The Girl Who Testified Against the Mob of Murderers

Art by William L. Maughan

To watch on Youtube click here: https://youtu.be/l7lwaISU0no

To listen on Spotify click here: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/krystine-stephenson/episodes/Eliza-Jane-Graham--Trial-for-the-murderers-of-Joseph-Smith-History-of-the-LDS-Church-e326a56

The murder of Joseph and Hyrum Smith was not a simple rebellion of an unruly mob, but there are layers to the depth of the tragedy. Joseph Smith knew if he went to Carthage he would be killed, and warned close family and friends. The mob men in the area were prepared to carry out the heinous act, and believed there would be no repercussions, for their actions. The deaths of Joseph and Hyrum left the members of the Church in shock and chaos ensued. The members were not sure what would become of them, believing they could be killed next. Even with all the difficulties the members were facing, there were many with a firm convictions believing their loving Heavenly Father would not leave them alone through their trials, and defended the truth. This is evident in the story of a nineteen year old girl, named Eliza Jane Graham, who put her life on the line to testify against the mob men who killed the Prophet.

Eliza Jane Graham was an early member of the Church and had moved with her family to gather with the Saints in Nauvoo. After living in Nauvoo for a bit, Eliza Jane went to work for her aunt and uncle, Samuel and Ann Graham Fleming, in a nearby town of Warsaw. The couple owned the Fleming Inn, also known as the Warsaw House Hotel. This Inn acted as a hotel, boarding house, restaurant, saloon, and livery with stables. Eliza worked as a waitress as the restaurant in the hotel. Eliza's Aunt and Uncle were not member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

There was great anti Latter-day Saint sentiment in Warsaw, and although Eliza was a practicing Latter-day Saint, she was able to do her job with no problems. Eliza did her work well at the Inn and did not broadcast her membership as a member of the Church.

Death of Joseph Smith

On June 27, 1844 the day of the death of Joseph Smith a the mob men who were worked up into a frenzy, convinced that they were the people meant to stop Joseph Smith were mostly from the town of Warsaw. More than 200 men had left Warsaw and gone north to Nauvoo. A fabricated story had been contrived and spread through the area implying that Governor Ford had been kidnapped by member of the Church and he was waiting to be rescued.

The men left Warsaw on their way to Carthage. At around noon, while traveling to Carthage, the mob men were met by a messenger sent by the Governor telling the men they should all return home. After receiving this news the group of men dividing into two groups, some followed the governors orders, disbanded and returned home. The other group did not follow the direction of the Governors messenger. A small group of men petitioned for the mob not to give up, reminding them of the problem and Joseph Smith has been for them.

The mob men disguised their faces with mud and gun powder, so they were unrecognizable. At 5 pm on June 27, 1844 the mob men made their attack on Carthage Jail, killing Joseph and Hyrum Smith. After Joseph was killed the mob men heard someone yell "the Mormon's are coming" and scattered. The mob, ran away returning to Warsaw.

Around 9pm, after the murders had been committed the mob began to return to Warsaw and went directly to the Warsaw House Hotel where Eliza Jane Graham was working. News had not spread to Warsaw of what had occurred in Cathage until Thomas Sharp, one of the leaders of the mob men returned. Thomas Sharp entered the restaurant and asked for a glass of water. Sharp waited at the Warsaw House Hotel’s restaurant until dozens of his co-conspirators joined him. Eventually, some 50-60 mob members gathered, ordered food and drink, and celebrated what had just occurred in Carthage.

Eliza Jane Graham the 18 year old Latter-day Saints listened in horror as different members of the group began describing what had happened. She gathered herself and paid close attention to what the various mob members were saying. Eliza Jane memorized where the men sat, what they said, and how they said it. At the same time, her aunt, the proprietor of the Warsaw House, remained in the back kitchen cooking and preparing the requested meals. Her husband Samuel was in Boston on business.

As the evening got later and more alcohol was consumed, the group began to get louder and more boisterous. Two men, Jacob C. Davis and William Grover, openly discussed the killing of the Smiths. Grover bragged that he had been the actual killer of “Old Joe.” All while Eliza Jane was taking mental notes of the conversations around her. Around 2 am the crowd finished dinner and finally left.

Eliza left her employment in Warsaw and moved to Nauvoo to live with her parents. Nauvoo was in chaos after the death of Joseph. Many did not know what to do or what would become of the Church, along with mourning the loss of their Prophet.

Governor Ford acted promptly trying to calm tensions in the area. The Governor knew he was being watching closely for his next move because he had promised safety to the Smith brothers as they went to Carthage but it was not honored by the mobs and militias in the area. Governor Ford promised swift legal justice for what had occurred.

The members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints knew better than to believe in the promises of the Governor and believed there was no hope in bringing the mob men to justice. Their dear Prophet and his brother were killed in broad daylight, with two witnesses still alive, and they knew there was no hope for justice.

At the death of Joseph and Hyrum it did not stop the large anti Latter-day Saint sentiment in the area. A few months later, in October 1844, Eliza’s uncle Thomas Graham, a non-church member, was asked to sit on a Grand Jury that was convened in Carthage. The purpose of the Grand Jury was to see if there was enough evidence to warrant a trial be held on this matter. On Saturday, October 26, 1844, this Grand Jury decided to charge nine people for the crime committed in Carthage. These nine were Thomas Sharp, Levi Williams, William Grover, Jacob Davis, Mark Aldrich, John Wills, William Voras, John Allen, and William Gallaher.

The audacity of the people of the town and the mob men at the time was evident when some of the men who faced charges were celebrated. Gallaher and Voras were bought new suits by the residents of Green Plains as a show of support. But others felt those charged were criminals, including Governor Ford, who wrote that the mob committed “mutiny and treachery.” Out of these nine that were charged, four fled the area, leaving only Sharp, Williams, Grover, Davis, and Aldrich to stand trial about seven months later. All of these five lived in Warsaw except for Levi Williams, who lived, as noted, in nearby Green Plains.

The Prosecutor of the case against the mob men acknowledged that it might never be known who actually pulled the trigger that killed Joseph and his brother, and for this reason the men were charged with "the conspiracy to commit murder." The Prosecutor went after the men with the most influence and ability to get a mob of men to Carthage, and it was evident that Thomas Sharp was that man.

When the trial came around it was a clear anti-Latter-day Saint environment, which was even noted while in court. Saying: “There are hundreds here I have no doubt who are ready to applaud you and rejoice with you if you should return a verdict of not guilty against these men.”

There were people who came from all over the area, but the leadership of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had avoided being subpoenaed knowing the trial would not amount to anything anyways.

Eliza knew all of this, she was willing to testify against the mob, even though everyone else felt like it was fruitless. Eliza knew what was at stake, she stood up what she had heard and seen. Eliza knew that, even though these men would probably not be convicted of the crimes they committed, she would do her part to pursue justice for Joseph and Hyrum Smith.

When called to the stand Eliza recounted her experience the night of the crimes. She recounted how she served those mob men boasting of the murders of her Prophet and his brother. Eliza was asked to tell the jury what she heard that night. Eliza testified of one man saying “he had killed Old Jo” but then others men argued with him and would insist that they had killed Smith. Eliza testified she heard William Grover say he had committed the murders. She said that all around the Warsaw House the men were bragging and rejoicing concerning their deeds. In her concluding remarks, Eliza testified that Sharp and Davis had said “we have finished the leading men of the Mormon Church.”

Not long after Eliza's testimony her Aunt who owned the Inn called the the stand and contradicted all that Eliza had said.

On Friday, May 30, 1845 at 2pm that day the jury returned with a “Not Guilty” verdict. Very few were surprised. The Mormons had already figured they would never see a conviction in Carthage. The Nauvoo Neighbor newspaper did not even mention the trial. A second trial, one for the murder of Hyrum Smith, was never held because the prosecution failed to appear. When it was all over there were two murdered men, five known ringleaders, and no convictions.

John Hay summarized that “there was not a man on the jury, in the court, in the county, that did not know the defendants had not done the murder. But it was not proven, and the verdict of NOT GUILTY was right in the law.” Sometime later, Thomas Sharp was asked if he had murdered Joseph Smith and he simply replied, “Well, the jury said not.”

For her documented testimony click here: https://famous-trials.com/carthrage/1285-grahamtestimony

references:

"The Bravest Woman in Church History That You’ve Never Heard Of" By Brian Stutzman · July 21, 2021