Legal Events

February 10, 1843

State v. Olney: Oliver Olney and Newel Nurse were brought before Nauvoo Mayor's Court on charges of burglary and larceny of Moses Smith's store. The goods were ordered to be returned to Moses Smith. Nurse was discharged. Oliver Olney held to bail for $5,000 to appear at the Hancock County Circuit Court.

February 21, 1843

Joseph Smith publicly chastised Robert D. Foster for selling lots and building the big "Mammoth Hotel" in uptown Nauvoo in competition with Church lot sales and the Church's Nauvoo House hotel. This was a major grievance against Joseph Smith for the Fosters (and Laws), who considered Joseph Smith as having an unjust monopoly and engaging in unfair competition.

March 2–3, 1843

Charles A. Dana v. William B. Brink. Brink had been charged with malpractice while delivering the Danas' baby. Joseph Smith spent most of these two days examining "many witnesses," hearing "many lawyers' pleas," and reading "much law." This lawsuit "excited much feeling among the people."

March 4, 1843

Nauvoo City Ordinance: Required any payment of city taxes, debts, and fines imposed under the ordinances of the city to be paid in gold and silver coin only and set forth fines for attempting to pass counterfeit or paper currency.

March 10, 1843

Charles A. Dana v. William B. Brink. Joseph Smith opened court at 10:00 a.m. and rendered a decision against Brink for malpractice. That night Joseph and others observed rays of light in the sky in the shape of a sword. The following day he prophesied that the sword was a sign of a "speedy and bloody war" to come.

March 25, 1843

In the office, Joseph Smith received a letter from former United States senator Richard M. Young of Quincy, Illinois, containing “a bond for a quarter section of land.”

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