Leonard says the Church has had both pistols Joseph and Hyrum had in Carthage "for many years," and both will be displayed soon at the Museum of Church History and Art.

Date
Feb 17, 1990
Type
News (traditional)
Source
Glen M. Leonard
LDS
Hearsay
Direct
Reference

Glen M. Leonard, "Artifacts in history exhibit recall events of martyrdom," Church News, February 17, 1990

Scribe/Publisher
The Church News
People
Hyrum Smith, Henry E. Taylor, Glen M. Leonard, R. Don Oscarson, Cyrus Wheelock, Philo Dibble, Frederick Piercy, John Taylor, John S. Fullmer, Sarah Ellen Adams, Joseph Smith, Jr., Gary E. Smith, Stephen Markham, Harry Brown, Willard Richards
Audience
Reading Public
PDF
Transcription

A few familiar artifacts associated with the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith – and some surprises – will be featured in the new Church history exhibit opening this spring at the Museum of Church History and Art . . .

The horn will be shown alongside the weapons used in defense against the mob: John Taylor's cane, Joseph Smith's pepperbox pistol, and Hyrum Smith's handgun.

The cane had been left behind by Stephen Markham, who had gone to get medicine for an ill Willard Richards. When Elder Taylor grabbed Markham's knotted hickory-wood walking stick, Willard Richards reached for Taylor's own cane. The two men used them to knock aside the guns forced through a partially opened door. It is the Markham cane, obtained by the museum six years ago from a grandson, Henry E. Taylor Jr., via his daughter, Sarah Ellen Adams, that will be displayed.

Joseph Smith's six-cylinder percussion-cap pepperbox was brought into the jail the morning of June 27 by Cyrus Wheelock. Hyrum Smith had a single-barrel pistol provided by John S. Fullmer. These two guns have been in Church possession for many years.

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