June 20, 1843
Nauvoo City Ordinance: Specifically listed the tolls for the passage of various persons, wagons, carriages, and animals across the Mississippi by use of the ferry.
Legal Events
June 21, 1843
Stephen Markham and William Clayton, having been sent by Hyrum Smith to warn Joseph about the arrest warrant, arrived at the Wassons' home at about 4 p.m. Joseph decided not to set out for Nauvoo, fearing that if he were arrested where he had no friends, he would be kidnapped into Missouri.
June 23, 1843
Joseph Smith sent William Clayton to Dixon to try to find out what was going on there. Clayton met Joseph H. Reynolds, sheriff of Jackson County, Missouri, and Constable Harmon T. Wilson of Carthage, Illinois, both of whom were masquerading as Mormon missionaries. They found Joseph at the Wassons' and arrested him.
June 24, 1843
Although Reynolds and Wilson sought to prevent Joseph Smith from obtaining legal counsel, they were unsuccessful, and Joseph obtained a writ of habeas corpus, returnable before Judge John D. Caton at Ottawa, Illinois. Cyrus Walker, candidate for U.S. representative, agreed to serve as Joseph’s lawyer only after securing Joseph’s promise to vote for him.
June 26, 1843
Joseph Smith and his entourage returned to Dixon and obtained a second writ of habeas corpus, this one returnable before the nearest tribunal in the Fifth Judicial District.
June 26, 1843
Ex parte Joseph Smith: Joseph Reynolds and Harmon Wilson attempted to prevent Joseph Smith from addressing the local citizens but were rebuked by David Town, "an aged gentleman."
June 27, 1843
Still in custody of Reynolds and Wilson, Joseph Smith was joined by members of the Nauvoo Legion and, shedding tears of joy, said, “I am not going to Missouri this time. These are my boys.”
June 29, 1843
Joseph Smith consulted with his lawyers and told them that Nauvoo was the nearest place where writs of habeas corpus could be heard. They agreed, and the party turned toward Nauvoo. Joseph and his company of roughly 100 men made it to Michael Crane's on Honey Creek, where a flock of turkeys and chickens were killed for a feast for the company
June 29, 1843
Nauvoo City Ordinances: Required all strangers entering Nauvoo to give their names, former residence, and what intent they have in being in Nauvoo. Also gave authorities the right to ask whether any of these persons had recently been exposed to any contagious disease or diseases from whence they came. Prohibited citizens of Nauvoo from keeping any animal confined within the City for the purpose of "increasing the passions or ferocity of said animal" or endangering any passer-by.
June 30, 1843
Joseph Smith rode into Nauvoo for his hearing, where he wept tears of joy together with his family and friends and was greeted with a band and processional.
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