Their Lives Threatened
Presently the turn for the two youths came to take the pledge, and they both manfully refused, stating that Joseph Smith had done them no harm and they were too young to understand these things. This aroused the anger of the conspirators, and when coaxing and argument failed, they threatened them with death. “Come boys,” they said, “do as we have done. You are young, and will not have anything to do in the affair, but we want you should keep it a secret, and act with us; that’s all.” “No,” they replied, “we cannot take an oath like that against any man who has never done us any injury.” They tried to pass out, but one of the band stopped them saying: “No, not by a—! You know all our plans and arrangements, and we don’t propose that you should leave in that style. You’ve got to take the oath, or you’ll never leave here alive.” The boys were surrounded by these evil conspirators, who with drawn swords and knives, were determined to take their lives. The leaders, no less determined, concluded that the deed of blood could not be committed there, as the house was too near the street. So the young men were taken to the cellar and preparations were made for their murder. At this point, however, as if by an act of Providence, someone spoke up and said it was evidently known by the parents of these boys that they were there, and if they did not return a search would be put on foot that might prove to be very dangerous to the plotters. The result was that after some consultation they were released, with a strict injunction, and many threats, not to reveal to any one what they had heard, or they would be killed, and under a guard they were permitted to depart. They immediately took their course towards the river in the opposite direction from their homes, conveying the impression to their enemies by word and act, that they would keep their secret. On the river bank they met the Prophet and an elder brother of Robert Scott, and to them they told their story (Contributor, vol. 5:25).
On the 27th day of March, 1844, Abiathar B. Williams and M. G. Eaton, each made affidavit before Daniel H. Wells, justice of the peace, confirming the story of these young men, and implicating Chauncy L. Higbee, Robert D. Foster, Joseph H. Jackson and Wilson and William Law, as the leaders among the plotters. Shortly afterwards (April 18, 1844) the two Laws and Robert D. Foster, were excommunicated from the Church. Others prominent in this conspiracy were Austin Cowles, Francis M. Higbee, Charles Ivins and Charles A. Foster.
Apostates Attempt to Organize a Church
An attempt was made by these apostates to organize a church of their own, patterned after the Church of Christ, with William Law at the head. Their following was small and the attempt was a failure. They soon joined hands openly with the most bitter enemies of the Saints and aided them in all their anti-“Mormon” persecutions. They advocated the repeal of the Nauvoo Charter; insulted the officers of the city and maliciously violated the ordinances, endeavoring to bring the city into ill-repute. Their evil deeds they laid at the door of others, and with lying tongues made brutal accusations against the innocent, and openly threatened the life of the Prophet.
Plot to Kill Joseph Smith
May 25, 1844, William Law, Robert D. Foster and Joseph H. Jackson, had Joseph Smith indicted at Carthage on the charge of polygamy and perjury. Two days later Joseph left for Carthage, accompanied by a number of his friends, and voluntarily gave himself up for trial. He secured legal assistance and endeavored to have his case tried, but the opposition insisted on the case going over until the next term of court. On the way to Carthage, Charles A. Foster overtook the Prophet and his company, and had some conversation. When they reached their destination Foster called Joseph Smith aside and informed him of a conspiracy against his life. His brother Robert D., with tears in his eyes, also said there were persons there who had planned to kill the Prophet before he left that town. The spark of repentance kindled in their breasts, however, soon died out, and these two men again banded with the conspirators in Nauvoo, to bring to pass the death of Joseph and Hyrum Smith.
The “Nauvoo Expositor”
To better advance their malicious course, the conspirators of Nauvoo procured a press and proposed the publishing of a paper to be called the Nauvoo Expositor. The object of the paper, as set forth in the prospectus was, to advocate “the unconditional repeal of the Nauvoo City Charter, to restrain and correct the abuses of the unit power , to ward off the iron rod which is held over the devoted heads of the citizens of Nauvoo . . . to advocate an unmitigated disobedience to political revelations, and to censure and decry gross moral imperfections wherever found, either in plebeian, patrician or self-constituted Monarch—to advocate the pure principles of morality.” In plain words to attack the Church and destroy the protection of the Saints guaranteed by the Charter of Nauvoo.
The first and only number of the Expositor appeared June 7, 1844, filled with vile and malicious slanders against the Prophet and the leading citizens of Nauvoo. In attacking the charter, these wicked conspirators knew they were taking a course which would gain them the sympathy and aid of all the enemies of the Church, as nothing else could do. The charter, with its liberal provisions, had aroused the hatred of anti-“Mormons” because it prevented their sinister and diabolical designs. These same evil actors had lived under the charter from the beginning, and had been loud in its praise and defense, until Satan entered their hearts and their minds became darkened. They knew that the Latter-day Saints, without the charter would be a prey to their enemies, and at the mercy of their apostate persecutors, the small minority of the population, who could wreak vengeance upon their former brethren without restraint.