| 842 documents concerning the matter in my possession, but I think that to say further is unnecessary, as the subject is so plain that no one can mistake the true nature of the case,
I remain yours, respectfully,
JOSEPH SMITH.
Nauvoo, June 23, 1842.
The following extracts from letters received by gentlemen in this city from their correspondents in relation to Gen. Bennett, will corroborate with the above statements and testimony:
URBANA, Ill., June 1842.
* * * * "As to my knowledge of John C. Bennett, I can safely say that he is unworthy of the confidence of all mankind; in my opinion, he is an infamous rascal, and I am well acquainted with him. * * *
MONTECELLO, Platt Co., Ill., June 3, 1842.
* * * * "You inquire of me about John Cook Bennett. * * * That without any creditable way of getting a living, and without any apparent income, he handles more money than any common person.
"That he pretended to have had a commission as Surgeon in the United States army, but had not.
"That he had united with persons unknown, and non-resident in that state, to filch money from the unwary, by getting up a plat of a town on a scale of 800 acres, as the capital of Michigan, when it was about to become a state; and thereby procure from thoughtless persons money to locate such a town, and pay in town lots-without any even remote supposable idea of ever locating such a town.
"That he had in like manner attempted to palm himself upon the Legislature of Ohio, by trying to get a charter for a College in that state, but the Legislature detected him, and recorded him on the journals as an impostor, and Mr. Bailhache, editor of the "Ohio State Journal," published it as far as the paper was read."
McCONNELSVILLE, Morgan Co. O. }
March 2, 1841. }
Dear Sir--By your request I have made inquiries into the history of John Cook Bennett, and am enabled to give you the following facts which may be relied on as correct.
"When a young man his character stood fair, he studied medicine with his uncle, Dr. Samuel P. Hildreth, of Marietta, Washington county, O. It is believed he has a diploma, and also recommendations from some of the principal Physicians of that place; he started out with fair prospects, and married a daughter of Col. Joseph Barker, near Marietta. Bennett and his wife united with the Methodist Church, and he became a local preacher. It was soon manifest that he was a superficial character, always uneasy, and moved from place to place; at different times lived in Barnesville, Maconnelsville, Malta, Wheeling, Va., Colesville, Pennsylvania and Indiana; it is not presumed that less than twenty towns has been his place of residence at different times; he has the vanity to believe he is the smartest man in the nation; and if he cannot at once be placed at the head of the heap, he soon seeks a situation; he is always ready to fall in with whatever is popular; by the use of his recommendations he has been able to push himself into places and situations entirely beyond his abilities; he has been a prominent personage in and about colleges and universities, but had soon vanished; and the next thing his friends hear of him he is off in some other direction; at one time he was a prominet [prominent] Campbellite preacher.
"During many years his poor, but confiding wife, followed him from place to place, with no suspicion of his unfaithfulness to her; at length however, he became so bold in his departures, that it was evident to all around that he was a sore offender, and his wife left him under satisfactory evidence of his adulterous connections; nor was this his only fault; he used her bad otherwise. Mrs. Bennett now lives with her father; has two children living, and has buried one or two. Dr. Bennett has three brothers-in-law living in this place, who, if they were disposed, could give all the particulars; but I dislike to urge them; I did apply to one which I thought the most likely, but he seemed reluctant to give it; but referred me to the person who has given me the foregoing; but he not being a connexion [connection], has not been particular in following him in all his perigrinations [peregrinations]; but is, no doubt correct, so far as given;-it has been Dr. Bennett's wish that his wife should get a bill of divorcement, but as yet she has not; nor does my informant know that she contemplates doing so;-in fine, he is an imposter [impostor], and unworthy of the confidence of all good men." * *
Through motives of delicacy, we withhold the names of our informants, and other correspondents; but hold ourselves in readiness, at all times, to substantiate by abundant testimony, all that has been asserted, if required, as the documents are all on hand.
GEORGE MILLER.
NOTICE.
TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, GREETING.-
Whereas John Cook Bennett, in the organization of the Nauvoo Lodge, under dispensation,
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