Lucy
Harris raises a vexatious lawsuit
against Joseph Smith Jr. Mrs. Harris
gathers witnesses. Mother Smith prays
fervently for her son’s protection
and receives a direct answer. Conflicting
witnesses are confounded. Martin Harris
boldly testifies as to Joseph Smith’s
integrity and the work of the Lord.
Summer
1829
Samuel
remained with his brother until July
or August, and then came back to the
state of New York, bringing us news
of Joseph’s success and prosperity. [1] This roused in Martin
Harris a great desire to go down to
Pennsylvania to see how they were
prospering for himself, as he was
more than commonly interested in the
matter. His wife soon came to the
knowledge of his intention and fixed
in her mind a determination to prevent
him from going. She also resolved
to bring Joseph into a difficulty
which would be the means of hindering
him, perhaps entirely, from accomplishing
the work which he was about. [2]
To this
end she undertook to prove that Joseph
never had the record which he professed
to have, and that he pretended to
have in his possession certain gold
plates for the express purpose of
obtaining money. Accordingly, she
mounted her horse, flew from house
to house through the neighborhood,
like a dark spirit, making diligent
inquiry where she had the least hope
of gleaning anything that would subserve
her purpose — which was to prove that
Joseph did not have the record which
he pretended to have, that he pretended
to be in possession of certain gold
plates for the express purpose of
obtaining money from those who might
be so credulous as to believe him. [3] After she had ascertained the strength
of her adherents, she entered a complaint
before a magistrate at Lyons. She
then sent word to Lyman Cowdery, [4] requesting him to come to Lyons, prepared
with a good horse to travel posthaste
to Pennsylvania (should the case go
against Joseph Smith), that he might
go with the officers to assist them
in securing him and confining him
in prison.
Lyman
Cowdery was very obedient to her suggestion,
and all things seemed to be going
on prosperously with Mrs. Harris.
She made affidavit to many things
herself, and directed the officers
whom to subpoena. Among the rest,
her husband was a principal witness
in the case.
When
the day of trial came, the neighbors
who felt friendly to us informed us
that the witnesses were gone to Lyons
and were determined to obtain a verdict
against Joseph if it could be done
by swearing. This very naturally gave
me great anxiety for my son. Hyrum
came in and I asked him what could
be done.
“Why,
Mother,” said he, “we can do nothing,
but look to the Lord, for in him is
all help and strength, and he can
deliver from every trouble.”
I had
never neglected this all-important
duty, but seeing this confidence in
my son strengthened me in this hour
of trial. This was the first time
that a suit was ever brought before
any court which affected any of my
family, and not being accustomed to
such things (as I would become afterwards),
I trembled for the issue. [5]
But I retired to a secluded place
and bowed myself before God and poured
out my whole soul in impassioned entreaties
for the safety of my son. I continued
my supplication for some time. At
length a spirit fell upon me so powerfully
that every feeling of foreboding or
distress was entirely removed from
my mind, and a voice spoke to me,
saying, “Not one hair of his head
shall be harmed.” I was satisfied,
and arose and went into the house.
I never felt as happy in my life as
I did then. I sat down and began to
read, but my feelings were too intense
to permit me to do so. My daughter-in-law
Jerusha came into the room soon after,
and when she turned her eyes upon
me, she stopped short, saying, “Why,
Mother, what is the matter? I never
saw you look so strange in my life.”
I told
her I never had been so happy before.
I said, “My heart is so light and
my mind so completely at rest, that
it does not seem to me as though I
should ever have any more trouble
while I lived. I have got a witness
from the Lord that Joseph’s enemies
will have no power over him. I have
received a promise that he shall be
protected.” Overpowered by the strength
of my feelings I burst into tears
and sobbed aloud.
I will
now relate the proceedings of the
court. After the setting of the same,
the witnesses were sworn. The first
witness testified that Joseph Smith
had told him that the box which he
had contained nothing but sand, and
he only said it was gold plates to
deceive the people.
The second
witness swore that Joseph Smith had
told him on a certain occasion that
it was nothing but a box of lead,
and he was determined to use it as
he saw fit.
The third
witness declared, under oath, that
he inquired of Joseph Smith what he
had in that box and Joseph told him
that there was nothing in the box,
saying, “I have made fools of the
whole of you, and all I want is to
get Martin Harris’s money away from
him.” This witness also stated that
Joseph had already got two or three
hundred dollars from Martin by his
persuasion.
>Next
came Mrs. Harris’s affidavit, in which
she stated that Joseph Smith had but
one principal object in view, and
that was to defraud her husband in
such a way as to induce him to give
up all his property into Smith’s hands.
She said that she did not believe
that Joseph Smith had ever been in
possession of the gold plates which
he talked so much about, and that
his pretensions were altogether unreal.
The magistrate
then forbade the introduction of any
more witnesses until he heard Mr.
Harris’s testimony. Mr. Harris, being
duly sworn, testified with boldness,
decision, and energy to a few simple
facts. When he rose he raised his
hand to heaven and said, “I can swear
that Joseph Smith never got one dollar
from me since God made me. I did once
voluntarily, of my own free will and
accord, put fifty dollars into his
hands before many witnesses, for the
purpose of doing the work of the Lord.
This I can pointedly prove, and I
can tell you, furthermore, that Joseph
has certainly never shown any disposition
to get any man’s money without giving
him a reasonable compensation for
the same in return. And as to the
plates which he professes to have,
gentlemen, if you do not believe
it but continue to resist the truth,
it will one day be the means of damning
your souls.” [6]
The judge
then told them they need not call
any more of their witnesses, but ordered
them to bring him what had been written
of the testimony already given. This
he tore in pieces before their eyes
and told them to go home about their
business and trouble him no more with
such ridiculous folly. They returned
home, abashed and confounded, hanging
down their heads with shame and confusion.
Notes
