Joseph H. Jackson

“ So great was the excitement, that it was with difficulty that William Law and Hyrum Smith, could prevent Wilson from firing.
Joe seeing his plans foiled, determined on making capital of the whole affair, by raising the cry of persecution. Accordingly he called the City Council together, and in order to show the public that there was no ground for the rumors that had been afloat concerning the plot against Law, be brought all the forty guards up and questioned every man whether he had ever bound them by a secret oath. ”

“ I tell nothing more than what I have seen and heard in Nauvoo. I have colored nothing, nor set down aught in malice. Many of my statements can be corroborated by abundance of testimony. I am content however, at present, to give my story and if contradicted, I can follow it up by proof, such as no reasonable man will doubt,
The question may be asked, how is it possible for so corrupt a man as Joe Smith is represented to be, could ever have attained so complete control as he unquestionably had, over the minds of the honest portion of his followers? ”

“ When any thing of a disgraceful character is disclosed, Joe, ever ready to prove a negative, will bring together his clan and prove himself perfectly innocent; and thus, no matter how vile his conduct in private, the individual who ventures to disclose it, not only runs the risk of his life, but has but little hope of making the people believe his story. ”

“ If Joe wishes to make a spiritual wife of a certain young lady, he would send one of these women to her. The old women, would tell the young lady, that she had had a vision, in which it was revealed to her that she was to be sealed up to Joe, (or his friend as the case might be) as a spiritual wife, to be his in time and eternity. This would astonish the young innocent, but scripture would soon be resorted to, to prove the correctness of the doctrine, and that it was proper in the sight of the Lord. ”

“ A few days after this, I had a private conversation with Joe, and he again wished that I should go to Missouri to serve Rockwell. I consented, and he fitted me out with a horse and sulky for my Journey. My directions were to go to Liberty and get the pistol that Rockwell shot Boggs with -- it being in the hands of a widow woman living in that town, who Rockwell had deposited it with. Rockwell, feared that, it might be discovered and identified, and produced in evidence against him; and therefore his wife on her return from Independence, requested Joe to have this instrument secured. ”

“ He at the same time cursed William Law, for trying to seduce his wife, which in my opinion was false. He continued to talk about his wife until my anger got the better of my prudence, and I then told him, he must stop such conversation to me, and that I would not hear him rail out on so worthy a woman as I believed Emma to be, and threatened to knock him down if he did not cease. I told him he was a d--d rascal, and he thought every other man as black-hearted as himself. ”

“ No man, who has never seen the influence of blind fanaticism over the human mind, can imagine the effect it will produce. There were hundreds of men in Nauvoo, who, I believe, from what I have seen, had Joe Smith commanded them to commit murder in the name of the Lord, they would have believed that they were doing God's service in obeying him. ”

“ Every man appeared perfectly amazed, and not one had ever known of any such thing, nor did they know anything about the conspiracy against Law and Marks. This is part of Joe's game, whenever he is accused of secret plots, he calls his men, who are instructed to appear as foolish as possible, to disprove the accusation. ”

“ After giving me this caution, he remarked that if I would strengthen his arm, he would build me up in the world. It was shortly after this conversation, that I commenced my opposition to him, concerning his plot against Law; this I did not do however, until I saw his plan of operation was matured. When this was made apparent, I took a bold stand, and in the presence of his secret council, and of several of his Danites, I denounced the plot, as a foul, cowardly and damnable piece of villainy. ”

“ Whenever the scripture forbids a man from taking to himself more wives than one, Joe made it refer to carnal and not spiritual wives; and would frequently quote the writings of David and Solomon to prove his position. Having an explanation of the doctrine, let us see the application. Joe had in his employ certain old women, called "Mothers in Israel," such as Mrs. Tailor, old Madam Durfee, and old Madam Sessions, in whom the people have great confidence, but in fact, they are the most depraved hypocrits on Earth. ”

“ The doctrine is found on the 3d Chapter of Hosea, -- several passages from the writings of Solomon and David, and the passage "whatsoever ye bind on Earth shall be bound in Heaven." From these scripture passages, (with which I am not sufficiently familiar to quote) aided by revelation from Joe, as respects their meaning and construction, the doctrine is derived that there is no harm in a man having more wives than one, provided his extra wives are married to him spiritually. A spiritual wife is a woman, who by revelation is bound up to a man, in body ”

“ Joe and Hyrum have been frequently seen with their hands full of these bills, by many persons in Nauvoo, and by them the whole country was flooded. There is not a merchant in the city but krows this fact and also that there has been a large quantity of Bogus in circulation. The first who detected the counterfeit paper money, were Hpldridge, Gilman, & Co., of the New York Store. The large amount of spurious money afloat, caused a great excitement in the city, and it became a common talk amongst the most wealthy class, who were not afraid to speak their minds. ”

“ Taking her own confession and Joe's stories as correct, there is not, I believe, such another perfect fiend in human
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shape on the Earth. A more devout, pious and virtuous being, than she apparently is, cannot be found in any church; but a more perfect specimen of knavery, villainy and every thing that is detestable in humanity, than she in reality is, the Union cannot produce. ”

“ The poor old fellow, who was a true Mormon and an honest man, really Thought that the indignation of Heaven was let loose upon him, and he looked the very image of penitence and submission After delivering himself of his rage on the old man, Joe turned to the City Council and declared that he was Law's warmest friend, and so completely did he spread the deceit on them, that the Laws were induced to keep what had passed between them and Joe to themselves, and to the world every thing appeared fair. ”

“ These remarks apply only to a portion of the spiritual wives, for there are many who are as corrupt as Joe himself.
From my knowledge of the spiritual wife system I should think that the number of secret women in Nauvoo cannot be much less than six hundred. There are many married, as well as single women in this number; and so slyly do they carry on their operations, that the husbands of many have never mistrusted the fact. ”

“ We all boarded the boat, (Karnes being, as we thought, in possession of the people of Montrose,) and rowed for our lives over to Nauvoo. On arriving there, we found Joe partially dressed, wrapped in his mantle. He had heard the report of guns on the other side, and had got up at this early hour, which was for him very unusual, to see what had happened. On landing, we told him our story. I damned the men as a pack of cowards, for having left myself, Stout and Karnes. ”

“ His wife wrote to him, and told what overtures Joe had made, which greatly exasperated William, and produced quite a disturbance in the Holy City. When William returned to Nauvoo, he gave the people's Prophet a grand flogging. Lavina, (Hyrum's daughter) in her conversation with me, declared the above statement true, and said that that was not the worst. I pressed her to tell me all, and finally she said that about the latter part of May, 1844, Joe had feigned a revelation to have Mrs. Milligan, his own sister, married to him spiritually. ”

“ Durfee would do up the business, Law would be taken suddenly ill, they would be called to lay hands on him, and no one would suspect the cause of his death. This course he deemed much safer than Joe's; because by his plan there would be suspicion and trouble. Joe said he would take the evening to think on it, soon after we arrived at the Nauvoo House, and Joe went home. Hyrum and myself proceeded alone to Joe's store. When we arrived there, I proposed to walk back of the store to the river: being desirous to get something further out of Hyrum. ”

“ Law. For the purpose of effecting his object he got up a revelation that Law was to be sealed up to Emma, and that Law's wife was to be his; in other words, there was to be a spiritual swap. Joe had never before suffered his passion for any woman, to carry him so far as to be willing to sacrifice Emma for its gratification ”

“ In a few days Clayton returned, bringing news that Joe was arrested, and an order immediately issued from Hyrum, for parties to start out to rescue Joe. One party, I was placed in and was compelled to go to prevent suspicion on myself. It consisted of twenty-five men. -- Our directions were to proceed directly to Dixon and release Joe at all hazards. I acted as pilot, and Doctor Foster proceeded ahead to reconnoiter. We were all armed with side arms. On the prairie above La Harpe, I led the company astray purposely that Wilson and Reynolds might get ahead. ”

“ While there I frequently heard Jackson speak of Joe Smith, and his followers, he said be believed Joe Smith as grand a villain as ever lived, and that he believed he could get into his confidence and thereby expose his iniquities ”

“ Many are the instances on record, In which bands of robbers or counterfeiters. had so organized themselves that they were enabled to baffle the closest scrutiny of the law, and in such instances, it has been a common practice, especially in Europe, to employ men to become seeming accomplices, that they might thus be enabled to disclose the information necessary for a conviction. ”

“ Dunham to Hosea Stout, who asked what the Prophet's orders were. Dunham replied that they were to take Richardson and bring him, to him (Dunham) if they could do it alive; if not, kill him, and bury him in a dark ravine. At the same time telling Stout to take good care and have it all done correct. He then gave Stout the command
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and pronounced the blessings of God upon us all, and ordered Stout, that if any man disobeyed or attempted to back out, that they should not let him turn around, more than once before they shot him, for said he, "dead men tell no tales." ”

“ If she objected he would quote his scripture and his revelations, and thus by playing on her superstitious credulity, and artfully at the same time inflaming her passions he seldom failed of his object. Being once successful, he held the fear of exposure over her as a rod to prevent rebellion from his allegiance. ”

“ Thus assassination, robbery and seduction were carried on by this blasphemous wretch, 'in the name of the Most High.'
The writing of the following pages, was commenced previous to the late disturbances in Hancock County, which resulted in the death of the two Smiths. I regret that the publication was not made while they were alive. As it is however. I trust that what is said, will convince the world, that whatever may be thought of the manner of their death, nevertheless, they richly deserved to die. ”

“ Occasionally, a matter of this kind was detected, that opened the eyes of a few persons; and so conspicuous were things made to appear the early part of this spring, that every man in the city, who was not so blinded by fanaticism as to doubt the evidence of his own senses, could ”

“ Benj. A. Gallop, after being duly sworn deposeth and saith: That whilst on business at Nauvoo on the 24th or 25th of June A. D. 1843; in conversation with J. H. Jackson, I came to the conclusion that he (Jackson) was a spy on the character and conduct of Joe Smith. the Mormon Prophet for purposes unknown to deponent. And further this deponent sayeth not. ”

“ She advised Lavina to leave Joe's house and to shun it as she would a house of ill fame. Accordingly, Lavina did so.
About this time, I had a conversation with Joe, (who, it will be recollected still professed great friendship for me, doubtlessly for sinster purposes) , which turned on the spiritual wife doctrine. Joe had been drinking quite freely, and I broached the subject of the rumor concerning Mrs. ”