The published version of the city council minutes renders this paragraph as follows: “Councillor Phelps continued and said, he felt deeper this day than ever he felt before, and wanted to know, by yes; if there was any present, who wanted to avenge the blood of that innocent female, who had been seduced by the then Major General of the Nauvoo Legion, Wilson Law; when yes!! resounded from every quarter of the house; he then referred to the tea plot, at Boston, and asked if any body’s rights were taken away with that transaction, and are we offering, or have we offered to take away the rights of any one, these two days? (No!!! resounded from every quarter.)” (“For the Neighbor,” Nauvoo Neighbor, Extra, 17 June 1844, [1], italics in original.)

See Isaiah 3:15. This phrase is probably playing on a notice placed by William and Wilson Law in the Nauvoo Expositor announcing that “those who through sickness; or other misfortunes, are much limited in their means of procuring bread for their families” could grind their grain at the Laws’ mill at no charge “till grain becomes more plentiful after harvest.” An article in the 12 June Nauvoo Neighbor that criticized the Laws’ notice was entitled “Grinding the Poor.” (“Notice,” Nauvoo Expositor, 7 June 1844, [3], italics in original; “Grinding the Poor,” Nauvoo Neighbor, 12 June 1844, [2].)

Nauvoo Neighbor. Nauvoo, IL. 1843–1845.

The published version of the city council minutes renders this paragraph as follows: “He then referred also to Law’s grinding the poor during the scarcity of grain, while the poor had nothing but themselves to grind; and spoke at great length in support of active measures to put down iniquity, and suppress the spirit of mobocracy.” (“For the Neighbor,” Nauvoo Neighbor, Extra, 17 June 1844, [1].)

This could refer to Harris acting as the chair of the city council meeting. Alternatively, the rules of order for the Nauvoo City Council stipulated that “when any member is about to speak in debate, or offer any matter to the council, he shall rise from his seat, and address the Mayor.” In contrast, “when the Mayor speaks, it shall be from his chair.” This exception may have applied to Harris as president pro tempore, since he acted in the mayor’s place. (“Rules of Order of the City Council of the City of Nauvoo,” 22 Jan. 1842, 3, Nauvoo, IL, Records, CHL.)

The published version of the city council minutes renders this passage as follows: “The following resolution was then read and passed unanimously, with the exception of Councellor Warrington.” After this, the text of the resolution declaring the Nauvoo Expositor a nuisance was inserted into the published minutes. (“For the Neighbor,” Nauvoo Neighbor, Extra, 17 June 1844, [1]; see also Resolution, 10 June 1844.)

The following paragraph is not included in the published version of the city council minutes. (“For the Neighbor,” Nauvoo Neighbor, Extra, 17 June 1844, [1].)

This petition requested that an old barn on Hyde Street, which was owned by Robert D. Foster, be declared a nuisance and removed “in consequence of the filth in and around” it. (Alanson Ripley et al. to Nauvoo City Council, Petition, Nauvoo, IL, 10 June 1844, Nauvoo, IL, Records, CHL; Nauvoo City Council Minute Book, 10 June 1844, 212.)

This petition requested that Knight Street be opened all the way to Nauvoo’s eastern boundary. (George W. Crouse et al. to Nauvoo City Council, Petition, [Nauvoo, IL], ca. 9 Mar. 1844, Nauvoo, IL, Records, CHL.)

The following paragraph is not included in the published city council minutes. (“For the Neighbor,” Nauvoo Neighbor, Extra, 17 June 1844, [1].)

John P. Greene was the assessor and collector for Nauvoo’s fourth municipal ward, constituting the southwestern quadrant of the city. (Nauvoo City Council Rough Minute Book, 9 Mar. 1844, 8.)

The published version of the city council minutes renders this passage as follows: “6 o’clock, P. M., Council adjourned.” (“For the Neighbor,” Nauvoo Neighbor, Extra, 17 June 1844, [1].)

The following line is not included in the published city council minutes. (“For the Neighbor,” Nauvoo Neighbor, Extra, 17 June 1844, [1].)

On 18 June 1844, church member Truman Gillet Jr. swore out an affidavit before Willard Richards, the Nauvoo city recorder, testifying that “on or about the first day of June 1842, while passing up the Ohio river on the steamboat Massachusetts,” he overheard a Missourian tell another man, “If Law could have succeeded in getting an introduction for us to ‘Jo’ Smith . . . we would have gagged him and nabbed him.” Conversing with the Missourian the following day, Gillet learned that he and “some twelve or fourteen other men” had stopped in Nauvoo and enlisted Law’s help in getting an introduction to JS but that they had been stopped by the police. According to Gillet, the Missourian insisted that Law was aware of their plan to kidnap JS at the time. During the 8 June 1844 city council meeting, JS and Daniel Carn recalled Law coming to JS’s house late at night with a group of men only to be stopped by Carn, who was on watch. Based on this incident and Law’s behavior afterward, JS and Carn concluded that Law was involved in a conspiracy to betray JS. (JS, Journal, 18 June 1844; Truman Gillet Jr., Affidavit, Nauvoo, IL, 18 June 1844, JS Office Papers, CHL; Minutes, 8 June 1844.)