Indictment, 24 May 1844 [State of Illinois v. JS for Adultery and Fornication]

Of the May Term of the Hancock Circuit Court in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty four.

The Grand Jurors chosen selected and sworn in and for the County of , in the name and by the authority of the people of the State of upon their oaths present that Joseph Smith Senior usually called the Mormon Prophet late of said Cou[n]ty of in said State of , on the twelfth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & forty three, and on divers other days and times between that time and the day of finding this indictment, at and within the said County of and State of unlawfully then & there did live together in an open state of adultery with one , then of said contrary to the form of the statute in such case made and provided and of against the peace and dignity of the same people of the state of

And the Grand Jurors aforesaid upon their oaths aforesaid do further present that the said Joseph Smith Senior usually called the Mormon Prophet, late of said County, of in said State of on the twelfth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousnd eight hundrd and forty three, and on divers other days and times between that day, and the day of finding this indictment at and within the said county of and State of unlawfully then & there did live together in an open state of fornication with one then of said , contrary to the form of the statute in such case made and provided, and against the peace and dignity of the same people of the State of . [p. [1]]

And the Gr[a]nd Jur[o]rs aforesaid upon their oaths aforesaid do further present that the said Joseph Smith Senior usually called the Mormon Prophet, late of said County of in said State of , on the twelfth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & forty three and on divers other days and times previous to the time of finding this indictment, at and within the said County of , and state of unlawfully then & there did live together in an open state of fornication and adultery with one , then of said , contrary to the form of the statute in such case made and provided, and against the peace and dignity of the same people of the state of

And the Grand Jurors aforesaid, upon their oaths aforesaid do further present, that afterwar on the tenth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousnd eight hundred a[n]d forty three and on divers other days and times previous to the day of finding this indictment, the said Joseph Smith Senior usually called the Mormon Prophet late of said County of , in said State of , <​at and within the sd Conty of ​> with certain women to the jurors unknown, then of said County of in said State of , unlawfully did then & there live together, in an open state of adultery and fornication contrary to the form of this Statute in such case made and provided, and against the peace and dignity of the same people of the state of .

Ad the Grand Juros aforesaid upon their oaths aforesaid do furthr present, that on the tenth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousnd eight hundred and forty three, and on divers other days and times within eighteen months from the day of finding this indictmt, at the said county [p. [2]] of in the said State of , the said Joseph Smith senior, usually called the Mormon Prophet late of of said County of in said State of , with certain women to the jurors unknown, then of said County of , did then & there live togethr in an open state of adultery ad fornication contrary to the form of the statute in such case made and provided, and against the peace and dignity of the same people of the state of .

 

Bail $300.—

 

Filed May 24th. 1844