History, 1838–1856, volume F-1 [1 May 1844–8 August 1844]

  • Source Note
  • Historical Introduction
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<​May 8​> right there. I gave up my berth to the ladies, and I felt indignant at such conduct; his conduct towards the lady passengers was unbecoming, and particularly in one who professes so much virtue as he does now.’
sworn:
‘I have seen , go into rooms with females, but what their intentions were I did not know. I might have seen him two or three times; I think he has done that which is not right. I should judge from conversations with him that that was the case; <​I presume he has a good many times;​> I might recollect twenty times; he has frequently told me things of that kind. It is a private case to be sure. He has told me that he had commenced an action against Joseph Smith for slander. I met today; I asked him about the fuss, when he said he had got Mr. Smith up for slander; he said he should not come here, but did not say why. I recollect the time that he was sick, when attended him; I went to see him nearly every day. I understood to say that he was prosecuting Mr. Smith for slander, and that he was up before the Municipal Court. He told me he supposed I was wanted to prove that he was a thief, whoremaster, and everything else.’
sworn:
‘I have several times had conversations with ; I recollect that near two years ago there was a fuss about ’s spiritual wife system before the High Council. I recollect a French woman coming up from , and that had medical assistance x x x x x x x x attended him. Joseph Smith administered unto him, but it was irksome; assented that it was so; he did not contradict it; he promised to reform— he would do better— he would do so no more.’
sworn:
‘I think it is near two years since that I had a conversation with ; he expressed himself indignant at some things; he expressed himself that he was sorry; he would live a new life— he never would say a word against President Joseph Smith; he had an inclination to write that what he had published was false. I exhorted him to go and recall what he had said. I afterwards saw him in , when he promised by every thing sacred that he would come home, reform, and then go and publish this doctrine, for it was true. He said he had taken a course that was wrong towards President Smith, and was sorry for it. He said he would study at , for his character was ruined here. When we were in , I went over to , and exhorted him to alter his conduct. The last time I conversed with him, he said, “if I had taken your counsel, I should now have been a man looked on with respect”; he said he was not connected with the people that opposed President Smith and never would; he much regretted the course he had taken.
Joseph Smith:
‘The statement I made out against I have proved to be facts, and therefore it is not slander. I have testified boldly, and have brought witnesses to prove him to be an adulterer, and a vicious man. I did not do it until he began to use his <​evil​> influence against me. If I had been to blame, and he had got the least chance, he would have been here; he knows I am here, and all know that they have nothing against me. I have proved all that I ever testified; the Court would be bound to discharge me on account of having proved it. There are very few lawyers who know the great principle of the Habeas Corpus Act; ask a lawyer, and he does not know but that he has got to go to some Judge. The U. S. District Judge () has been one of the Supreme Judges of the ; his decision is that it should [p. 14]
May 8 right there. I gave up my berth to the ladies, and I felt indignant at such conduct; his conduct towards the lady passengers was unbecoming, and particularly in one who professes so much virtue as he does now.’
sworn:
‘I have seen , go into rooms with females, but what their intentions were I did not know. I might have seen him two or three times; I think he has done that which is not right. I should judge from conversations with him that that was the case; I presume he has a good many times; I might recollect twenty times; he has frequently told me things of that kind. It is a private case to be sure. He has told me that he had commenced an action against Joseph Smith for slander. I met today; I asked him about the fuss, when he said he had got Mr. Smith up for slander; he said he should not come here, but did not say why. I recollect the time that he was sick, when attended him; I went to see him nearly every day. I understood to say that he was prosecuting Mr. Smith for slander, and that he was up before the Municipal Court. He told me he supposed I was wanted to prove that he was a thief, whoremaster, and everything else.’
sworn:
‘I have several times had conversations with ; I recollect that near two years ago there was a fuss about ’s spiritual wife system before the High Council. I recollect a French woman coming up from , and that had medical assistance x x x x x x x x attended him. Joseph Smith administered unto him, but it was irksome; assented that it was so; he did not contradict it; he promised to reform— he would do better— he would do so no more.’
sworn:
‘I think it is near two years since that I had a conversation with ; he expressed himself indignant at some things; he expressed himself that he was sorry; he would live a new life— he never would say a word against President Joseph Smith; he had an inclination to write that what he had published was false. I exhorted him to go and recall what he had said. I afterwards saw him in , when he promised by every thing sacred that he would come home, reform, and then go and publish this doctrine, for it was true. He said he had taken a course that was wrong towards President Smith, and was sorry for it. He said he would study at , for his character was ruined here. When we were in , I went over to , and exhorted him to alter his conduct. The last time I conversed with him, he said, “if I had taken your counsel, I should now have been a man looked on with respect”; he said he was not connected with the people that opposed President Smith and never would; he much regretted the course he had taken.
Joseph Smith:
‘The statement I made out against I have proved to be facts, and therefore it is not slander. I have testified boldly, and have brought witnesses to prove him to be an adulterer, and a vicious man. I did not do it until he began to use his evil influence against me. If I had been to blame, and he had got the least chance, he would have been here; he knows I am here, and all know that they have nothing against me. I have proved all that I ever testified; the Court would be bound to discharge me on account of having proved it. There are very few lawyers who know the great principle of the Habeas Corpus Act; ask a lawyer, and he does not know but that he has got to go to some Judge. The U. S. District Judge () has been one of the Supreme Judges of the ; his decision is that it should [p. 14]
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