Why Was Joseph Smith Accused of Being a “Disorderly Person” in 1826? (Knowhy #594)

In 1825, Joseph Smith and his father Joseph Sr. were hired by a man named Josiah Stowell to help dig for treasure in an old Spanish silver mine. Stowell hired Joseph specifically upon hearing of a miraculous gift he possessed to see the unseen. In 1826, Peter Bridgeman, one of Stowell's nephews, charged Joseph Smith with being a "disorderly person"--a charge issued against many people including those that pretended to see treasure by magical means to defraud people of their money--and brought him to court in Bainbridge, New York. This charge and subsequent court trial has brought on speculation by many critics intent on showing Joseph Smith was a con artist and thus undermining his credibility in claiming that he received divine direction to translate an ancient record of scripture, to establish a church, and so forth. This KnoWhy examines the relevant historical documents and demonstrates, upon examining all available evidence about the trial, that Joseph Smith was likely acquitted of the charge.

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