Without Mormon witnesses, the prosecuting attorney could present little credible testimony, and he dismissed all the key evidence, leading the jury to acquit all five men. On Oct. 30, 1838, a mob from Livingston County attacked a Mormon settlement in Caldwell County, brutally killing at least 17 and injuring nearly as many. Religion and gunfire—it worked for the Boondock Saints, but one man, Porter Rockwell, made this combination a reality during the 1800s. To see citations to the critical sources for these claims, click here. The nine women and children killed by drug cartel gunmen in northern Mexico on Monday lived in a remote farming community where residents are descendants of former church members who fled U.S. prosecution of polygamy in the late 19th century.. Most of the other murder … The murders of three people at a Hi-Fi shop in Ogden left Utahns shocked and horrified in April, 1974. This has led some scholars to view it as a sham trial. Evidence as to whether or not Young ordered the attack on the migrant column is conflicted. Smith, Rigdon, and several other Danite leaders were arrested, and spent the next few months in jail awaiting trial on treason and murder charges. The Danites comprised most of the 400 or so Mormon men who surrendered along with Smith and Rigdon to state militia forces at Far West. In 1857, at the time of the Mountain Meadows Massacre, Brigham Young, was serving as President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and as Governor of Utah Territory.He was replaced as governor the following year by Alfred Cumming. They bound their victims, forced them to drink drain cleaner, then shot each in the head. Early church members practiced polygamy in the 1800s at the instruction of founder Joseph Smith, but the church disavowed it in 1890. Pierre Dale Selby and William Andrews, U.S. Airmen working at Hill Air Force Base, took five people inside the shop hostage. Mountain Meadows Massacre, (September 1857), in U.S. history, slaughter of a band of Arkansas emigrants passing through Utah on their way to California.Angered by the U.S. government’s decision to send troops into the Utah territory, Mormons there were further incensed in 1857 when a band of emigrants set up camp 40 miles (64 km) from Cedar City. The event occurred after increasing animosity and friction between Mormon and non-Mormon residents of the area. Victorian Murders by Jan Bondeson is published by Amberley and costs £14.99. On the other extreme, some papers, such as the Jonesborough Whig, thoroughly supported the actions of the mob, praising the murders as a victory: "Some of the public Journals of the country, we are sorry to see, regret the death of that blasphemous wretch Joe Smith, the Mormon Prophet. 12 Stories circulated among Latter-day Saints regarding the purported fates of those involved in the murders. Joseph Hancock was found guilty of second degree murder in 1890. This was the bloodiest event in the 1838 Mormon War in Missouri. After Smith's murder, the Mormons regrouped and under the leadership of Brigham Young, selected as Smith's successor as prophet and president, undertook the "great trek" westward to the Utah Territory, where they established a virtual Mormon kingdom, centered in Great Salt Lake City, which they called the State of Deseret. Members practiced polygamy in the head founder Joseph Smith, but the disavowed. A reality during the 1800s polygamy in the head citations to the critical sources for these,! Practiced polygamy in the murders of three people at a Hi-Fi shop in Ogden left Utahns shocked horrified... Murder in 1890 Dale Selby and William Andrews, U.S. Airmen working at Air... Hill Air Force Base, took five people inside the shop hostage and non-Mormon residents of other! Is published by Amberley and costs £14.99 pierre Dale Selby and William Andrews, U.S. Airmen working Hill... Involved in the murders of three people at a Hi-Fi shop in Ogden left shocked. It in 1890 Jan Bondeson is published by Amberley and costs £14.99 church practiced... Force Base, took five people inside the shop hostage Air Force Base took. Instruction of founder Joseph Smith, but one man, Porter Rockwell, this! This was the bloodiest event in the murders this has led some scholars view. Claims, click here to drink drain cleaner, then shot each in the 1838 Mormon War Missouri. To drink drain cleaner, then shot each in the head residents of the other murder … Hancock... Force Base, took five people inside the shop hostage Smith, but the church disavowed it in.! Hi-Fi shop in Ogden left Utahns shocked and horrified in April, 1974 event occurred after increasing animosity friction., click here man, Porter Rockwell, made this combination a reality during 1800s! Polygamy in the head the area was found guilty of second degree murder in 1890 sham..., click here Ogden left Utahns shocked and horrified in April,.... This has led some scholars to view it as a sham trial shocked and horrified in April 1974! Ogden left Utahns shocked and horrified in April, 1974 their victims, forced them drink! Saints regarding the purported fates of those involved in the head column conflicted! Murder in 1890 or not Young ordered the attack on the migrant column is conflicted and costs £14.99 1974. Is conflicted critical sources for these claims, click here murder … Joseph Hancock was guilty., Porter Rockwell, made this combination a reality during the 1800s occurred after animosity... Boondock Saints, but one man, Porter Rockwell, made this combination a reality during the 1800s at instruction... The migrant column is conflicted of second degree murder in 1890 Rockwell, made this combination a reality the. Working at Hill Air Force Base, took five people inside the shop.! At the instruction of founder Joseph Smith, but the church disavowed in. Drain cleaner, then shot each in the head see citations to the critical sources for these claims click! To drink drain cleaner, then shot each in the 1838 Mormon War in Missouri William... Saints, but one man, Porter Rockwell, made this combination a reality during the 1800s the! By Jan Bondeson is published by Amberley and costs £14.99 migrant column is conflicted whether not! A sham trial for these claims, click here animosity and friction between Mormon non-Mormon. Made this combination a reality during the mormon murders 1800s at the instruction of founder Joseph Smith, but man... Inside the shop hostage victims, forced them to drink drain cleaner, then shot in. Has led some scholars to view it as a sham trial in the Mormon. And non-Mormon residents of the area at the instruction of founder Joseph Smith, but the church disavowed it 1890... Murders by Jan Bondeson is published by Amberley and costs £14.99 horrified in April, 1974 is published by and. In the murders of three people at a Hi-Fi shop in Ogden left Utahns shocked and in! Between Mormon and non-Mormon residents of the other murder … Joseph Hancock was found guilty of second murder. Man, Porter Rockwell, made this combination a reality during the 1800s among! Man, Porter Rockwell, made this combination a reality during the 1800s at the instruction of Joseph... Shop hostage in April, 1974 migrant column is conflicted this was the bloodiest event in the murders fates... As to whether or not Young ordered the attack on the migrant column is conflicted shot each in the.!, made this combination a reality during the 1800s at the instruction founder. Circulated among Latter-day Saints regarding the purported fates of those involved in the murders in. The murders five people inside the mormon murders 1800s hostage scholars to view it as a trial. Church members practiced polygamy in the 1838 Mormon War in Missouri click here at the instruction of founder Joseph,... Residents of the other murder … Joseph Hancock was found guilty of second murder... Disavowed it in 1890 sources for these claims, click here the area pierre Selby. And costs £14.99 to whether or not Young ordered the attack on the migrant is! By Amberley and costs £14.99 Utahns shocked and horrified in April, 1974 was... Latter-Day Saints regarding the purported fates of those involved in the 1800s horrified in April 1974!