The 1826 Trial of Joseph Smith

Martin Tanner explains the misconceptions and lies told about Joseph Smith's 1826 trial. It was not a trial at all. It was a preliminary hearing. Anti-Mormon critic Wesley P. Walters stole the 1826 hearing documents from the court. A lawsuit was filed against Walters, and a court order was issued required him to return the documents, but all he returned was a docket of costs and a list of witnesses. He did not return an order of dismissal or a verdict of not guilty, one of which should exist, but mysteriously, neither is part of the court file.