The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-06-27

introduced the Practice of Polygamy-
Was in Jail on Charge of Treason
When He Was Shot-Had an Excit-
ing Career.
CARTHAGE, H., June 27.--Seventy-
five years ago today the town of Garth
age was the scene of a tragedy which
stirred the entire country to high
pitch of excitement and incidentally
had "A determining effect upon the flu
ture of the Mormon church. 1t was on
this date, in 1914, that Joseph Smith.
Jr., the founder of Mormanism, and his
brother, Hyrum, were slain by a mob
after they had been brought to Garth
age and lodged in Jail on a charge of
treason.
The parents Of Joseph Smith were
poor farmers in the interior of New
York state When he was only IS years
old he was convcrtcd' ut a religious
revival meeting. Soon after he began
tO report that he had seen visions. At
this time he could barely read and
write. Suddenly he announced, after
"a lapse Of "A few years of earnest re-
Hgious reflection, that he had received
"A definite message from the divine pow
er The substance of this message was
that the covenant of God with ancient
Israel was about to be fulfilled, and
that he was 10 be the instrument.
The American Indians were rem
nant of Israel their sacred records had
been taken away by God and deposited
Eor preservation. These records were
to be delivered to him. In four years
to a day he reported that these records
had been given TO him by an angel.
They consisted Of engraved plates of
material that looked like gold, each
plate about as thick as tin and meas
uring about seven by eight inches. The
plates were covered with fine small
characters. Smith soon moved away to
Pennsylvania, where, as he said, he
might obtain the seclusion in which to
make the translation.
The result was the "Book of Nor
mon - about as large as the old Tesla.
ment 1t was said TO be history by
u prophet named Mormon, of ancient
America, from its settlement by a col
onv from the tower of Babel down to
the 18th century A. d. After the pub
LEGATION Of this there were enough con
verts to form at Fayette, y. Y, the
"Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day
Saints
Speedily churches were formed il
Ohio, Indiana, New York, Pennsylyani;
and Illinois. Soon Smith WAS reporte,
to be performing miracles Kirkland
Ohio, in the then far west, was declare
to be the promised land of the Mormons
and later Missouri was so designated
In Ohio he was tarrcd and feathcreC
The Mormons in Missouri came int
conflict with the people there, and afte
much trouble Smith and his companion
made their escape to Illinois, where h
founded the city of Nauvoo. They re
ceived charter from the governor i
1910, and at the city election in Eel
ruarv. 1S41, Smith was elected mayo
The Nauvoo legion, of about / 800 mel
was formed, with Smith Eeutenant-ger
eral. Missionaries were sent abroad
who obtained in England many cor
vcrts.
In 1912 Smith was at the height G
his fame and favor. On July -. 1S4,
lie received, he said, an additional re'
citation, authorizing him to take "spi
itual wives" This was the basis fl
the establishment of polygamy and II
rock on which his church eventual
was TO split. Immediately he lost son
of his followers, notably two who's
wives he had solicited to enter into IL
married state with him. These two g
tablished II newspaper in Nauvoo IL
following year. The first number co
tanned the aflidavits of l6 women tn;
Smith was guilty of moral impurit
The city council Of Nauvoo declared Il
paper to be a nuisance, and immediat
~ Smith S followers attacked Il
building and destroyed the presses al
paper.
The publishers of the paper escap,
to Carthage, and from here a warra
was signed for the arrest Of Smith al
II of his followers. The city marsh
of Nauvoo marched the constable W