Joseph Smith Arrested for Fraud
90 Primary Sources
Date | Summary | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Mar 27, 1729 | Benjamin Franklin, in a satircal article, discusses the practice of "money digging." | Benjamin Franklin Non-LDS | Direct Journalism | |
1803 | 1803 Law book on what judges are to do when those accused of felonies or suspicious crimes are brought before them. | N/A Non-LDS | Secondary | |
1803 | 1803 Law book outlines what justices are to look for before convicting someone of a crime. | N/A Non-LDS | Direct | |
1803 | 1803 Law book on what judges are to do when those accused of felonies or suspicious crimes are brought before them. | N/A Non-LDS | Secondary | |
1813 | William P. Van Ness and John Woodworth provide the legal definition of "disorderly conduct" based on 1813 New York Law. | William P. Van Ness Non-LDS | Secondary | |
1820 | 1820 Ohio Lawbook on what to do when a defendent is found guilty of of a bailable offence. | N/A Non-LDS | Secondary | |
Apr 23, 1822 | Vermont Watchman and State Journal prints sarcastic article about money digging which was growing in popularity at the time. | N/A Non-LDS | Journalism | |
Aug 3, 1822 | William Cobbett, in a letter critiquing the actions of Robert Peel (British Secretary of State for the Home Department), refers to "leg bail" as something favorable given to suspects by friends in a legal case. | William Cobbett Non-LDS | Direct | |
1825 | Thomas Glasby Waterman in The Justice's Manual (1825) writes that if a defendant is found guilty a record of conviction must be produced by the judge. | Thomas Glasby Waterman Non-LDS | Secondary | |
1825 | Thomas Glasby Waterman defines "fraud" in the 1825 The Justice's Manual. | Thomas Glasby Waterman Non-LDS | Secondary | |
1825 | 1825 Manual on New York Law Discussing Procedure for Examination of Accused and Witnesses and the Recognizance of Witnesses. | Thomas Glasby Waterman Non-LDS | Secondary | |
Feb 11, 1825 | Windsor (Vermont) Journal publishes article recounts man from Tunbridge digging for money based on a dream. | N/A Non-LDS | Unsourced Journalism | |
Nov 1, 1825 | Josiah Stowell et al's agreement about procedures if/when treasure is discovered during a dig. | Josiah Stowell Non-LDS | Direct Reprint Journalism | |
1826 | Fee bill for Philip M. De Zeng for 1826 hearing. | Philip M. De Zeng Non-LDS | Holograph Direct | |
1826 | Fee bill for Philip M. De Zeng for 1826 hearing. | Philip M. De Zeng Non-LDS | Holograph Direct | |
Jan 3, 1826 | Vermont Watchman and State Journal publishes article mocking "money diggers." | Vermont Watchman and State Journal Non-LDS | Unsourced Journalism | |
Nov 9, 1826 | Judge Neely's fee bill for Joseph's 1826 hearing (written in November 1826). | Albert Neely Non-LDS | Holograph Direct | |
Nov 9, 1826 | Judge Neely's fee bill for Joseph's 1826 hearing (written in November 1826). | Albert Neely Non-LDS | Holograph Direct | |
1828 | Webster's 1828 Dictionary provides a definition of "Fraud." | Noah Webster Non-LDS | Direct | |
1828 | Webster's 1828 Dictionary's Definition of "Impostor" includes "a deceiver under a false character." | Noah Webster Non-LDS | Direct | |
1829 | "Recognisances of witnesses" is discussed in an 1829 book on New York law. | N/A Non-LDS | Secondary | |
1830 | Charles Putt discusses how some debtors will take "leg bail" to avoid a legal confrontation with their creditors. | Charles Putt Non-LDS | Direct | |
1830 | John B. Skillman reproduces an August 1, 1828 police report where George Lyons took "leg bail." | John B. Skillman Non-LDS | Direct Reprint | |
Feb 28, 1831 | Obadiah Dogberry accuses Joseph Smith of engaging in "juggling" and using a "peep stone" to find hidden treasure. | Obadiah Dogberry [Abner Cole] Critic Non-LDS | Direct Journalism | |
Mar 1831 | Abram W. Benton writes that Joseph was arrested and found guilty as a disorderly person but was "designedly allowed to escape." | Abram W. Benton Critic Non-LDS | Direct Journalism | |
Mar 1831 | Abram W. Benton writes that Joseph was arrested and found guilty as a disorderly person but was "designedly allowed to escape." | Abram W. Benton Critic Non-LDS | Direct Journalism | |
Nov 7, 1832 | New England Christian Herald prints article discussing Joseph Smith's June 1830 trial. | New England Christian Herald Critic Non-LDS | Reprint Journalism | |
Nov 7, 1832 | New England Christian Herald prints article discussing Joseph Smith's June 1830 trial. | New England Christian Herald Critic Non-LDS | Reprint Journalism | |
Nov 16, 1832 | Testimony of Josiah Stowell at Joseph's 1830 hearing. | Joel King Noble Non-LDS | Direct Reprint Journalism | |
1834 | Josiah Priest reprints story of a "Mr. Ash" discovering hidden treasure in 1826. | Josiah Priest Non-LDS | Unsourced Secondary | |
1834 | Roswell Nichols's Affidavit (1833) accusing Joseph Smith of being a money digger. | Roswell Nichols Critic Non-LDS | Direct Reprint | |
1834 | Isaac Hales's affidavit from 1834 claims that Joseph worked in the company of "money diggers" in 1825. | Isaac Hale Critic Non-LDS | Direct Reprint | |
1834 | Willard Chase in his 1833 Affidavit accuses Joseph and his family of being involved in money digging in 1820s. | Willard Chase Critic Non-LDS | Direct Reprint | |
1834 | Parley Chase's Affidavit Accusing Joseph Smith Sr. of "money digging" and that it was the Smith family's principal employment. | Parley Chase Critic Non-LDS | Direct Reprint | |
1834 | Peter Ingersoll's Affidavit from 1833; accuses Smith family of engaging in "money digging." | Peter Ingersoll Critic Non-LDS | Direct Translation | |
1834 | Alva Hale in his affidavit claims Joseph Smith admitted to them that his "peeping" was "nonsense." | Doctor Philastus Hurlbut Critic Non-LDS | 2nd Hand Reprint | |
1834 | David Stafford's 1833 Affidavit accusing Smith family of money digging and fortune-telling. | David Stafford Critic Non-LDS | Direct Translation | |
1834 | Henry Harris's affidavit from 1833 accuses the Smith family of being dedicated to money digging. | Henry Harris Critic Non-LDS | Direct Reprint | |
1834 | The "Palmyra Affidavit" (1833) Accuses Joseph Smith and his family of money digging and of being of destitute characters. | Signers of the Palmyra Affidavit Critic Non-LDS | Direct Reprint | |
1834 | Joseph Capron's 1833 Affidavit accusing Joseph Smith of making up tales of "wonderful discoveries" and money digging. | Joseph Capron Critic Non-LDS | Direct Reprint | |
1834 | William Stafford's affidavit (1833) claims Joseph Smith and his father tried to find buried treasure using hazel rods and magic circles. | William Stafford Critic Non-LDS | Direct Reprint | |
Dec 1834 | Joseph admits to Oliver Cowdery in a letter that he was guilty of "many vices and follies" in his youth. | Joseph Smith, Jr. LDS | Direct | |
Oct 1835 | Oliver Cowdery writes to W.W. Phelps referring to the 1826 hearing of Joseph and the charge he was a "disorderly person." Writes that Joseph was acquitted. | Oliver Cowdery LDS | 2nd Hand | |
Oct 1835 | Oliver Cowdery writes to W.W. Phelps referring to the 1826 hearing of Joseph and the charge he was a "disorderly person." Writes that Joseph was acquitted. | Oliver Cowdery LDS | 2nd Hand | |
1838 - | Joseph admits that, in his youth, he was guilty of "foolish errors" and the corruption/foibles of human nature. | Joseph Smith, Jr. LDS | Scribed Verbatim Direct | |
1838 - | Joseph records in his 1838 History that he was employed by Josiah Stowell in 1826; this would lead to the "very prevalent story" of his having been a "money digger." | Joseph Smith, Jr. LDS | Scribed Verbatim Direct | |
Jul 1838 | Joseph addresses the charge of his being a "money digger" in the Elders Journal (1838); writes it was not very profitable. | Joseph Smith, Jr. LDS | Direct | |
Jun 1839 - | Joseph recounts his 1830 Broome County hearing and events leading up to it. | Joseph Smith, Jr. LDS | Scribed Verbatim Direct | |
Jun 11, 1839 - | Joseph states in his History that he committed "many foolish errors and displayed the weakness of youth." | Joseph Smith, Jr. LDS | Scribed Verbatim Direct | |
Mar 8, 1842 | Joel King Noble, in a letter to Jonathan Turner, writes that Joseph was convicted under the Vagrant act and took leg bail in 1826. | Joel King Noble Critic Non-LDS | Holograph Unsourced | |
Feb 10, 1843 | John S. Fullmer writes to Josiah Stowell jr to ascertain the character of Joseph and if accusations against Joseph are true. | John S. Fullmer LDS | Holograph Direct | |
Feb 17, 1843 | Josiah Stowell jr and Josiah Stowell snr discuss character of Joseph Smith; they write that he never engaged in sleight of hand, gamble, or "black leg." | Josiah Stowell Jr. LDS | Holograph Direct | |
1844 - | Lucy Mack Smith recounts Lucy Harris's attempt to bring legal action against Joseph for purportedly defrauding Martin Harris in March 1829. | Lucy Mack Smith LDS | Scribed Verbatim Direct | |
1844 - | Lucy Smith addresses charges her family engaged in magic circles, sooth saying and neglected their business. | Lucy Mack Smith LDS | Direct | |
Jun 1, 1844 | John S. Reed, who served as a legal representative for Joseph Smith, recounts events leading up to the 1830 trials, and trials themselves. | John S. Reed Non-LDS | Direct Reprint Late | |
Jun 1, 1844 | John S. Reed, who served as a legal representative for Joseph Smith, recounts events leading up to the 1830 trials, and trials themselves. | John S. Reed Non-LDS | Direct Reprint Late | |
1845 | Lucy Smith recalls Josiah Stowell hiring Joseph to work in his mine and the claim he engaged in "money digging." | Lucy Mack Smith LDS | 2nd Hand | |
1847 | Joseph Knight recalls Joseph's 1830 hearings and the charges being dismissed. | Joseph Knight, Sr. LDS | Holograph Direct Late | |
1855 | Brigham Young claims that priests from churches near Joseph Smith were influenced by a necromancer to find treasure. | Brigham Young LDS | Scribed Verbatim Direct Unsourced | |
Aug 1859 | Martin Harris, in an interview, recollects how Joseph Smith was told by Moroni not to continue associating with "money diggers." | Joel Tiffany Non-LDS | 2nd Hand Late | |
May 1870 | Historical Magazine prints interview of Fayette Lapham and Joseph Smith Sr. on seer stone retrieval, money-digging, and fortune-telling. | Joseph Smith, Sr. LDS | Scribed Summary Reprint Late | |
Feb 1873 | Charles Marshall reprints Judge Neely's court notes, People v. Joseph Smith trial transcript. | Charles Marshall Critic Non-LDS | Reprint | |
Feb 1873 | Charles Marshall reprints Judge Neely's court notes, People v. Joseph Smith trial transcript. | Charles Marshall Critic Non-LDS | Reprint | |
Jul 1875 | Ole A. Jensen's account of Martin Harris recalling finding a stone box but it slipped back into the hill. | Ole A. Jensen LDS | 2nd Hand Late | |
May 2, 1877 | Chenango Union publishes William D. Purple's reminiscences about 1826 hearing; calls it a "trial" and that Joseph Smith was discharged and "left the town." | William D. Purple Critic Non-LDS | Direct Late Journalism | |
Jul 30, 1877 | Ariel McMaster publishes an article stating that Joseph was found guilty in 1826 but was allowed to take "leg bail." | Ariel McMaster Critic Non-LDS | Unsourced Late Journalism | |
1878 | Brigham Young, based on experiences of Oriin Porter Rockwell et al., shares narratives about hidden treasures and the "cave" in Cumorah containing hidden plates. | Brigham Young LDS | Scribed Verbatim 2nd Hand | |
1882 | Emily M. Austin Recounts Joseph Smith performing an animal sacrifice during a treasure hunt on Joseph Knight's Farm in 1826. | Emily M. Austin Disaffected Critic | Direct Late | |
Jan 16, 1882 | Addisson Everett recounts to Joseph F. Smith a time when Joseph Smith was taken before a judge for being a "false prophet". | Addison Everett LDS | Holograph 2nd Hand Late | |
1883 | Daniel S. Tuttle's discussion of 1826 hearing in A Religious Encyclopaedia; claims Joseph was found 'guilty' at a trial. | Daniel S. Tuttle Critic Non-LDS | Secondary | |
Jan 1886 | Utah Christian Advocate reprints the Docket Entry for State of NY vs. JS (1826). | Utah Christian Advocate Critic Non-LDS | Reprint | |
Jan 1888 | Henry A. Sayer accuses Joseph smith of being a "peeker" and engaged in deception. | Henry A. Sayer Critic Non-LDS | Direct Reprint Late | |
Jan 1888 | Cornelius Stafford, in an affidavit, states that the Smith family were all engaged in "money digging" before 1827. | Cornelius R. Stafford Critic Non-LDS | Direct Late | |
Jan 1888 | W.R. Hine, in a statement, writes that Joseph Smith and his father were money diggers focusing on locating Captain Kidd's hidden treasure. | W. R. Hine Critic Non-LDS | Direct Reprint Late | |
Jan 1888 | Isaac Butts in his affidavit claims Joseph Smith dug for money at night time in 1820s. | Isaac Butts Critic Non-LDS | Direct Reprint Late | |
Apr 1888 | Christopher M. Stafford, in an affidavit, accuses Joseph Smith of having engaged in money digging using a "peep stone" and once convincing Mrs. Rockwell to dig for hours. | Christopher M. Stafford Critic Non-LDS | Direct Reprint Late | |
Apr 1888 | C. R. Smith in his 1885 Affidavit Testifies to the Widespread Popularity of Money Digging. | C. R. Smith Critic Non-LDS | Direct Reprint Late | |
Apr 1888 | Joseph Roger states Joseph directed a money digging expedition, but a witness said that the Lord chastited him for it. | Joseph Roger Critic Non-LDS | Direct Reprint Late | |
1940 | E. Cecil McGavin discusses the charge of Joseph Smith as a "money digger" and use of a seer stone in a work of historical fiction in 1940. | E. Cecil McGavin LDS | Direct | |
May 11, 1946 | "Church Section" in Deseret News calls record of 1826 hearing/trial "spurious." | Anonymous LDS | Direct Journalism | |
1959 | Rossell Hope Robbins gives a historical over of divination, including a discussion of the use of instruments such as objects and natural phenomena. | Rossell Hope Robbins Non-LDS | Secondary | |
1966 | William J. Fielding discusses the practice of crystal gazing. | William J. Fielding Non-LDS | Secondary | |
Jun 23, 1971 | Wesley Walters explains how he found the 1826 bill. | Wesley P. Walters Critic Non-LDS | Direct Reprint | |
Sep 16, 1971 | James A. Hayes writes to Wesley Walters requesting bills Walters took without permission to be returned. | James A. Haynes Non-LDS | Direct Reprint | |
Oct 28, 1971 | Wesley Walters's affidavit concerning his discovery of the 1826 bills; writes that they are authentic. | Wesley P. Walters Critic Non-LDS | Direct Reprint | |
1973 | Wesley Walters argues in the Westminster Theological Journal that Joseph Smith had a "trial" in 1826 based on evidence from bills. | Wesley P. Walters Critic Non-LDS | Secondary | |
1984 | Richard Lloyd Anderson publishes article on Joseph Smith, money digging, and the Hurlburt Affidavits. | Richard Lloyd Anderson LDS | Secondary | |
1990 | Gordon A. Madsen's 1990 article arguing Joseph had a hearing, not trial, and was not convicted in 1826. | Gordon A. Madsen LDS | Secondary | |
1991 | Richard Lloyd Anderson's book review addressing the reliability of the Hurlburt Affidavits. | Richard L. Anderson LDS | Secondary | |
1992 | Bentley in the Encyclopedia of Mormonism addressing the 1826 and 1830 hearings. | Joseph I. Bentley LDS | Secondary | |
2000 | Mark Ashurst-McGee's MA thesis on how "magic" and "money digging" informed Joseph Smith becoming a Prophet. | Mark Ashurst-McGee LDS | Secondary | |
2003 | Dan Vogel's article arguing that it was a trial, not a hearing, in 1826 and Joseph was found guilty. | Dan Vogel Excommunicated Critic | Secondary | |
2005 | Richard Lyman Bushman's discussion of the 1830 hearings in his biography of Joseph Smith. | Richard Lyman Bushman LDS | Secondary | |
2005 | Richard Lyman Bushman writes how he believes Joseph was not found guilty in 1826 hearing in his biography of Joseph Smith. | Richard Lyman Bushman LDS | Secondary | |
Dec 17, 2006 | University of Massachusetts Website gives an overview of the "Argument from Silence." | University of Massachusetts Non-LDS | Secondary | |
2016 | Richard Lyman Bushman discusses Joseph, Smith Money Digging, and the 1826 hearing in a book on Latter-day Saint apologetics. | Richard Lyman Bushman LDS | Secondary | |
2021 | Jortner provides an overview of the anti-supernatural bias of laws concerning witchcraft and how in the Post-Enlightenment era and that Smith's hearing/trial is an anomaly. | Adam Jortner Non-LDS | Direct Secondary | |
Apr 13, 2021 | The Joseph Smith Papers gives an overview of Joseph's 1826 hearing. | The Joseph Smith Papers LDS | Direct Secondary |