would bring In
annually an enormous sum Of money"
| that money would then he very plenty
and the Book would sell for great price.
| they had been comma nded 10 obtain all
| the money they could borrow and repay
With gold The remainder was to he
kept. in store for the benefit Of their
family and children. The old lady took
me into another room. and, after closing
the door, she said. Have YOU four or
until our business Is brought 10 close?
| The spirit says YOU shall receive four-
fod"' told her when gave ] did not
| expect to receive IL again. and as for
money. ] had none 10 lend. In the sec
ond month following Martin Harris and
| Lucy Harris. his wife, were at my house.
she observed that she wished her hus-
band would quit them as she believed
II all false and n deusion. To which
a lie; II YOU will let me alone will make
| money out of it, | was both an eve
and an car witness Of what has, been
| memory. and I speak the truth and lie
not God being my witness.
The affidavit is dated November %,
1888. when occurrences connected with
the production Of. the Book of Mormon
were still wildly fresh in the memory
OF Abigail Harris. Then there is an.
other one which confirms the main fact
set forth in the foregoing. that the
chief object OF Martin Harris was to
make money out of the thing. It
is as follows:
Whether the Mormon religion be true
or false, I leave the world TO Judge, for
It's effects on Martin Harris have been
to make him more cross. turbulent and
abusive to me. His whole object was
to make money out OF II. viii give
proof of this. One day az Peter Harris
him he had better leave the company
of tho Smiths. as their religion was false
To this he replied. III you would let me
alone. | could make money out OF IT,"
II ie In vain for the Mormons TO deny
these facts, as they are weIl known 10
most of his former neIgh6ors.
Lucy Harris was the wife of Martin
Harris. the man who mortgaged his
property to raise money for the sup
port of Joseph Smith during the pre-
tended translation, and for payment of
the cost Of printing the book. There is
also brief explanation of the method
employed in that pretended translation.
and it comes from Isaac Hale father
in-law Of Joseph Smith, in the following
affidavit
Harmony. Pa March 20. 1884 !
first became acquainted with Joseph
Smith in November 1925. He was then
called money diggers and his occupa tion
was that Of seeing. by means OF stone
placed In his hst and his hat placed over
discover minerals and hidden treasures
The manner In which he, pretended TO
same as when he looked for the money
diggers with the stone IN his hat. and
his hat over his face. while the book of
ISAXC HALE.
Affirmed 70. 70 and subscribed befote me.
CHARLES DIMoN. j. p.
Mormon history also shows that part
Of the supposed translation of the Book
of Mormon was done in the house of
Isaac Hale This would indicate that
| the testimony of Mr.. Hale is entitled
to the confidence of the investigator.
Originally there were three witnesses
10 the divinity of the Book Of Nor
mon. They were David Whitmer. Oliver
Cowdery and Martin Harris. Later on,
in the Times and Seasons, volume !.
pages 81 S4. Joseph Smith declared that
were engaged in Stirring up strife and
turmoil among the brethren in 1888.
They were studiously engaged
| in circulating false and slanderous re-