12. Joseph Smith Prison

Joseph Smith had gone to Colesville, New York, to meet with members of the Mormon Church there. A mob was determined to cause problems. On the evening of June 28th, 1830, Joseph was going to attend a meeting where members who had been baptized that morning were going to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. A constable stopped Joseph and produced a warrant for his arrest. The charge was disorderly conduct. The constable saw that Joseph was a good man and told him that the warrant had been put out so that the mob could get to Joseph. The constable was determined not to let this happen, because he felt Joseph Smith was innocent. As the constable and Joseph rode in a wagon, a mob surrounded them. They seemed to be waiting for some sign from the constable, which he did not give; instead he whipped the horse and drove off with Joseph.While they were escaping the mob, one of the wagon wheels became loose and fell off.Mormon Joseph Smith Liberty JailThe mob nearly surrounded the two men again, but they were able to replace the wheel and escape them. The constable took Joseph to South Bainbridge in New York and paid for lodging in a tavern. The constable was so determined to protect Joseph, that he slept that night with his feet against the door holding a loaded musket.The next day Joseph went to court. The mob had convinced many people to make false accusations and tell lies about Joseph’s conduct. Joseph Knight, a friend of Joseph’s, had gotten two very respectable men; James Davidson and John Reid to testify on behalf of Joseph. During the trial Josiah Stoal, a man Joseph had once worked for, was called to testify against Joseph. In the History of the Church, which was dictated by Joseph Smith, Joseph records what was said in Josiah Stoal’s testimony:

“Did not the prisoner, Joseph Smith, have a horse of you?”
“Yes.”
“Did not he go to you and tell you that an angel had appeared unto him and authorized him to get the horse from you?”
“No, he told me no such story.”
“Well, how had he the horse of you?”
“He bought him of me as any other man would.”
“Have you had your pay?”
“That is not your business.”
The question being again put, the witness replied:
“I hold his note for the price of the horse, which I consider as good as the pay; for I am well acquainted with Joseph Smith, Jun., and know him to be an honest man; and if he wishes, I am ready to let him have another horse on the same terms.”1

Others were called to testify against Joseph, but nothing was found to charge him. Joseph was acquitted, but those who were his enemies had detained him long enough to get a warrant for his arrest from Broome County, and the moment he was acquitted, they issued this warrant and again arrested him.

The constable of Broome County was an unkind man and insulted Joseph. Joseph had had nothing to eat all day, but the constable insisted that they immediately leave for Broome County; which was fifteen miles away, before Joseph was allowed to eat. He took Joseph to a tavern in Broome County and allowed men to come in and ridicule Joseph. They spit on him and pointed their fingers and yelled out “prophesy, prophesy.” They were not far from Joseph’s home, and Joseph asked to be allowed to stay at his own home and offered many things promising that he would appear at the court hearing, but the constable would not allow this. Joseph then asked for something to eat, he was given only a little bit of bread and some water.

The next day Joseph’s second trial began. Both James Davidson and John Reid acted as lawyers for Joseph during the trial. Many witnesses were called against Joseph; most of them lied about Joseph’s character and actions. This was apparent to the court and it did not allow their testimonies to be taken into account. Newel Knight was then examined:

“Did the prisoner, Joseph Smith, Jun., cast the devil out of you?”
“No, sir.”
“Why, have not you had the devil cast out of you?”
“Yes, sir.”
“And had not Joe Smith some hand in its being done?”
“Yes, sir.”
“And did not he cast him out of you?”
“No, sir; it was done by the power of God, and Joseph Smith was the instrument in the hands of God, on the occasion. He commanded him to come out of me in the name of Jesus Christ.”
“And are you sure that it was the devil?”
“Yes, sir. ”
“Did you see him after he was cast out of you?”
“Yes sir! I saw him.”
“Pray, what did he look like?”
[Here one of my lawyers informed the witness that he need not answer the question.] The witness replied:
“I believe I need not answer your last question, but I will do it, provided I be allowed to ask you one question first, and you answer me, viz., Do you, Mr. Seymour, understand the things of the spirit?
“No,” answered Mr. Seymour, “I do not pretend to such big things.”
“Well, then,” replied Knight, “it would be of no use to tell you what the devil looked like, for it was a spiritual sight, and spiritually discerned; and of course you would not understand it were I to tell you of it.”2

Following this witness the prosecuting lawyer Mr. Seymour again tried to convince the court of Joseph’s guilt in his closing argument. Then Mr. Davidson and Mr. Reid were allowed to begin defending Joseph. They were able to convince the court of Joseph’s innocence. When they were done, those who had watched the trial felt very differently about Joseph; even the constable who had treated Joseph so terribly apologized to Joseph after the trial. Joseph was acquitted. Mr. Reid recorded this event which happened after Joseph was acquitted:

“The court arraigned the prisoner and said: “Mr. Smith, we have had your case under consideration, examined the testimony and find nothing to condemn you, and therefore you are discharged.” They then proceeded to reprimand him severely, not because anything derogatory to his character in any shape had been proven against him by the host of witnesses that had testified during the trial, but merely to please those fiends in human shape who were engaged in the unhallowed persecution of an innocent man, sheerly on account of his religious opinions.

“After they had got through, I arose and said: “This court puts me in mind of a certain trial held before Felix of old, when the enemies of Paul arraigned him before the venerable judge for some alleged crime, and nothing was found in him worthy of death or of bonds. Yet to please the Jews, who were his accusers, he was left bound contrary to law; and this court has served Mr. Smith in the same way, by their unlawful and uncalled for reprimand after his discharge, to please his accusers.” We got him away that night from the midst of three hundred people without his receiving any injury; but I am well aware that we were assisted by some higher power than man; for to look back on the scene, I cannot tell how we succeeded in getting him away. I take no glory to myself; it was the Lord’s work and marvelous in our eyes.”3

The constable informed Joseph that he knew that the mob was determined to get to Joseph and tar and feather him, so he led Joseph out of court through a private door to protect him and Joseph arrived safely at his home the next day.

See the next article in the timeline series.

Other Links:

1 History of the Church. Vol. 1, pg. 89

2 History of the Church Vol. 1 pg. 93

3 Times and Seasons, vol. 5. pp. 549-552.
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