Being called upon to give a statement to the world of what I know
respecting the (Gold Bible -speculation, and also or the conduct
of Martin Harris, my husband, who is a leading character among the
Mormons, I do it free from prejudice realizing that I must give
an account at the bar of God for what I say. Martin Harris was once
industrious attentive to his domestic concerns, and thought to be
worth about ten thousand dollars. He is naturally quick in his temper
and in his mad-fits frequently abuses all who may dare to oppose
him in his wishes.
However strange it may seem, I have been a great sufferer by his
unreasonable conduct. At different times while I lived with him,
he has whipped, kicked, and turned me out of the house. About a
year previous to the report being raised that Smith had found gold
plates, he became very intimate with the Smith family, and said
he believed Joseph could see in his stone any thing he wished. After
this he apparently became very sanguine in his belief, and frequently
said he would have no one in his house that did not believe in Mormonism,
and because I would not give credit to the report he made about
the gold plates, he became more austere towards me. In one of his
fits of rage he struck me with the but end or a whip, which I think
had been used for driving oxen, and was about the size or my thumb,
and three or four feet long. He beat me on the head four or five
times, and the next day turned me out of doors twice, and beat me
in a shameful manner. The next day I went to the town or Marion,
and while there my flesh was black and blue in many places. His
main complaint against me was, that I was always trying to hinder
his making money.
When he found out that I was going to Mr. Putnam's, in Marion,
he said he was going too, that they had sent for him to pay them
a visit. On arriving at Mr. Putnam's, I asked them if they had sent
for Mr. Harris; they replied, they knew nothing about it; he, however,
came in the evening. Mrs. Putnam told him never to strike or abuse
me any more; he then denied ever striking me; she was however convinced
that he lied, as the marks of his beating me were plain to be seen,
and remained more than two weeks. Whether the Mormon religion be
true or false, I leave the world to judge, for its effects upon
Martin Harris have been to make him more cross, turbulent and abusive
to me. His whole object was to make money by it. I will have one
circumstance in proof of it. One day, while at Peter Harris house,
I told him he had better leave the company of the Smiths, as their
religion was false; to which he replied, if you would let me alone,
I could make money by it.
It is in vain for the Mormons to deny these facts; for they are
all well known to most of his former neighbors. The man has now
become rather an object of pity; he has spent most of his property,
and lost the confidence of his former friends. If he had labored
as hard on his farm as he has to make Mormons, he might now be one
of the wealthiest farmers in the country. He now spends his time
in traveling through the country spreading the delusion of Mormonism,
and has no regard whatever for his family.
With regard to Mr. Harris being intimate with Mrs. Haggard, as
has been reported, it is but justice to myself to state what facts
have come within my own observation, to show whether I had any grounds
for jealousy or not. Mr. Harris was very intimate with this family,
for some time previous to their going to Ohio. They lived a while
in a house which he had built for their accommodation, and here
he spent the most of his leisure hours ; and made her presents of
articles from the store and house. He carried these presents in
a private manner, and frequently when he went there, he would pretend
to be going to some of the neighbors, on an errand, or to be going
into the fields. After getting out of sight of the house, he would
steer a straight course for Haggard's house, especially if Haggard
was from home. At times when Haggard was from home, he would go
there in the manner
above described, and stay till twelve or one o'clock at night, and
sometimes until day light.
If his intentions were evil, the Lord will judge him accordingly
but if good, he did not mean to let his left hand, know what his
right hand did. The above statement or facts, I affirm to be true.
LUCY HARRIS.
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