Plot to Murder Grandison Newell

Mormon History: 1830 to 1839

Plot to Murder Grandison Newell

In May 1837, Grandison Newell charged Joseph with plotting to murder him. Joseph waas eventually acquitted, but the testimony of some Church leaders reveals how the seriously the Prophet's followers took his comments.

There is some confusion over the date of the alleged conspiracy. Mark Staker argues for April or May 1837 ( Hearken Hearken, O Ye People: The Historical Setting of Joseph Smith's Ohio Revelations, Mark Lyman Staker (Salt Lake City: Greg Kofford Books), 2009. ,495–496). Orson Hyde's testimony supports that position. Orson testified that when rumors circulated that Newell might sue the foundering Kirtland Safety Society (in early 1837), Joseph "seemed much excited and declared that Newell should be put out of the way, or where the crows could not find him; he said destroying Newell would be justifiable in the sight of God, that it was the will of God, &c."
However, according to the newspaper account, Wilbur Denton and Sidney Rigdon's testimonies referred to events of April or May 1835.

Grandison Newell	Among non-Mormons of the Kirtland period, Joseph Smith's arch-enemy was Grandison Newell. A prosperous farmer and businessman from Mentor, Newell later bragged he spent $1,000 in court actions against Mormons in 1837.	Sidney Rigdon Sidney Rigdon: A Portrait of Religious Excess, Richard S. Van Wagoner (Salt Lake City: Signature Books, 1994). , 190n48. Newell had helped finance Doctor Hurlbut's 1833 trip to Palmyra to gather negative testimonies about the Smith's there. Except noted, information is taken from PT Painesville [Ohio] Telegraph, Eber D. Howe, ed. , June 9, 1837. Source
Monroe Bank suit	In February 1837 Samuel D. Rounds, acting on Newell's behalf, files a complaint against Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon for illegally purchasing the Monroe, Michigan bank. State law provided that only corporations could own banks. The matter was scheduled for the fall session of the court.
Murder conspiracy	In May 1837, Newell charges Joseph with a conspiracy to have S. Wilbur Denton and a Marvel C. Davis murder him. In a letter to the editor of the Painesville Telegraph he alleged,	In April 1838 Davis was accused of complicity in a counterfeiting ring with Oliver Cowdery, John Boynton, Warren Parrish, and Burton H. Phelps. ¶ Minutes of April 12, 1837
Joseph's assassins lay in wait with loaded weapons but changed their minds	two of the saints of the latter-day, by concert, and under the express direction of the prophet, this high priest of Satan, met in the night, at a little distance from my house, with loaded rifles, and pistols, with a determination to kill me. But as they drew near the spot where the bloody deed was to be performed, they trembled under the awful responsibility of committing a murder, a little cool reflection in darkness and silence, broke the spell of the false prophet—they were restored to their right minds, and are now rejoicing that they were not left to the power of the devil and co-adjuter Smith, to stain their souls with a crime so horrible.	"[Leonard Rich] told me Jo Smith had a revelation that Grandison Newell must be killed, and he was the man indicated to do it. Rich refused and Jo engaged M. C. Davis, a gunsmith, who went on horseback and said he saw Newell sitting with his back to a window reading a newspaper, but could not shoot him. He told prophet Jo, Newell was not at home." "William Rockafellow," Naked Truths, April 1888. Source
Preliminary hearing June 3	The preliminary hearing was held on June 3 in the Painesville Methodist church, Justice Flint presiding. The witnesses were as follows:	"The Humbug Ended," Ohio Statesman (Columbus), July 5, 1837 (reprint of Painesville Republican, June 15, 1837. Source
Prosecution witnesses	For the prosecution—Solomon Denton, an alleged co-conspirator; Warren Parrish, the Prophet's former scribe and treasurer/teller of the Kirtland Safety Society Anti-Banking Company; and Luke S. Johnson and Orson Hyde, apostles.
Defense witnesses	Defense witnesses included Hyrum Smith, Sidney Rigdon, and a Mr. Cahoun [Reynolds Cahoon].
Denton: Joseph directed Davis, winked at Denton	Denton and Marvel C. Davis had worked with Joseph, Sidney, and Oliver Cowdery in the Kirtland printing office. Denton testifies that in "April or May 1835," while he was living in the Smith home, Davis approached him about killing Newell for the prophet. After he borrowed a pistol from Sidney Rigdon, Joseph told Denton, "I know where you are going and what your business is," and that	According to PT Painesville [Ohio] Telegraph, Eber D. Howe, ed. , June 9, 1837, Denton testified the plot was hatched in "April or May, 1835" and that he was excommunicated "about two months since for lack of faith, non-observance of duties and contempt of the quorum of High Priests." Rigdon testified he heard of the conspiracy "about two years since" (1835). But it was not Newell created a run on the Kirtland Safety Society bank in January 1837 that he became a real threat to Joseph and the Church. (See Hyde's testimony below.) Newell and Denton would not have waited nearly two years to make their accusations.
God's will to put Newell out of the way	he had seen Davis and told him I would be a good hand to go with him, said this was a good work, And we must be very wise; then spoke of Newell, said he had injured the society, and that it was better for one man to suffer than to have a whole community disturbed; that it was the will of Heaven that Newell should be put out of the way.
Hyde: Joseph said Newell should be put out of the way	Orson Hyde testifies that when rumors circulated that Newell might sue the foundering Kirtland Safety Society, Joseph "seemed much excited and declared that Newell should be put out of the way, or where the crows could not find him; he said destroying Newell would be justifiable in the sight of God, that it was the will of God, &c."	As early as 1823 Orson Hyde worked for Newell in a small iron foundry. ¶ Orson Hyde (h)
Attests to Joseph's character	However, he also said that Joseph later apologized for using such language, he had "never heard Smith use similar language before," and believed him to be "possessed of much kindness and humanity towards his fellow beings."
Johnson: Joseph said Newell should be put out of the way if he led a mob But he is tender-hearted and humane	Luke Johnson also heard him say "if Newell or any other man should head a mob against him, they ought to be put out of the way and it would be our duty to do so." Like his fellow apostle, however, Luke described Joseph as "a tender-hearted, humane man."
Parrish: Newell's name was mentioned at bank	Teller Warren Parrish testifies that Newell's name had been mentioned several times at the bank.
Parrish's character	Moreover, when asked "whether he knew anything 'in the character or conduct of Mr. Smith which is unworthy his profession as a man of God,' he answered—"'I do not.'"	CHC Comprehensive History of the Church of The Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, B. H. Roberts. 6 vols. (Salt Lake City: Deseret News), 1930. , 1:405.
Possible motivations	The Elder's Journal, edited by the Prophet, later concludes Parrish was afraid he would be caught in a lie. But it is also possible he feared retaliation.	¶ Scorning Dissidents
Sidney: Davis and Denton consped, but Joseph was not involved Reynolds: Agree with Sidney	Sidney heard Denton and Davis planning to murder Newell in 1835, but he had no reason to believe Joseph was involved, adding that Davis had "never been strictly subservient to the rules of the society." Cahoon supports Rigdon's testimony.
Hyrum: Denton planned murder	Hyrum testifies he overheard Denton discussing the plot and confronted him, but Denton denied it.
Denton's testimony insufficient	Denton's testimony is damaging but legally insufficient. What Joseph allegedly told Davis was hearsay, and Davis did not testify. What Joseph allegedly told Denton is uncorroborated and vague enough to leave doubt as to Joseph's specific intent. Moreover, Denton apparently failed to support Newell's assertion that he and Denton took any significant action to commit the deed.
$500 bond	Nevertheless, Judge Flint binds Joseph over for trial. Bail is set at $500, which is promptly paid.
	The next day, June 4, as Joseph, Sidney, and Hyrum are setting apart Heber C. Kimball for his mission to England, Orson Hyde enters the room.	In HC History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, edited by B. H. Roberts, 7 vols. (Salt Lake City: Deseret News, 1902-1912, 1932). 2:489–490, Heber is set apart—in the next sentence the act is referred to as "ordaining"—"on or about the first of June, 1837 … by the … laying on of hands, of the First Presidency. " However, in his diary Heber wrote he was set apart on June 4. (qtd. in Heber Heber C. Kimball: Mormon Patriarch and Pioneer, Stanley B. Kimball (Urbana: University of Illinois Press), 1981. , 41) ¶ Heber C. Kimball (h3)
Orson repents, set apart for mission	Upon listening to what was passing, his heart melted within him, (for he had begun to drink of the cup filled with the overflowings of speculation), he acknowledged all his faults, asked forgiveness, and offered to accompany President Kimball on his mission to England. His offer was accepted, and he was set apart for that purpose.
	More might have been required if Orson had borne false witness against the Prophet. More likely his "fault" was in testifying for the prosecution, even though his testimony was truthful, or at least true to his recollection; his "speculation," that of misjudging the Prophet's intentions.
Trial June 9	In any case, the trial is held June 9 in the county court, Justice Humphrey of the Court of Common Pleas presiding. The result is, according to a newspaper reporter,
Thirteenth prosecution Not guilty in all cases Persecution	the entire acquittal of Joseph Smith, Jr. of the charges alleged against him. This is said to be the thirteenth prosecution which has been instituted against Joseph Smith, Jr. for the prejudice against him, he has never in a single instance been convicted, on a final trial. This fact shows on the one hand, that a spirit of persecution has existed, and on the other hand it certainly furnishes some evidence that he has for some reason, been falsely accused, and that he is indeed and in truth better than some of his accusers.
Weak evidence	I attend the trial and took down the evidence, but was much surprised to find that no testimony appeared, on which, any reliance could be placed, that went in the least degree to crimination the respondent, but rather to raise him in the estimation of men and candor.

Brigham Young recollection	Decades later in Utah, Brigham Young recalled that when he learned Solomon Denton had threatened to kill Joseph, he and Willliam Smith rode out in a buggy to intercept the stage in which he was returning from Monroe, Michigan (February 1837). Joseph traded places with William, and all returned to Kirtland without incident.
	Young appears to be the only source for Denton's alleged threat on the prophet's life and is inconsistent with the chronology of other events.

William E. McLellin recollection	[As reported by John Beadle, 1875:] a devout Saint whispered to the Doctor [McLellin] that "men had slipped their wind for smaller things than Newell was guilty of." Upon this the Doctor saw one of Joseph Smith's intimates privately, and the latter confessed that he and another were employed by Smith to assassinate Grandison Newell!	Beadle "Jackson County: The Early History of the Saints and Their Enemies.� Salt Lake Daily Tribune, Oct. 6, 1875. . Source
	The Doctor satisfied himself fully that the man's statement was true, and thought it about time to leave. He accordingly put his wife on one horse, took another himself and "lit out." Soon after he settled in Upper Missouri, and was soon surrounded by the Saints again, but was careful to keep still and have no intimacies with them. …
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