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Introduction to State of Illinois v. Sympson, Sympson v. JS, and State of Illinois v. JS for Perjury Indictment, circa 23 May 1844 [State of Illinois v. JS for Perjury] Docket Entry, Indictment, 24 May 1844 [State of Illinois v. JS for Perjury] Docket Entry, Order for Capias, 24 May 1844 [State of Illinois v. JS for Perjury] Capias, 22 June 1844 [State of Illinois v. JS for Perjury] Subpoena, 26 June 1844 [State of Illinois v. JS for Perjury] Docket Entry, Abatement, 21 October 1844 [State of Illinois v. JS for Perjury] Case File Wrapper, circa October 1844 [State of Illinois v. JS for Perjury]

Indictment, circa 23 May 1844 [State of Illinois v. JS for Perjury]

Source Note

Indictment, [
Carthage

Located eighteen miles southeast of Nauvoo. Settled 1831. Designated Hancock Co. seat, Mar. 1833. Incorporated as town, 27 Feb. 1837. Population in 1839 about 300. Population in 1844 about 400. Site of acute opposition to Latter-day Saints, early 1840s. Site...

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], Hancock Co., IL, [ca. 23] May 1844, State of IL v. JS for Perjury (Hancock Co., IL, Circuit Court 1844); handwriting of E. A. Thompson; docket by E. A. Thompson, [
Carthage

Located eighteen miles southeast of Nauvoo. Settled 1831. Designated Hancock Co. seat, Mar. 1833. Incorporated as town, 27 Feb. 1837. Population in 1839 about 300. Population in 1844 about 400. Site of acute opposition to Latter-day Saints, early 1840s. Site...

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, Hancock Co., IL, ca. 23 May 1844]; notation by unidentified scribe, [ca. 23 May 1844]; notation by
Jacob B. Backenstos

8 Oct. 1811–25 Sept. 1857. Merchant, sheriff, soldier, politician, land speculator. Born at Lower Paxton, Dauphin Co., Pennsylvania. Son of Jacob Backenstos and Margaretha Theis. Member of Lutheran Reformed Church. Married Sarah Lavina Lee, niece of Robert...

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, 24 May 1844; four pages; Hancock County Courthouse, Carthage, IL; microfilm 4,661,986 at FHL and photocopy at Joseph Smith Papers Project.

Historical Introduction

See Introduction to State of Illinois v. Sympson, Sympson v. JS, and State of Illinois v. JS for Perjury.

Page [2]

corruptly, knowingly, wilfully, and meliciously in and by his said affidavit in writing, did depose & swear (amongst other things) in substance & to the effect following that is to say, that
Alex

8 Nov. 1807–16 Aug. 1867. Trader, saw mill operator, land developer. Born in Green Co., Kentucky. Son of William Sympson and Mary Clendennin. Resided in Greensburg, Green Co., 1810. Moved to Summersville, Green Co., by Aug. 1820. Married Nancy Carter, ca....

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Robery and an attempt to commit a murder on the body of one
Richard Badham

25 Nov. 1793–after 9 May 1846. Farmer. Born in Herefordshire, England. Son of Abraham Badham. Married Hannah Nott, 3 June 1822, in Bosbury, Herefordshire. Emigrated with his wife and daughter from Liverpool, Lancashire, England, 8 Nov. 1841; arrived in New...

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in said
Hancock County

Formed from Pike Co., 1825. Described in 1837 as predominantly prairie and “deficient in timber.” Early settlers came mainly from mid-Atlantic and southern states. Population in 1835 about 3,200; in 1840 about 9,900; and in 1844 at least 15,000. Carthage ...

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had before that time been perpetrated, and from information he the said Joseph Smith senior verily believed that one
Alexander Sympson

8 Nov. 1807–16 Aug. 1867. Trader, saw mill operator, land developer. Born in Green Co., Kentucky. Son of William Sympson and Mary Clendennin. Resided in Greensburg, Green Co., 1810. Moved to Summersville, Green Co., by Aug. 1820. Married Nancy Carter, ca....

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was the person guilty of the said Robery & attempt to commit murder as in & by the said affidavit would fully appear had the same not have been destroyed by the said Joseph Smith senior, Whereas in truth & in fact he the said Joseph Smith senior at the time be so sworn to and made oath to the said affidavit did not <​verily​> believe that the said
Alexander Sympson

8 Nov. 1807–16 Aug. 1867. Trader, saw mill operator, land developer. Born in Green Co., Kentucky. Son of William Sympson and Mary Clendennin. Resided in Greensburg, Green Co., 1810. Moved to Summersville, Green Co., by Aug. 1820. Married Nancy Carter, ca....

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was the person who was guilty of the said robery and attempt to murder And so the Jurors aforesaid upon their oaths aforesaid do say that the said Joseph Smith senior on the said seventnth day of January in the year last aforesaid at the
county

Formed from Pike Co., 1825. Described in 1837 as predominantly prairie and “deficient in timber.” Early settlers came mainly from mid-Atlantic and southern states. Population in 1835 about 3,200; in 1840 about 9,900; and in 1844 at least 15,000. Carthage ...

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aforsaid in the
state

Became part of Northwest Territory of U.S., 1787. Admitted as state, 1818. Population in 1840 about 480,000. Population in 1845 about 660,000. Plentiful, inexpensive land attracted settlers from northern and southern states. Following expulsion from Missouri...

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aforesaid before the said
Aaron Johnson

22 June 1806–10 May 1877. Farmer, gunmaker. Born in Haddam, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. Son of Didymus Johnson and Ruhamah Stephens. Joined Methodist church, early 1820s. Married Polly Zeruah Kelsey, 13 Sept. 1827, in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut...

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, he the said
Aaron Johnson

22 June 1806–10 May 1877. Farmer, gunmaker. Born in Haddam, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. Son of Didymus Johnson and Ruhamah Stephens. Joined Methodist church, early 1820s. Married Polly Zeruah Kelsey, 13 Sept. 1827, in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut...

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then & ther having such power & authority as aforesaid, by his own act & consent, and of his own most wicked and corrupt mind, in manner & form as aforesaid falsely, wickedly, wilfully, diabolically, maliciously, corruptly, and of the instigation of the devil did commit wilful and corrupt perjury; to the great displeasure of Almighty God, contr[ar]y to the form of the statute in such case made [p. [2]]
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Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Indictment, circa 23 May 1844 [State of Illinois v. JS for Perjury]
ID #
4168
Total Pages
4
Print Volume Location
Handwriting on This Page
  • E. A. Thompson

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