Mormon History
John C. Bennett's 3rd Disclosure - 1842
Sangamo Journal – July 15, 1842
GENERAL
BENNETT'S
THIRD
LETTER.
Further facts in relation to Joe Smith's
application for the benefits of the Bankrupt Law --- Joe Smith made sole
trustee of the Mormon Church DURING LIFE with plenary powers to manage,
control and convey the property of the Church --- evidence from the Records of
Hancock County of Joe's putting his property out of his hands, before applying
for the benefit of the Bankrupt Law --- Joe makes his family rice, including his
infant children --- Gen. Robinson and Col. Higbee, and others called upon to
state facts within their own knowledge in reference to Joe's swindling
transactions --- Messrs. Kilbourne of Montrose, Iowa, also called upon to state
facts in reference to thefts and robberies committed by the Danite Band ---
Joe's "White purchase." called Church property, scheduled among his
assets, because, as it was supposed, he had not paid for it --- securing
spiritual wives --- some honest individuals not allowed to possess all the
secrets of this order --- Messrs. Rigdon, Pratt, and Marks called upon to come
out and state facts, knowing as they do the unvarnished truth of Bennett's
statements -- Notice of Joe's letter to Gen. Robinson -- Joe's violation of his
obligations as a Mason in making Masons in an irregular lodge -- Joe's threats
that if the Grand Lodge could not approve of his acts "it might go to the devil"
-- Bennett about leaving for Missouri, to make disclosures, relative to the
attempted murder of Boggs and perhaps others, which may assure for Joe Smith,
the great champion of Thomas Ford and John Moore, (see Joe Smith's Proclamation)
a more elevated position than with all his ambition he aspires to --- Look out for breakers.
Carthage,
Ills., July 4, 1842.
To the Editor of the Journal:
In your paper of
the 1st inst., you call upon me, and others to make some disclosures in
relation to Joe Smith, the arch-impostor, to which I now proceed to respond. I
have already written you two letters on the subject; one of which I presume you
have received before this, and the other will reach you in a few days. I will
now give you some singular facts.
1st. JOE'S BANKRUPT
APPLICATION. -- The Bankrupt Law,
section 2, provides that no conveyances of property shall be made in
contemplation of bankruptcy, subsequent to the 1st. of January, 1841; and an Act
concerning Religious Societies, under which the Mormon Church was incorporated,
provides for the appointment of TRUSTEES, not a SOLE TRUSTEE IN TRUST, who are
authorized "to purchase a quantity of land not exceeding five acres." &c. &c.
See act approved Feb. 6, 1842.
From a Book of Mortgages and Bongs, page 95
City of Nauvoo, Hancock Co., Ills. )
Feb'y 2d, A. D. 1842)
To the
County Recorder of the County of Hancock:
Dear Sir -- At a meeting of the "Church of Latter Day Saints" at this place, on
Saturday the 30th day of January, A. D. 1841, I was elected sole Trustee
for said Church, to hold my office during life, (my successor to be the
first Presidency of said Church), and vested with plenary powers as sole
Trustee in Trust for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to
receive, acquire, manage and convey property, real, personal, or mixed, for the
sole use and benefit of said church, agreeable to the provisions of an act
entitled "An act concerning Religious Societies," approved February 6, 1835.
JOSEPH SMITH, (L. S.)
State of Illinois,) ss.
Hancock County, )
This day personally appeared before me, Daniel H. Wells, a Justice of the peace,
within and for the county of Hancock aforesaid, Isaac Galland, Robert B.
Thompson and John C. Bennett, who being duly sworn depose and say that the
foregoing certificates of Joseph Smith is true.
ISAAC GALLAND
R. B. THOMPSON
JOHN C. BENNETT.
Sworn to and subscribed this third day of
February, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty-one,
before me,
DANIEL H. WELLS, Justice of the
Peace.
Compendious extracts from the Records of Hancock County:
In Book R,
page 21, there is a deed from Joseph Smith and wife to Julia M. Smith, Joseph
Smith, jr., F. G. W. Smith and Alexander Smith, (the first an adopted daughter,
and the remainder all small children of Joseph and Emma Smith), executed Dec.
21, 1841, and recorded January 1st, 1842, for lots 1, 2, 3, and 4, block 12 in
the city of Nauvoo, -- for the consideration of "one hundred dollars to
them in hand paid," -- property worth about three thousand dollars.
Another in the same book, page 151, from the same to the same, (Joseph Smith and
his wife to their children, executed March 17th, 1842, and recorded April 9th,
1842, for the east half of the south east 31, 5 north, 8 west; and west half of
north-east five, and east half of north-east 6, 4 north, 8 west -- for the
consideration of two thousand dollars.
Another in the same book (R.) pages 159, 160, and 161, from Joseph Smith and
wife to Joseph Smith, as sole Trustee in trust for the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter Day Saints,(the same day he visited Carthage to file his schedule for bankruptcy)
and I have no doubt the deed was executed on the 16th or 17th of April, 1842,
and dated back to Oct. 5th, 1841, for so Joe informed me, and Mr. Marshall, Mr.
Sherman and others, of Carthage, will state that the writing was fresh, and
changed materially in appearance soon after, for ($230) two hundred and
thirty lots, or thereabouts, mostly of the "White Purchase," for the
consideration of "the sum of one dollar to them in hand paid, on a just
and lawful settlement between themselves in person, and the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter Day Saints. -- (Property worth from one hundred and fifty to
two hundred thousand dollars, at the rate that Joe is selling it).
Another in book I, page 329, from Ebenezer F. Wiggins to Emma Smith, executed
May 15th, 1841, and recorded June 30th, 1841, for west half of northwest quarter
30, 7 north, 8 west, and the west half of north-east 30, 7 north, 8 west, for
the consideration of ($2,700), two thousand seven hundred dollars -- ([s]aid for
by Joe, and worth about three thousand dollars).
Another in the same book (I.) page 243, from Daniel H. Wells and wife to Joseph
Smith, jr., (Joe's son), executed May 5th, 1841, and recorded May 6th, 1841, for
lots 1 and 4, block 22, in Wells' addition to Nauvoo, for the consideration of
one hundred dollars.
Another in the same book, page 354, from Robert B. Thompson and wife to Emma
Smith, (Joe's wife), executed July 24th, 1841, and recorded July 27th, 1841, for
south-east fractional quarter of section 2, north 6, 9 west, containing 123
43/100 acres, for the consideration of ($4,000), four thousand dollars.
Another in the same book, page 355, from same to Frederick G. W. Smith, (Joe's
son), executed July 24th, 1841, and recorded July 27th, 1841, for part of block
156, in Nauvoo,, for the consideration of ($500), five hundred dollars.
If an official certificate is required, call upon Chauncey Robinson, Esq., the
Recorder of Hancock, and he will certify that these are correct extracts from
the county records. -- There are various other matters of record that could be
made to operate against this king of swindlers and impostors, Joe Smith; but I
presume that the foregoing will be sufficient to give him a comfortable home in
the State penitentiary, at Alton, for some years to come, if Missouri does not
get him first.
If oral testimony is required, call upon Gen. George W. Robinson, Col. Francis
M. Higbee, and others, who are acquainted with the transactions. Call out these
witnesses in relation to the SHAM sales of valuable property made to Willard
Richards, N. K. Whitney, and others, by Joe, in order to prepare for the
bankruptcy. The Hotchkiss purchase, called Church property -- but which is not
paid for -- was given in by Joe in his schedule as his own individual
property, which it undoubtedly was; but the White Purchase, (S. E. Fractional
quarter of section 2, 6N. 9W.) WHICH IS PAID FOR, was deeded to Thompson, Joe's
Clerk, who had no property, and from Thompson to Emma Smith, (Joe's wife) and
from Joseph Smith and wife to Joseph Smith, SOLE TRUSTEE IN TRUST, &c. I now
call upon General Robinson and Colonel Higbee, to come out in the Sangamo
Journal, over their own names, and tell what they know of Joe's swindling
operations. Come out, gentlemen, boldly; the public good requires it at your
hands. -- Forbearance is no longer a virtue in this business. I call, likewise,
upon Messrs. Kilbourne, of Montrose Iowa, to come out in the Journal and tell
what they know of Joe's swindling in Iowa lands, and of the thefts and robberies
committed by his Danite Band; and I hope they will respond to the call without
delay. Let no man fear to speak out boldly. Remember that the White Purchase was
CALLED church property, but it was and is Joe's own individual estate. He said
in a public congregation in Nauvoo, a few weeks ago, "I own a million dollars in
property, in this city, and around it." Can this swindler take the benefit of
the bankrupt law! Never! No, never!! Let a prosecution be at once instituted
against his holiness, and let the law have its just operations ONCE.
2nd. JOE'S HOLY LODGE CALLED
"ORDER."
I alluded to this holy institution in one of my former letters. Joe says he has
given them the Master's word by revelation. In the preparation they are stripped
naked so as to see if they will pass the holy examination as required in
Deuteronomy, 23rd chapter and 1st verse. They are then clothed upon and the
precious ointment poured upon the head, running down upon the beard and the
skirts of the garment. The ungodly oath, a part of which I gave you is then
administered in order to prepare them for the SPIRITUAL WIFE operations, and
save Joe from public disgrace and infamy. Some of them, however, are not in the
SECRETS, -- They are taken in as blind in order to deceive the people. If they
are charged with iniquity, they say, "Look at William Marks and others like him!
Do they indulge!" No, gentlemen, but this is not exploited to THEM. Joe says,
"Sidney Rigdon and Orson Pratt, and William Marks must never know the SECRETS,
or they will apostasize." Rigdon and Pratt are not yet members, however, and I
hope they never will be; and Marks has a very strong squinting at apostacy. If
Sidney Rigdon will suffer a base attempt on his daughter's chastity; Orson Pratt
another on his wife; and William Marks will look tamely on at these disclosures,
and say nothing, I am much mistaken in the man. The public look to Rigdon, Pratt
and Marks and other kindred spirits, to speak at this eventful crisis -- they
have seen and heard, and FELT in their own families, the corruptions of
this Smith, that soul-damning impostor. Come out NOW, or bow down and lick the
dust, worship at his shrine, and chain your fate to the wheels of damnation, and
the car of iniquity. The issue is made up, -- it cannot be averted; and I pray
God that the "bitter cup may not pass." You ALL, with Francis M. Higbee, George
W. Robinson, Chauncey L. Higbee, Henry Marks, and hundreds of others, KNOW that
I have told the unvarnished truth, and the people at large will believe me, --
yes, they will believe me, tho; I have not yet told HALF THE DREADFUL STORY!!
"Come out from among the ungodly, and be ye separate." Gen. Robinson writes me
under date of July 3d -- Joe says to the people, "Look out! look out!!! Those
men, I will venture to say; will come out on me, with all in their power, and
say and do all they can to put me down; but do not believe one word of their
cursed lies; for I KNOW I am Prophet." Yes, and Pratt, and Rigdon, and Robinson,
and the Higbees, and the Marks, and hundreds of others KNOW you to be a LIAR,
Joe, -- And Pratt and others have told you so in the face of open day. YOU LIED
in the name of the Lord!!! Remember that, you base blasphemer, --
remember that, and weep! -- Look at your black catalogue of crimes -- your
seductions and attempted seductions in the name of your Maker -- your thefts --
your robberies -- and your murders! Why, Satan blushes to behold so corrupt and
loathsome a mortal, -- one whose daring deeds of crime so far surpass hell's
darkest counsels, as to hide the sable Prince in impenetrable darkness forever!
3rd. NAUVOO LODGE, U. D.
The original records show that Joseph Smith, Job Snyder, Brigham Young, Peter
Haws, Willard Richards, and one other, I think Adara Lyman, were initiated,
passed and raised, before the installation of the Lodge, and all but one have
passed through since, -- Joe by the hands of the Grand Master Jones, and the
remainder by other brethren. That record was sealed up, and a new one commenced
-- the second was sealed up, and a third commanded, -- and then a new record
book procured and such parts copied as they were willing should go out to the
Grand Lodge, and such only.
Let the original book be produced and these facts will appear -- I stand pledged
that they shall appear. A part of the original record is in my hand writing, as
all know; and if they will produce a record that has any of my hand writing in
it, (for the new one has nothing but my name), I will show all the facts unless
the leaves have been torn out. Mr. Stoddard was suspended for blackballing Mr.
Sessions, but it was not put to record. The charge of H. G. Sherwood and Samuel
H. Smith, against Robert D. Foster, during the trial of which Foster received
such a severe rebuke by Joe, never appeared upon record, and Joe said, as the
case was likely to effect his brother Samuel, "I will see the records in hell
and burn this house, before it shall be said that a Smith ever failed to
accomplish a thing he undertook, or before anything shall be recorded that may
ever operate against Samuel -- and if we can't get a charter without that, the
Grand Lodge may go to the Devil." Is this not so? I appeal to George W.
Robinson, Francis M. Higbee, and Hiram Kimball, all Master Masons. These are
only some of the actings and doings of the Nauvoo Lodge, U. D., under the
Supervision of Joe and his servile priest, George Miller -- the little creature
that does Joe's dirty work. Let the Grand Lodge look to this. Why does not
Nauvoo Lodge, U. D., deal with Joe for the attempted seduction of Nancy Rigdon,
a Master Mason's daughter, and for the actual seduction of several Master
Masons' wives and sisters and daughters! -- Simply because they say Joe is a
Prophet, and the Lord's anointed must not be harmed; the Lord will not suffer
his anointed to fall! O, tempore! O, mores!
4th. I am now going over to Missouri to have Joe taken to justice; and
then I am going to New York to publish a book, to be called "The History of the
Saints," in which I shall tell most of the actings and doings at Nauvoo for the
last two years, of most of their great men, and some of their great women, too;
so look out for breakers. We shall have full disclosures if the Danites don't
catch me -- they are after me like prowling wolves, by Joe's special orders. In
haste,
executed Oct. 5th, 1841, and recorded April 8th, 1842,
Yours respectfully,
JOHN C. BENNETT.