| Show d copyright birli secured 1 l HISTORY OF JOSEPH SMITH JUNE 1842 8 4 2 thursday 23 1 I published the following to the church of jesus christ ol 01 latter day saints and to all alt the honorable part of the community it becomes my duty to hy before the church of jesus christ of latter letter day saints and the tha p public 1 bublic generally some important facts relative to the conduct and character of dr john C bennett bannett who has lately been expelled from the I 1 aforesaid church that the honorable part of community aty be aware cf of his proceedings and be ready to treat him and regard him as he ought to bo be regarded viz viza as an impostor and larar larer itis a matter of notoriety that the th said dr john rohn C bennett became favorable to the doctrines taught laught by the tha elders of the church of latter day saints and located himself in the city of nau nauvoo about the month of august 1840 and oon isloa after joined the church soon after it wag was known that lie he had bad become a member of said church a communication was received at nauvoo from a person parson of respectable respect ibie ible character and re siding la the vicinity where bennett had lived eis this letter cautioned us against him himi setting forth that he was avery a very mean man and had another wife and two or three children in ville mong Morg morgan wan gan county ohio but knowing that it is no uncommon thing for good men to be evil boken against the tha aboa letter was kept quiet quieu but held field in reserve I 1 n ha he had not been long in nauvoo before he be began bezan to keep company with a young lady one of our citizens citizen sp and she being ignorant of his having baving a wife living gave way to llis his addresses and became came confident from his behavior towards her that he intended lo 10 marry her and this he gave her ber to understand lie he would do I 1 seeing the tha folly of such an a acquaintance quain tance fance persuaded him to desist and on account of discontinuing his continuing his course finally threatened to expose him if lie he did not riot desist this to outward appearance had the desired effect and the acquaintance between them was broken ot oft but like ilke one of the thet most abominable and depraved beings which could possibly exist he be only broke off hla hia hi i publicly wicked actions to sink deeper keeper into iniquity and hypocrisy when he saw aw that I 1 would not submit to any such conduct he went to some of the females in the tha city who knew nothing of him but as an honorable mau man and begin to teach them that chat hat promiscuous intercourse cour aa between the tha sexes was a doctrine believed in by the latter day saints and that there was no harm inot in it but this failing lie ha had recourse to a more al and desperately wicked course and that was to par suade suad them that myself and others of the authorities of the church not only sanctioned but practised practiced the tha bame earna wicked acis acts and when asked why I 1 publicly preached prea clied so macii macli against it said that it was be pause of the poeju udica of th a public and that it would cause causa trouble in my own house ile he was well aware avara aware of tile the consequence of such wilful and base baser falsehoods if it they should come to my knowledge knowl edget edwey and consequently ent endeavored to persuade his dupea to loaa kap p it 1 a matter of se cresy persuading them eliere would be no harm if they should not make it known z this thia proceeding on his part parr answered the desired end he ac accomplished complis lud iud led hils his wicked purposes ha lip seduced all an innocent Inno cant fedda by his her ch to public disgrace should it ever bo ba known bat bit his hn depraved heart would not buffie him to stop h hire hye tre ire not being conten contented tet teJ with having dis saeed gacia one female lie he made tile the attempt upon ot others liers and by bi th the tho same plausible tale talfe overcame overtime them also evidently eviden y not caring whose character was wai runnel so that his wicked lustful appetites might ha gratified d some same jime lime about the eaily caily pirt of july 1841 I 1 received a letter from elder felder 11 II smith sinith and vm will law who w 19 were wera then in pittsburgh P tibia ietter letter was dated june and contained the par particulars 1 of a conversi conversation tion betwixt them and anda a respectable table tabie gentleman in from tile tha beig neighborhood ihor ibor w where here bannetta Ban Bin wife ani children resided ire stated to them that htwa it was a capt fact th thit it had a wife wide ife and children living and that tint she had nt ft hun because besa beca use of ills his ill tre atman atmar mint mirt t towards her Thi xhi sletter gletter as was wag read to bennett which lie he did not attempt to 0 o danys dany but ut candidly acknowledged tile tiie odet I 1 soon sool after this information reached our out ears dr banatt madi midi an attempt by taking p but bill he lie being discovered before ft i t had tan ii and tile tila proper antidotes belai being administered lie he recovered but lie he very much resli rebii ra sited ted vii vil n au all ati attempt tempt was wag unda mide to td save hin mai the public impre impression loti fell was iha tha that the he wa wai sd much aham zham achim d l of or hi lilt bass and wicked conduct that he hd bid recourse reco rec ourse oursa arsi ursi to the file above daede to escape the cen ares area of HI tiit indignant community it illi gilt glit have bave a supposed that theom circuit stances fi ances in tiie manner would lavt cai cal a reformation in his con tuat but ut ulas ulta like a balle briny totally de duino dutno duine of f comdoll decency dency ency and buld without any over his fi passions lie he was wai sooil soon busily if the grime wim wicked career carmer and continued u until gitil a 0 othe the same ms rea reached cled my ears eara I 1 ijac int anedita I 1 charged sim lla with wah it and lie lit admit tea ted I 1 that etwas it wab was true but in order to put a stop to all such proceedings for tor the future V I 1 publicly claimed it and had those females notified to appear before the proper officers that the whole su subject t might be investigated and thoroughly ex poe d during durig the course of anve investigation stiza tion the fore ore going facts we were proved reproved by credible w witnesses it nesses and were divorn orn and subscribed to before an alderman of the city on the uit nil the documents containing the we iti ivi evidence dence are now now iu rny ray rn possession I 1 we also ascertained by the above investigation that others had hid been led by his conduct to pursue tile tho same adulterous practice and iu in order to accomplish com their detestable designs made use of the same language langu ala aga insinuated b by y bennett with this difference that they did not hear me say anything of the kind but bennett was one of the heads of the church and lie he had informed them that such was the fact and they credited his ills testimony the tha public will perceive the thie aggravating nature of or this thi case and will see seethe the propriety of this exposure had lie he only been guilty of adultery that vlas vias sufficient to td stamp disgrace upon him birn because dau lau he is a a man of better information and has be been held heid high I 1 in the estimation of many but when it is considered that tint his mind was so intent upon his cruel cr ueland and abominable deeds and bis big disown own reputation not being sufficient to enable liim him to do it he must make use of my name in order to efface his pu purposes an enlightened public will not be astonished at the course I 1 have pursued in order that it may be distinctly understood that he wil wll wilfully fally and knowingly lied in the above insinuations I 1 will lay before my readers an affidavit taken before be forean an alderman of tile the city after I 1 had charged him with these th se things state of illinois I 1 city of or nauvoo J Perso personally nilly appeared before me daniel IL well wello an alderman of said city of or nauvoo oo 00 joh john C bennett bannett who being duly sworn according to law dep oseth and salt sale ralth saith h that benver he never was taught eliy elly anything thing in in the leat lea leat t contra contrary to tho tile strictest principles of tha tiie gosper or of virtue or of of the laws b of god or man under any circumstances oi or upon any occasion either directly or indirectly in word or deed by joseph smith ardd arid arld arid that he never J knew neav ther tiie said smith to countenance any improper ampro fi er conduct whatever either in iri public orp and that he lie never did teach me in private that an illegal illicit inhere intercourse our se with re males females wis was ii under any justifiable and that I 1 never knew him so to teach others JOHN C BENNEM BENNETT sworn to and find subscribed before me this dakof day of mav mw hav AD 1912 DANIEL II 11 WELLS alderman the following conversation took place in in the city council and was elicited in consequence of its being reported that the doctor had stated that I 1 had acted in 1 I an all indecorous mantler mann ner ter and arid given countenance to vices practised practiced by tile the doctor and others I 1 dr john C bennett bannett ex mayor was then called upon bythe by the mayor to 0 o state if hel her knew aught against nim rum when mr B bannett anett ie replied plied I 1 know ow what I 1 lam iam ard about and the heads leads of the church know what they ara about I 1 expect I 1 have no difficulty with tile the leads of the church I 1 publicly avow that alint any ona ons who be has said sald that I 1 have stated that general joseph smith has given me authority to hod hold bod illicit intercourse with r omen ia ig a ai lii iii in the face tace of ag god od those who have said it are damned liars themire they are infernal hirs birs ile Hs never either in public or private priva tes teg gave me any ant such authority or license and any person wio who states it is a scoundrel and nd a liar I 1 have heard it said that I 1 should become a second avard avara b by withdraw withdrawing luc luZ from the church and that thai I 1 wa was wag g at variance with the 1 eads leads and should use an ah influence against them because I 1 resigned the office of mayor hig his this js is false I 1 have hive no difficulty with the tw heads of the church and I 1 intend to continue with you abu all ali and hope the time lime may come when I 1 may be restored to full confidence conri dence Jence and fellowship and my former standing in the tha church and that mv conduct may he lie such as to warrant my resto rat ration ion lon and should the tha time ever come that I 1 may have hive tile the opportunity to test my faith it will then be wilethel lama iama I 1 ama traitor or a true man josph jos joi ph smith sinith then asked will you please pleasa state definitely whether you know anything against my character r either elther in public or private bennitt bennett answered I 1 do d not in n all my intercourse with general smith in ill public and in private lie ilus lids llen lien strictly virtuous WILSON daws LAWS HIRAM kimball BRIGHAM YOUNG WILLARD RICHARDS HEBER HEBERG C KIMBALL kinball AV WOODRUFF G EO A N K WHITNEy ORSON SPENCER MIN JOHN TAYLOR P GREENE GUSTAVUS UiT AVUS HILLS GS HARRIS y JAMES SLOAN SWAY city recorder 1 may 19 1842 after I 1 had done all in my power to persuade him to amend lii iii conduct an nl I 1 aliese facts were v e re fully futy not diot riot only by te testimony stimon ct but u t 1 by ilis hial own co nf I he fie havin hayl ack ach nowie ivied d red ed that they were true and seeing no cl s 0 of f any satisfaction from his future life the liand hand of fellowship fellows hip bip was withdrawn from him as 4 member of tile the church by the officers but on account of his earnestly requesting that we nye would not pub h lish sh him to the world we concluded not to do so at that time but would let the matter rest until we saw the effect of what we had lied already done it appears evident that as soon as he lie perceived that lie he could no lenger longer jai maintain I 1 etain his standing as a member of the church nor ills his respectability as a citizen ho he came to the conclusion to leave the tile place which he has lias done a and n d that very abruptly and had lie done so quietly and not attempted to deceive the people around him hi his s case pase would not have excited the indignation of the citizens so much mur muc h as his real conduct has dohe done in order to make ills his case look plausible lie has reported that he had withdrawn from the church because we were not worthy of his bis society thus thud instead of or manifesting a spirit of repentance he has to the last proved himself to be unworthy tile the confidence or regard of any upright person by ivington lying to deceive the tiie innocent and committing adultery ju the most abominable and degraded manner we are credible credibly y in formed informed that tile t he le has co coUe code Leagued with some of our former wicked persecutors the missourians Missour ians and has threatened destruction upon ns us but we should naturally suppose that lie would be so much ashamed of himself at the injury lie he has already done to those who never injured but befriended him in every possible manner that lie he could never dare to lilt up his ills head before an enlightened public with the design either elther to misrepresent or persecute but be that as it may we neither dread bim him nor his influence but this much we believe that unless ile he is determined to fill fil up the measure of his iniquity and brim hrim bring sudden destruction upon himself from the hand handor of the almighty he will be silent and never more attempt to injure those concerning whom he has testified upon oath ile he knows nothing but that which is good and virtuous thus I 1 have laid before the church of latter day saints and before the public the character and conduct of a man who has hag stood high in the estimation of many but from the foregoing facts fads it will be seen that lie is not entitled to any credit but rather to be stamped with indignity and disgrace so far as ha be may bo be known what I 1 have stated I 1 am prepared to prove having all the documents concern concerning hw the tiia matter in my possession buti but I 1 think that to say further is unnecessary as tile the subject is so plain that no one can mistake the true nature of the tho case I 1 remain yours vours respectfully JOSEPH SMITH nauvoo june 23 1842 I 1 have been engaged in domestic affairs and counseling tile tiie linth brethren reu rea the last week I 1 addressed the following letter to richmond 1 I 1 I 1 1 nauvoo june 23 1842 1912 sister jennetta Jen ren netta nelta richard A agreeably tree Vree ably to your request in tin tile mci of all the thet bustle ind and business of the day anaf the care of all the churches both at home and abroad I 1 now embrace a moment to addres address ap a fei rei few words thinking cerad venture it may be he a ins consolation to you to know that you too are remembered by me tile as well as all the saints prayer o day daylong for all the t he saints und and idian irian especial and manner for hor those whom whon he hath bath chosen and anointed anoni i ted to bear tile tiie heavies heaviest i burtrens bur butt liens in lithe inthe the heat of the tile day among which number Is your husband received a maii mail ia in whom I 1 have the tile most implicit co confidence and trust you say I 1 bave have got him r soi boi bol bave have in the which I 1 rejoice for he his has done me great good and lind taken a great burthen ot oil 1 my n y shoulders sinco since since ills arrival in a nauvoo N never ever did I 1 have a greater intimacy with aay any man |
