Letter by IH on JS's money-digging and "seeing."

Date
May 1, 1834
Type
News (traditional)
Source
Isaac Hale
Critic
Non-LDS
Hearsay
Direct
Reprint
Reference

"Mormonism," Susquehanna Register (Montrose, Pennsylvania) Vol. 9, No. 21 (1 May 1834)

Scribe/Publisher
Susquehanna Register
People
Isaac Hale
Audience
Reading Public
Transcription

I first became acquainted with JOSEPH SMITH, Jr. in November, 1825. He was at that time in the employ of a set of men who were called “money-diggers;” and his occupation was that of seeing, or pretending to see by means of a stone placed in his hat, and his hat closed over his face. In this way he pretended to discover minerals and hidden treasure. His appearance at this time, was that of a careless young man—not very well educated, and very saucy and insolent to his father. Smith, and his father, with several other ‘money-diggers’ boarded at my house while they were employed in digging for a mine that they supposed had been opened and worked by the Spaniards, many years since. Young Smith gave the ‘money-diggers’ great encouragement, at first, but when they had arrived in digging, to near the place where he had stated an immense treasure would be found—he said the enchantment was so powerful that he could not see. They then became discouraged, and soon after dispersed. This took place about the 17th of November, 1825; and one of the company gave me his note for $12[.]68 for his board, which is still unpaid.

Citations in Mormonr Qnas
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