Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-19
GRAVE Of MORMON
FOUNDER LOCATED
MoIdy Cellar at NauNoo. ILL.,,
Holds Bodies of Joseph
Smith and Brother.


NAUvOO. IL, January l9--From
the basement Of a Squslid. deserted
house in Nauvoo at last has come final
settlement Of a CONTROVERSY that has
disturbed Morr1onism for more than
ei2hty-ti1ree years.
The controversy conferred over the
location Of the graves OF Joseph Smith.
founder Of MormonisIn, and his broth
~ Ny.1lr, who were shot and killed
hv a mob on June -. 1914. after which
their bodies were secretly buried, Inc
graves were found In the nnoldy base
r1ent by W. Q. Hand. Kansas City. MO.
civil engineer. and members O. the 10
cal church, NOW reoreanizeo.
Location OF the graves has recalled
q stirring episode III the pioneering OF
the Mormon Church in Illinois.
In addition 70 his leadership IN the
struggling sect: Joseph was mayor 81
Nauyon. which then had population
q about c5ooo as compared 70 tooayS
estimated 1000 Eyrunl, the brother
assisted him III his multiple duties,
Splt Over Polygamy.
r was AT this time that the question
Of nolvcawy caused split among iol-
lowers ~ TIC sect. This difference cul-
r,;,ate6 shortly afterward when the
Nar,no Expositor published its first
edition, Il which i eSpoused the teach
.nr az polvgarlv as an article OF Nor
r,oY, faith The CITY council ordered
destruction Of the newspaper plant al
mos; immediately after the frst issue
I. was DESTROYED and the TWO smith
brothers AND several others were
charged with treason and thrown mo
the Hancock County jail, al Carthage
Ii
Feeling against the prisoners was 50
,rteree that a COMPANY of Illinois mill
tie known as the Carthage GrayS. was
o-dere6 70 protect them al the jail. The
enrere6 mob. however. broke through
sn6 shot and killed the two brothers.
The fate Of the others was unknown.
Mock Funeral.
A few days later. Joseph Smiths vile.
Emma. placed the bodies on a wagon
and removed them 10 the old Mansion
House" at Nauvoo. The wife then caused
a mock funeral TO be held, the supposed
caskets Of the bodies being filed with
stones Later the bodies were secretly
buried bv the widow.
Since the burial the Mormons have
sung the story in the hymn. There's an
Unknown Grave II Green. Lonely
Spot"
Always there has been controversy
between the followers Of Brigham Young
and those who remained in the Middle
West. followers Of the Smith Mormon
faith. as to the burial place of the
brothers.
Frederick NJ. Smith Of Independence,
Mo. president CT the reorganiZed
church. known as the Church Of Jesus
Christ OF Latter Day Saints. was in
Nauvoo today 10 view the graves II
vas believed he planned removal Of the
bodies To a more fitting shrine.
I6entiicatio nof the skeletons removed
from the basement graves was aided by
q hole. as from bullet. In the skull Of
one of thom Hyrlm Smith. the church
history showed, was shot through the
head
Other evidence In possession OF the
church has made Identification certain.
said J. A. Gardner. director Of publicity
OF the reo-ganized church.
KANSAS CITY. January 10 Dp). - The
bodies if Joseph Smith. founder OF Nor
nnonisn. and his brother Hyrum. found
al Nauyoo. IL. viii b. placed In
large concrete tomb there. officials OF
the reorganized church announced to-
day al their headquarters III Independ-
ence. q suburb.