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."