Mormon History
Silencing an Anti-Mormon – 1834
Chardon Spectator – April 12, 1834
Mormon Trial. --
Great interest was excited in the public mind, in this country, in relation to
the complaint of Joseph Smith, jun., the great prophet, and originator of
Mormonism, against Doctor P. Hurlburt, the exposer of the Mormon mystery. The
complaint was made, before a justice of the peace, to bind Hurlburt to keep the
peace towards the prophet. The justice ordered Hurlburt to enter into bonds to
keep the peace, and to appear before the Court of Common Pleas. On Tuesday last,
the case was heard before the court. The court-house was filled almost to
suffocation, with an eager and curious crowd of spectators, to hear the Mormon
trial, as it was called. A great number of witnesses attended, and were
examined, chiefly members of the Mormon society, among whom was the renowned
Prophet himself. It appeared that Hurlburt had been a disciple of Mormonism, and
was ordained an elder by Joe himself, but for misconduct, as the Mormon
witnesses alleged, was excommunicated. After this, he discovered that Joe was a
false prophet, and the Book of Mormon a cheat: -- began lecturing against it,
and examining and collecting proof that the story of the Book of Mormon was
taken from a manuscript romance, written by one Spalding, who formerly lived at
Conneaut and who died before publication. Many witnesses testified to threats of
revenge from Hurlburt. One witness, who testified to the threats of Hurlburt, on
cross-examination being asked the reason why she had not communicated these
threats to Smith, answered that she did not believe Hurlburt, or any other human
being, had the power to hurt the prophet; -- but Joe himself appears to have
placed little reliance upon his divine invulnerability; -- for he testified that
he became afraid of bodily injury from the defendant. The Court finally ordered
Hurlburt to find security in the sum of Two Hundred Dollars, to keep the peace
for the period of six months.