175 years ago today - Mar 8, 1842

[Joel K. Nobel]
... Jo. Smith Senior Lived in Vermont connected with a band of counterfeiters --ran--came to Mohowk river [in New York] --aloped (Seduced a marr[i]ed woman) to Can[ady?] [Canada] came to Palmyra in [this] State[.] I firmly believe proof <<affidavit>> my <<may be>> had to identify--<<Like father Like son>> Jo. Smith (Mormon) came here when about 17-18 Y[ears]. of age in the capacity of Glass Looker or fortune=teler[.] ...

Jo. engaged the attention of a few indiv[iduals] Given to the marvelous[.] Dug for money[,] Salt[,] Iron Oar[,] Golden Oar[,] Silver Oar[,] and almost any thing[,] every thing until Civil authority brought up Jo. standing (as the Boys say) under the Vagrant act[.] Jo. was condemned[.] whisper came to Jo.[,] off off--took Leg Bail (or gave [leg bail])[.] all things Straight[.] Jo. was not seen in our town for of 2 Years or more (except in Dark corners)[.] his haunt was Palmyra and Harmony (Penn.) Bainbridge (in the Dark) making a triangle--here for 2 Y[ears]. and more[.] Jo.<<s>> mind Kept Same tract (only more hellish)[.] Stimilated by 2 individuals (above) and perhaps by Supposing himself to be considered not <<the>> Author of a Bible-- -- -- After 2 Years from the time of Jo.<<s>> first trial he appeared in our place bold as a Lion again[.] Jo. was arrested [and] exami=nation had[.] Jo. plead in bar Statue of Limitations[.] Jo was no Sooner Set on terifirma than arrested again brought before me in an adjoining County only 6 miles Distant[.] trial protracted 23 hours[.] the prosecuti[on] was Cond[ucted] by a Gent[leman] well Skil[l]ed in [the] Science of Law[.] proof manifested by I think 43 Witnesses[.] Proof Jo. a Vagrant idler[,] Lazy (not Drunkard) but now and then Drunk[,] Liar[,] Deceiver[,] Jo. a nuicance to Good Society[.] Jo. was asked by witness if he could see or tel more than others[.] Jo. said he could not and says any thing for a living[.] I now and then Get a shilling[.] The [commission?] You See made Jo. any thing but a Good man--Yours for to Day-- An acedote anecdote--Jo. and others were Diging for a Chest of money in night[.] could not obtain it it[.] they Procured one thing and an other together with [a] black Bitch the Bitch was offered a Sacr wh <<sacrifice>>[,] [blo]od Sprinkled[,] prayer made at the time (no money obtained)[.] the above Sworn to on Trial --Sir a Small Volume at least might might be fil[l]ed Similar to the above[.] ...

--Sir Jo condem[ned] in a Just[ice] trials Bar S[outh]. of [Quinntown?] [-] at Jo cost one Reprimand P.S. Sir I Give you no advice--but were I to write on Mo[rmo]ns I would begin at Least where Jo. began to Dig for money[.] I would follow J[o]. ...

Again P.S. anicdote (hellish) a Mormon Swore <<in open court>> Jo. Smith Cast a Devil out of him (M[ormo]n and said how D[evi]l looked[.] Said Devil was a body of Light and Gave a Relation of [the] whole Prosess --now the man was a P[ai]d man (or some may <<say>> deceived) Jo. present and Silent--(Silence Gives Consent)--follow the argum[en]t[.] ...

[Source: Joel K. Noble to Jonathan B. Turner, 8 March 1842, Jonathan Baldwin Turner Papers, Illinois State Historical Library, Springfield, Illinois., as cited in Dan Vogel, Early Mormon Documents: Joel K. Noble To Jonathan B. Turner]