Footnotes
Eaton and Williams made their affidavits before Justice of the Peace Daniel H. Wells. Eaton’s and Williams’s affidavits were published in the 17 April 1844 issue of the Nauvoo Neighbor. (Abiathar Williams, Hancock Co., IL, Affidavit, 27 Mar. 1844, and Merinus G. Eaton, Hancock Co., IL, Affidavit, 27 Mar. 1844, in Nauvoo Neighbor, 17 Apr. 1844, [2]; see also JS, Journal, 17 Apr. 1844.)
Abiathar Williams, Hancock Co., IL, Affidavit, 27 Mar. 1844, in Nauvoo Neighbor, 17 Apr. 1844, [2].
Merinus G. Eaton, Hancock Co., IL, Affidavit, 27 Mar. 1844, in Nauvoo Neighbor, 17 Apr. 1844, [2].
Richards wrote in JS’s journal entry of the same day an account from JS’s perspective: “On the stand I related what was told me yesterday by Mr [Merinus G.] Eaton. that Wm. Law. Wilson Law. R[obert] D. Foster. Chaunc[e]y L. Higbee. & Joseph [H.] Jackson had held a caucus, desig[n]ing to destroy all the Smith family in a few weeks.” Bullock similarly recorded in his own journal that “Joseph spoke about a conspiracy to kill him— he said he would not say anything about the characters of the Laws, [Joseph H.] Jackson, Dr. [Robert D.] Foster, or [Chauncey L.] Higbee— but if he was driven to it, he would tell all he knew.” (JS, Journal, 24 Mar. 1844; Historian’s Office, Journal, 24 Mar. 1844.)
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The version of this accusation in Abiathar Williams’s affidavit did not attach this alleged event to Missouri. According to Williams, “Joseph H. Jackson further said that Chancy Higbee had said that he the said Chancy Higbee had seen men tied hand and foot and run through the heart with a sword, and their heads taken off, and then buried; and he durst not say a word.” (Abiathar Williams, Hancock Co., IL, Affidavit, 27 Mar. 1844, in Nauvoo Neighbor, 17 Apr. 1844, [2].)
Abiathar Williams’s affidavit said that he heard Jackson say two weeks. Merinus G. Eaton’s affidavit said he heard Jackson say “he should not be surprised if there should be a real muss and an insurrection in the city in less than two months, and that if a disturbance should take place the Carthagenians and others would come and help them.” (Abiathar Williams, Hancock Co., IL, Affidavit, 27 Mar. 1844, and Merinus G. Eaton, Hancock Co., IL, Affidavit, 27 Mar. 1844, in Nauvoo Neighbor, 17 Apr. 1844, [2].)
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