Legal Events

January 3 and 5, 1844

At city council meetings, William Law complained that Joseph Smith tried to have city police put him and William Marks "out of the way" as traitors. After interviewing thirty police and others (including Francis Higbee), Law and Marks pledged full devotion to Joseph Smith. Joseph Smith warned Higbee to "hold his tongue" lest Joseph Smith disclose some private matters that Higbee would prefer kept hidden. Joseph Smith later suspected that William Law and William Marks were "absolutely traitors."

January 3 and 5, 1844

At city council meetings, William Law complained that Joseph Smith tried to have city police put him and William Marks "out of the way" as traitors. After interviewing thirty police and others (including Francis Higbee), Law and Marks pledged full devotion to Joseph Smith. Joseph Smith warned Higbee to "hold his tongue" lest Joseph Smith disclose some private matters that Higbee would prefer kept hidden. Joseph Smith later suspected that William Law and William Marks were "absolutely traitors."

January 10, 1844

Nauvoo City Ordinance: Emphasized the idea that the foregoing ordinances and resolutions of the City Council of Nauvoo should never be construed to prevent justice, but only to aid and assist civil officers in ensuring justice.

January 23, 1844

Joseph Smith instructed William Clayton to prepare final accounting to the Probate Justice of the Peace in order to transfer the Lawrence guardianship to John Taylor. On the same day Articles of Agreement to effect the transfer were prepared, but never signed by Joseph Smith or Taylor.

February 5, 1844

At the Nauvoo Municipal Court, where Joseph Smith presided as chief justice, he spent the whole day listening to different city wards present their tax lists; then he remitted the taxes of the widows and poor who were unable to pay.

February 12, 1844

At a city council meeting, Joseph Smith signed the memorial to Congress, a document outlining the afflictions of the Saints in Missouri, and he blessed Orson Pratt to prosper in presenting the memorial before government officials in Washington, D.C.

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