1844.

LEADERS OF THE MORMONS ARE KILLED.

983

voo, with, an order from Governor Ford for the State arms in possession of the Kauvoo legion.

" Lieutenant-General Smith having endorsed upon the order his admission of its service, and given his directions for their delivery, returned with Captain Dunn to Nauvoo, for the arms thus ordered by Governor Ford to be surrendered. The arms having been given up in obedience to the aforesaid order, both parties again started for Carthage, whither they arrived a little before twelve o'clock, at night. On the morning of the 25th, an interview took place between the Smiths and Governor Ford. Assurances of protection by the latter were repeated, and the two Smiths were surrendered into the custody of an officer. Bail having afterward been given for their appearance at court, to answer the charge for ' abating the Nauvoo Expositor,' a mittimus was issued on the evening of the 25th, aud the two Smiths were committed to jail on a charge of treason, ' until delivered by due course of law.'

" On the morning of the 26th, another interview was had between the governor and the accused, aud both parties seemed to be satisfied. Instead of being confined in the cells, the two Smiths, at the instance of their friends, were put into the debtor's room of the prison, and a guard assigned for its, as well as their security. During this time their friends, as usual, had access to them in jail, by permission of the governor. On the same day, (June 26,) they were taken before the magistrate who had committed them to prison, and further proceedings, on the complaint for treason, were postponed until the 29th.

" On the morning of the 27th, Governor Ford discharged a part of the troops under his command, and proceeded with a portion of the residue, a single company only, to Nauvoo; leaving the jail, the prisoners, and some two or three of their friends, guarded by seven or eight men, and a company of about sixty militia, the Carthage Grays, a few yards distant in reserve.

" About six o'clock in the afternoon of the 27th, during the absence of Governor Ford, the guard stationed at the prison were overpowered by an armed mob, in disguise; the jail broken and entered, and the two Smiths, (Joseph and Hyrum,) without any pretense of right or authority whatever, were wantonly slain. Having effected their object, all of which was accomplished in a few minutes, they immediately dispersed."

" The death of Smith by violeuce, and by his enemies, was opportune for the support of the system he sought to establish. He had arrived at that point iu the revolution which he led, when