On 9 November 1841, JS swore out a complaint accusing of using “abusive language” in the streets of , Illinois. The nature of the verbal altercation is unknown. The city of Nauvoo was the named plaintiff in the legal action against Markham, meaning he allegedly violated a city ordinance; however, at the time there was no city ordinance relating to abusive language. It was not until 13 November, four days after JS submitted his complaint, that such an ordinance was passed. Titled “An Ordinance Concerning Vagrants and Disorderly Persons,” it prohibited the use of “profane or indecent language or behaviour” as well as “unbecoming language towards any City officer when in the discharge of his duty.” JS was presumably familiar with the ordinance prohibiting abusive language before its passage on 13 November, both because he sat on the city council and because he was part of a committee appointed to recommend local ordinances.

pleaded guilty and was fined twenty-five dollars plus costs of the suit. On 1 December 1841, the mayor’s court reconsidered the case and remitted the fine, even though Mayor did not have the authority to do so; this power was granted to the city council.

This calendar lists all known documents created by or for the court, whether extant or not. It does not include versions of documents created for other purposes, though those versions may be listed in footnotes. In certain cases, especially in cases concerning unpaid debts, the originating document (promissory note, invoice, etc.) is listed here. Note that documents in the calendar are grouped with their originating court. Where a version of a document was subsequently filed with another court, that version is listed under both courts.