The Illinois mob that killed a prophet: 200 men got away with murder in 1844

The Smith Brothers’ Murder at Carthage Jail

Carthage Jail holds a dark chapter in Mormon history.

In June 1844, Joseph Smith, both mayor of Nauvoo and Mormon prophet, shut down a newspaper that exposed his secret polygamy. The press destruction sparked fury across Illinois.

When Smith and his brother Hyrum went to face charges, they got trapped in Carthage Jail instead. On June 27, a mob with blackened faces stormed the jail.

Both brothers died in the attack – Hyrum shot through a door, Joseph while trying to escape from a window. The historic jail still stands today, a somber reminder of America’s religious tensions.

Excommunicated Leaders Exposed Smith’s Secret Marriages

William Law, Wilson Law, and other kicked-out church leaders printed the first and only copy of the Nauvoo Expositor on June 7, 1844.

The paper revealed Joseph Smith’s hidden practice of taking multiple wives and claimed he even married women who already had husbands.

These publishers got thrown out of the Mormon church without a trial, including William Law who used to be in the First Presidency.

They didn’t hold back, calling Smith a “blood thirsty and murderous…demon… in human shape.

The Mayor Smashed The Press That Criticized Him

Joseph Smith was both church leader and Nauvoo’s mayor. On June 10, 1844, he got the City Council to call the Expositor a public nuisance.

Smith made his feelings clear: “I would rather die tomorrow and have the thing smashed, than live and have it go on.”

He sent City Marshal John Greene with about 100 Nauvoo Legion members to wreck the printing press and burn all newspapers. This move ruined the publishers financially and crushed basic press freedoms.

Newspapers Called For Mormon “Extermination”

The press destruction sparked anger throughout Illinois, especially in nearby towns like Carthage and Warsaw.

Thomas Sharp at the Warsaw Signal newspaper stirred trouble, calling for “war and extermination” against the Mormons. Armed groups started gathering to attack Nauvoo.

Illinois Governor Thomas Ford felt growing pressure from all sides to handle Smith and the Nauvoo situation before things got worse.

Armed Standoff Began When Smith Called Out His Militia

Worried about attacks, Smith called out the 4,000-strong Nauvoo Legion militia on June 18, 1844, and put the city under martial law.

He appeared in full military clothes, pulled out his sword, and promised to protect his followers. Smith took the role of lieutenant general of this private army, which the state saw as challenging Illinois authority.

This move later formed the basis of treason charges against him.

The Governor Made Promises He Couldn’t Keep

Illinois Governor Thomas Ford tried to calm things by promising Smith would be safe if he turned himself in to face riot charges for destroying the newspaper.

Ford said Smith would get a fair trial in Carthage, the county seat. Meanwhile, anti-Mormon groups kept gathering despite the governor’s words.

Smith first tried to escape by crossing the Mississippi River into Iowa but changed his mind after some followers criticized him.

Smith Returned To Face The Music

On June 25, 1844, Joseph and his brother Hyrum gave themselves up to Constable William Bettisworth. They got charged with starting a riot for destroying the Expositor press.

Both brothers paid $500 bail each and thought they could leave.

Before going, Joseph told his followers he went “like a lamb to the slaughter,” seeming to know things might end badly for him.

A New Charge Trapped The Brothers In Jail

Just as the Smith brothers prepared to leave Carthage, they got hit with a new, more serious charge: treason against Illinois. This came from declaring martial law and calling out the Nauvoo Legion.

Treason was a capital offense with no bail option, which meant they couldn’t leave. Justice Robert F. Smith ordered them locked up in Carthage Jail until their trial, trapping them where angry mobs could find them.

Guards Abandoned Their Posts As Danger Grew

Only six members of the local Carthage Greys militia stayed to guard the jail. Governor Ford made things worse by sending most state troops away and leaving town for Nauvoo.

Outside the jail, armed men with faces painted black with gunpowder started gathering.

Church member Cyrus Wheelock managed to sneak a six-shooter pistol to Joseph Smith, giving him some way to defend himself.

The Mob Attack Came In The Afternoon

Around 5:16 PM on June 27, 1844, about 200 armed men stormed the jail. Their faces blackened with wet gunpowder, they quickly overpowered the few guards.

John Taylor and Willard Richards were in the upstairs room with the Smith brothers when it happened. The attackers rushed up the stairs as the guards stepped aside.

The four men inside tried to block the flimsy door as the mob pushed their way in.

Gunfire Erupted From All Directions

Hyrum Smith got shot first through the door, then took another bullet from outside through the window. A bullet struck his pocket watch as he yelled “I am a dead man!” before falling to the floor.

Joseph Smith fought back with his smuggled pistol, firing at the attackers until the gun misfired.

The mob kept shooting into the small jail room from multiple angles, turning the space into a deadly trap.

A Fatal Leap From The Window

Joseph Smith tried one last desperate move to escape by jumping from the second-story window. As he leaped out, bullets hit him mid-air, and he landed hard on the ground below, fatally wounded.

The mob wasn’t done – they fired more shots into his body as he lay dying. Both Smith brothers died at the scene.

John Taylor took four bullets but survived, while Willard Richards somehow escaped without a scratch, the only unharmed witness to the killings.

Visiting Nauvoo Historic District, Illinois

Start your visit at the Historic Nauvoo Visitors’ Center on 350 North Main Street to learn about Joseph Smith’s assassination at Carthage Jail.

Most attractions across the 1,100-acre district are free, including Carthage Jail’s guided tours that begin with an orientation film.

The Joseph Smith Historic Site charges $4-5 per person for tours of the Smith family homes. Missionary guides offer tours in English, Spanish, and Portuguese throughout the 40+ historic buildings.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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