Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-12-24

the method chosen to assaI the char
scter and to destroy the political pow
er OF Smith, and TO disclose the secret
teaching and probable practice of po-
lygamy.
The Expositor contained the affida
Wits Of William Law and his wife.
Jane Law, and OF Austin Cowleis vii
liam Law stated that Hyrum Smith,
brother OF the Prophet Joseph, read
ts him a certain document and then
gave it to him to read for himself;
that he took the document home and
read II TO his wife Jane; that it con-
tanned authorization for certain men
10 have more than one wife in this
world and in the world to come; and
that Hyrum Smith had declared the
contents of the document to be a reve-
lation from the Lord received by JOS
eph Smith. Jane Law declared in.her
affidavit that she had read the same
document, and that it contained the
doctrine OF more wives than one at
the same time, and that wives who
/
have more than one wife would be IN
der condemnation before God. Austin
Cowles stated that in the summer of
1S43 Hyrum Smith did introduce into
the high council a revelation given
through the Prophet Joseph sanction
ing the plurality of wives. and that by
reason of such doctrine being taught
L l. 10 Lee g
/ first counselor in the church.
! The paper also contained a pream-
/ BILE OF several columns, in which the
definite statement was made that JOS
/ eph Smith had attempted to secure a
! plurality Of wives. This preamble was
( followed by Is resolutions passed by
/ seceders from the church In Nauvoo,
in which again and again the protest
was made against the teaching Of piu-
rality of wives by Joseph and Hyrum
Smith
The effect of the publication Of these
charges was immediate and disas-
trous. The Mormons went through
the process of a trial concerning the
Expositor. The trial was one Of the
dence 1t was held on Saturday, the
day following the publication OF the
paper. The trial was adjourned over
Sunday, continued and completed on
Monday. The paper itself seems to
have been tried. The city council act
ed as jury with the mayor, Joseph
Smiths in the chair. The owners,
rhougb a heaut uara triad u-ifbou+ ran
resentatiOn. Governor Ford, who
writes largely from evidence furnish
ed by the Mormons themselves, states
that "one finds difficulty in determin-
ing whether the proceedings we're the
result of insanity or depravity. No
body accused had notice of the trial.
Nobody was permitted to defend the
accused. No jury was called or
sworn. No witnesses were put on oath.
From the Mormon standpoint it was
abundantly proved that the owners of
the Expositor were sinners, thieves,
. swindlers. counterfeiters and robbers.
Ii was the most curious and irregular
trial ever held in any civilized coun-
try" The city council finally de-
whence issued the EXpositor was n
public nuisance, also all the copies
existing in the Office, and the mayor
was authorized to remove the same
, without delay in such manner as he
, might direct The prophet ordered the
city marshal TO destroy the printing
, press, to "pi' the type and to burn all
the Expositors found, together with
> ibelous handbills which might be
, found. To aid the marshal in this duty
. the Nauvoo legion, local militia, was
, ordered to be in readiness in case
, opposition was offered.
+. The press was destroyed that even
ing. the prophet aiding strenuously il
9 the destruction and engaging in some
!. thing of fist fight with a bystander
: He later issued a proclamation recit
G ing the charge that the city was in
|, tested with blacklegs, counterfeiter;
, and debauchees. and that the proprie
q tors OF the Expositor belonged TO tina
: class.
- The owners of the paper, who hat
>. fed to Carthage, filed charges agains
q the prophet and city council for riot
q ing The legal incidents ensuing
q brought Joseph Smith and his brother
q Hyrum, under practical arrest to Car
I. thage A mob broke in 0 the jail anC
:. shot Joseph, exalting him to martyr
dom in the eyes OF his people.
o Six months later the state legisls
y ture repealed the unique city charte
4 Of Nauvoo, the most favorable eve
y granted to an American city. In tn
, summer of 1S45 a degree Of civil wa
q was Witnessed in and around the city
10 In October Of that year the Mormon
"a agreed to evacuate the region in tn
spring of the following year and re
: move 10 some point west Of the Rock
mountains. The exodus began in tn
winter and proceeded during the sun
mer. Excitement. famed by wild II
mors. created suspicion and hatre