Mormon History
Martin Harris and Domestic Violence - 1833
G. W. Stodard Statement on Martin Harris - 1833
Palmyra, Nov. 28th, 1833
Having been called upon to state a few facts which are material to the characters of some of the leaders of the Mormon sect, I will do so in a concise and plain manner. I have been acquainted with Martin Harris, about thirty years. As a farmer, he was industrious and enterprising, so much so, that he had, (previous to his going into the Gold Bible speculation) accumulated, in real estate, some eight or ten thousand dollars. Although he possessed wealth, his moral and religious character was such, as not to entitle him to respect among his neighbors. He was fretful, peevish and quarrelsome, not only in the neighborhood, but in his family. He was known to frequently abuse his wife, by whipping her, kicking her out of bed and turning her out of doors &c. Yet he was a public professor of some religion. He was first an orthadox Quaker, then a Universalist, next a Restorationer, then a Baptist, next a Presbyterian, and then a Mormon. By his willingness to become all things unto all men, he has attained a high standing among his Mormon brethren. The Smith family never made any pretentions to respectability.
G. W. STODARD.
I hereby concur in the above statement.
RICHARD H. FORD.
Lucy Harris Statement on Martin Harris Her Husband
Palmyra, Nov. 29, 1833.
Being
called upon to give a statement to the world of what I know respecting the Gold
Bible speculation, and also of 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 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 of a whip, which I think had been used for driving oxen, and was about the
size of 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 of 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, but 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 give 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 travelling 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 of facts, I affirm to be true.
LUCY HARRIS.