May 23, 1844

Carthage, Illinois

State v. Smith: A grand jury indicted Joseph Smith for perjury based on Robert D. Foster's oath that Joseph Smith had sworn a complaint to arrest Alexander Simpson for theft and assault of a Brother Richard Badham outside Nauvoo. (See State of Illinois v. Simpson, January 17, 1844.) Joseph Smith was so irate that he sent Orrin Porter Rockwell and Justice of the Peace Aaron Johnson to have Foster indicted for perjury. They arrived too late and the jury "had risen."