June 25, 1844

Carthage, Illinois

State v. Joseph and Hyrum Smith: In the courtroom, Joseph Smith and Hyrum Smith were served writs charging them with treason, a nonbailable offense, for placing Nauvoo under martial law on June 18, 1844. Despite there having been no hearing on that new charge, the defendants were taken to the Carthage Jail that evening under protective custody. The two treason complaints against Joseph Smith and Hyrum were apparently signed by Augustine Spencer and Henry Norton, respectively. John Taylor called them "two worthless fellows not worth 5 cents between them." Governor Ford speculated that the charges of treason were based on declaring martial law in Nauvoo and resisting the "posse comitatus."