Legal Events

February 23, 1844

Davis v. Smith: Proceedings occurred in connection with State v. John M. Finch, on habeas corpus, in the Nauvoo Municipal Court. Defendants Joseph Smith, Orson Spencer, and John P. Green were to bring papers dealing with the imprisonment of John M. Finch. The case was dismissed at defendants' costs on October 21, 1844, due to the death of Joseph Smith.

February 26, 1844

City of Nauvoo v. Bostwick: In Nauvoo Mayor's Court an affidavit of John Scott claimed O. F. Bostwick conversed with him about Bostwick's belief that Hyrum Smith had acquired spiritual wives and about Bostwick's allegations that there were several prostitutes in Nauvoo. Bostwick was convicted of slander.

February 26, 1844

City of Nauvoo v. Bostwick: Joseph Smith deplored Francis Higbee's appeal to Carthage of Higbee's client's (Orsimus Bostwick's) conviction for slandering Hyrum Smith, as an attempt to "stir up the mob and bring them against us."

March 12, 1844

Russell v. Smith et al. (Lake Co. Court of Common Pleas): The Lake County Court of Common Pleas entered a default judgment for $16,409.61 against Joseph Smith and others in a mortgage foreclosure action regarding debts in Ohio.

March 15, 1844

Conspiracy meetings (involving the Higbees, Laws, and Fosters) were described in affidavits by Abiathar Williams and M. G. Eaton. Also, Robert D. Foster claimed that Joseph Smith had tried to seduce Mrs. Foster.

March 28, 1844

Simpson v. Smith: Alexander Simpson filed a declaration that Joseph Smith's charges of robbery, attempted murder, and felony against him had tarnished his reputation. [See State v. Simpson, January 17, 1844.] Smith entered a plea of not guilty. The plaintiff granted a change of venue to McDonough County on May 23, 1844.

April 3, 1844

State v. Greene: Joseph Smith and the Municipal Court discharged John P. Greene, Andrew Lytle, and Jonathan Lytle, three city policemen on a writ of habeas corpus after being arraigned on Chauncey L. Higbee's complaint of false imprisonment. Higbee was charged with costs for bringing a "vexatious and malicious suit."

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