During all this intercourse, I was present with him, and there was no threats used, nor harshness, every thing was as pacific as could be under existing circumstances. I then immediately convened the masonic lodge, it being about four o’clock P. M. he then came into the lodge and charges of a similar nature were preferred against him. He admitted they were true, in the presence of about sixty in number. He arose and begged the privilege of speaking to the brethren; he acknowledged his wickedness; and begged for the brethren to forgive still longer, and he called God and angels to witnes that he never would be guilty of the like crimes again—he would lay his hand on the Bible and sware that he would not be guilty of such crimes. He seemed to be very penitent and wept much; his penitence excited sympathy in the minds of the brethren, and they withdrew the charge for the time being, until he could be heard on other charges which had been preferred against him by members of the Pickaway Lodge, of , through the communications of the Grand Master, . After this we found him to be an expelled mason, in consequence of his rascally conduct from the Pickaway Lodge, in ; the circumstances and documents were mentioned in the 11th No. of the Wasp, signed by , Master of the Nauvoo Lodge, under dispensation, and reads as follows:

Still after all this we found him guilty of similar crimes again, and it was found to our satisfaction that he was conspiring against the peace and safety of the citizens of this —after learning these facts we exposed him to the public; he then immediately left the place abruptly; threatening to drink the hearts blood of many citizens of this place. Previous to this last disclosure, the hand of fellowship was withdrawn from him, May 11th, 1842, by the , six days previous to the time he pretended to withdraw from the , which you will see published in the Times and Seasons, June 15th, 1842, I was also present at the time when he gave this testimony before the City Council, as printed in the Times and Seasons, July 1st, 1842, on page 841 which reads os follows:

I know he was not under duress at the time for his testimony was given free and voluntarialy, after requesting the privilege of the council to speak (which was granted him,) on matters pertaining to the city ordinances, while speaking, or before he took his seat, he was requested by the Mayor of the city, Joseph Smith, to state to the council if he knew aught against him; and he replied according to the above.

I also know that he had no private intercourse with Joseph in the preperation room on the 17th day, as he stated in his letter or printed in the Sangamo Journal, for the lodge was convened on that day, and I had the keys of the doors in my possession from 7 o’clock A. M. until 6 o’clock P. M. and it was when the lodge called off for refreshment during recess, that I had the interview with him, at which time he wrote the affidavit and subscribed it in my presence, and I was with him during the whole time from his first coming to me, until he signed it and until the lodge convened again at 4 o’clock.

Sworn to, and subscribed, before me July 23, 1842.

As has become our open enemy, and is engaged in circulating falsehoods of the blackest character, I deem it duty to make the following statement of facts:

states in the Sangamo Journal that the withdrawal of the hand of fellowship by the . and the , was after he had withdrawn from the . I presume the notice of our withdrawal was not published till after he withdrew, but that does not prove his statement true, for I hereby testify that I signed the article in question several days before he withdrew. I believe it was on the evening of the 11th day of May, some four or five days afterwards I had some conversation with and intimated to him that such a thing was concluded upon, which intimation I presume led him to withdraw immediately. I told him we could not bear with his conduct any longer—that there were many witnesses against him, and that they stated that he gave Joseph Smith as authority for his illicit intercourse with females. declared to me before God that Joseph Smith had never taught him such doctrines, and that he never told any one that he (Joseph Smith) had taught any such things, and that any one who said so told base lies; nevertheless, he said he had done wrong, that he would not deny, but he would deny that he had used Joseph Smith’s name to accomplish his designs on any one; stating that he had no need of that, for that he could succeed without telling them that Joseph approbated such conduct.

These statements he made to me of his own free will, in a private conversation which we had on the subject; there was no compulsion or threats used on my part; we had always been on good terms, and I regretted exceedingly that he had taken such a course. He plead with me to intercede for him, assuring me that he would turn from his iniquity, and never would be guilty of such crimes again.— He said that if he were exposed it would break his mother’s heart—that she was old, and if such things reached her ears it would bring her down with sorrow to the grave. I accordingly went to Joseph Smith and plead with him to spare from public exposure, on account of his mother. On many occasions I heard him acknowledge his guilt, and beg not to be destroyed in the eyes of the public, and that he would never act so again, “So help him God.” From such promises, and oaths, I was induced to bear with him longer than I should have done.

On one occasion I heard him state before the city Council that Joseph Smith had never taught him any unrighteous principles, of any kind, and that if any one says that he ever said that Joseph taught such things they are base liars, or words to that effect. This statement he made voluntarily; he came into the council room about an hour after the council opened, and made the statement, not under duress, but of his own free will, as many witnesses can testify.

On a former occasion he came to me and told me that a friend of his was about to be tried by the , for the crime of adultery, and that he feared his name would be brought into question.— He entreated me to go to the council and prevent his name from being brought forward, as, said he, “I am not on trial, and I do not want my mother to hear of these things, for she is a good woman.”

I would further state that I do know from the amount of evidence which stands aga[i]nst , and from his own acknowledgements, that he is a most corrupt, base, and vile man; and that he has published many base falsehoods since we withdrew the hand of fellowship from him.

About the time that was brought before the Masonic Lodge he came to me and desired that I would go in company with , to , and entreat of him to spare him—that he wished not to be exposed—that he wanted to live as a private citizen, and would cease from all his folly, &c. I advised him to go to , and when he returned, if he would behave well we would reinstate him. He said he had no means to take him to , and still insisted on and myself to intercede for him.

Sworn to and subscribed before me a Justice of the Peace, within and for the county of , State of Illinois, July 20th 1842.

STATE OF ILLINOIS,)

County of .)

I hereby certify that on the 17th day of May last subscribed and swore to the affidavit ove[r] my signature of that date, and published in the Wasp, after writing the same in my presence, in the office where I was employed in taking depositions of witnesses. The door of the room was open and free for all or any person to pass or repess [repass]. After signing and being qualified to the affidavit aforesaid, he requested to speak with me at the door; I followed him out—he told me some persons had been lying about him and showed me a writing granting him the privilege to withdraw from the , and remarked that the matter was perfectly understood between him and the heads of the church; and that he had resigned the Mayor’s office and should resign the office he held in the , but as there was a court martial to be held in a few days Joseph Smith desired that he would wait until that was over.

I was in the City Council on the 19th day of May last—I there heard him say what has been published concerning the teachings of Joseph Smith, and of his own course. I afterwards met him in company with Col. , he then stated that he was going to be the candidate, (meaning candidate for the Legislature) and Joseph and were going in for him: said “you know it will be better for me not to be bothered with Mayor’s office, Legion, Mormon, or any thing else.” During all this time if he was under duress, or fear, he must have had a good faculty for concealing it, for he was at liberty to go and come when and where he pleased, so far as I am capable of judging. I know that I saw him in different parts of the , even after he had made these statements, transacting business as usual, and said he was going to complete some business pertaining to the Mayor’s office; and I think did attend to work on the streets.

I was always personally friendly with him, after I became acquainted with him. I never heard him say any thing derogatory to the character of Joseph Smith, until after he had been exposed by said Smith, on the public stand in .

July 22, A. D. 1842.

Sworn to and subscribed before me a Justice of the Peace, in and for the City of , in said , this 22d day of July, 1842.

The whole of these affidavits are given by gentlemen of the first respectibility of unquestionable character and of known reputation and veracity, and can of course be relied upon; and what light do they represent in, but that of a pergured wretch, a useless vagabond and a mean, vascilating, unprincipled villian and a disgrace to human society, and if their testimonies and the testimony of the City Council cannot be relied upon, then indeed are we in a poor case;—corrupt, fallen, and dishonored.— But is not the man to prove us so; we must have different testimony to his, and that of his partners in crime, to convict us of evil.

As and the Sangamo Journal have called upon several persons, in this , to come out and make disclosures, relative to the things about which they have been writing; they have responded to the call, and publish the following

Sir, From a perusal of the St. Louis papers, I find from an article signed , stating that all who are friends to Mr. Joseph Smith he considers his enemies. As a matter of course then, I must be one, for I am and have been for a long time the personal friend of Joseph Smith; and I will here say that I have never yet seeh [seen] or known any thing against him that I should change my mind; It is true many reports have been and are put in circulation by his enemies for political or religious effect, that upon investigation are like the dew before the morning sun, vanish away, because there is no real substance in them.

Could expect any man acquainted with all the circumstances, and matters of fact which were developed both here and from abroad, respecting his conduct and character, previous to his leaving this place, for one moment to believe him—I answer NO! he could not. And all his affidavits, that came from any person entitled to credit, (I say entitled to credit, because some there are who are not entitled to credit, as very well knows) are in amount nothing at all, when summed up, and render no person worthy of death or bonds.

knowledge concerning the murder of a prisoner in , I am authorized to say, by that he knows of no such thing—that no prisoner was ever killed in , to the best of his knowledge. And I also bear the same testimony, that there never was any prisoner killed there, neither were we ever charged with any such thing, according to the best of my recollection.

July 22, 1842.

This is to certify that I do not know of the murder of any prisoner in , as above alluded to.

July, 22, 1842.

As there seems to be some foolish notions that I have been engaged with , in the difficulties between him and some of the citizens of this place, I merely say in reply to such idle and vain reports that they are without foundation in truth.

Inasmuch as has referred the people to me for testimony against Joseph Smith, I take this opportunity to state before the public that I know nothing derogatory to his character, either as a christian, or a moral man.

made use of my name without my knowledge or consent.

Inasmuch as has called upon me through the Sangamo Journal to come out and confirm the statements which he has made concerning Joseph Smith and others, I take this opportunity of saying to the public, that I know many of his statements to be false, and that I [p. [3]]