Danite organizer, state's witness
Sampson Avard
1 topic · 2 dated events
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Violence and the Mormon Conflict
Danite organizer, state's witness
Avard organized and drilled the Danite band at Far West in June 1838 and administered its oath. Captured during the siege of Far West, he became the prosecution's chief witness at the Richmond court of inquiry, testifying that everything he had done was on orders from the First Presidency. He was excommunicated; both faithful and dissenting Latter-day Saints described him as untrustworthy.
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2 events across 1 topics, chronological. Only events this person was actually part of — present at, responsible for, or the subject of — not every event where the name comes up.
The Danite band is organized at Far Westhinge
A society first called the Daughter of Zion, later the Danites, was formed under Sampson Avard, organized in companies of tens, fifties and hundreds with officers of military rank. Members swore an oath never to reveal the society's purposes on pain of death and covenanted to stand by one another whether right or wrong. Avard later testified that its first object was to drive the dissenters out of Caldwell County.
The Richmond court of inquiry; Avard testifies
Judge Austin A. King heard evidence for more than two weeks against some sixty defendants. Sampson Avard, captured and threatened with prosecution, was the state's chief witness; he called Joseph Smith "the prime mover and organizer of this Danite band" and produced a Danite constitution. King found probable cause against thirty-four men. Smith, his brother Hyrum, Rigdon, Wight, McRae and Baldwin were held for treason.
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