It was common conversation on the camp ground and at the hotel, in the presence of Governor Ford, that “The law is too short for these men, but they must not be suffered to go at large;” and “if the law will not reach them, powder and ball must.” Previously the governor had said, in order to quiet the impatience of the Carthage Greys, that they should have “full satisfaction.”
The Night in Jail
The evening of the 26th of June was spent by the prisoners and a number of friends, viz., John Taylor, Willard Richards, John S. Fullmer, Stephen Markham and Dan Jones, in conversing on the scriptures, Hyrum Smith occupying most of the time. They all retired to bed late, except Dr. Willard Richards who sat up writing until his last candle burned out. The Prophet and Patriarch occupied the bed, while the other brethren slept on a mattress on the floor. The report of a gun caused Joseph to arise from the bed, and going over to the mattress, he lay down on the floor between Dan Jones and John S. Fullmer. Stretching out his right arm he said to John S. Fullmer, “Lay your head on my arm for a pillow, Brother John.” He then conversed with Brother Fullmer on many topics and gave expression to the presentiment he had from the beginning that he was to die. “I would like to see my family again,” he said, and “I would to God that I could preach to the Saints in Nauvoo once more.” After air was quiet he turned to Dan Jones and whispered, “Are you afraid to die?” Dan said, “Has that time come, think you? Engaged in such a cause I do not think that death would have many terrors.” The Prophet replied, “You will yet see Wales and fulfil the mission appointed you before you die.”
The Plotting by the Mob
Early on the morning of the 27th, John P. Greene and William W. Phelps called at the jail, and the Prophet sent Dan Jones out to inquire what the firing of a gun in the night near the jail was for. Frank Worrell, of the Carthage Greys, and officer of the guard, replied, “We have had too much trouble to bring Old Joe here to let him ever escape alive, and unless you want to die with him you had better leave before sundown; and you are not a damned bit better than him for taking his part. And you’ll see that I can prophesy better than Old Joe, for neither he nor his brother, nor anyone who will remain with them will see the sun set today.” Dan Jones reported to the Prophet who directed him to go to the governor and tell him what had taken place. On his way he overheard an officer making a speech, in which he said, “Our troops will be discharged this morning in obedience to orders, and for a sham we will leave the town; but when the governor and the McDonough troops have left for Nauvoo this afternoon, we will return and kill these men, if we have to tear the jail down.” This was greeted by three cheers from the troops.
The Governor Warned
Jones immediately reported to the governor what he had heard. Governor Ford replied: “You are unnecessarily alarmed for the safety of your friends, sir, the people are not that cruel.” Irritated by this remark, Jones urged the necessity of placing better men to guard the jail, and he said: “The Messrs. Smith are American citizens, and have surrendered themselves to your Excellency upon your pledging your honor for their safety; they are also Master Masons, and as such I demand of you protection of their lives.”
Governor Ford’s face turned pale, and Jones continued: “If you do not do this, I have but one more desire, and that is, if you leave their lives in the hands of those men to be sacrificed—”
“What is that, sir?” Ford asked in a hurried tone.
“It is,” said Jones, “that the Almighty will preserve my life to a proper time and place, that I may testify that you have been timely warned of their danger.”