In a cottage at 1845 Frederick street, Lake View, is William Hyde. He knows more about the history of Mormonism than any living man who does not hold a card of the "profesh." Although nearly 90 years of age Mr. Hyde is as active as any "colt" in the Chicago team. He has a remarkable memory, and can recall events that happened when he was 5 years of age with apparently little reflection. His descriptions are very graphic, especially in giving his version of the figureheads of the "Latter-Day Saints." In 1881 he went to Manchester, England, where his parents migrated from in 1797, and inherited a snug legacy, on which he is now living. Mr. Hyde was born at Portsmouth, N.H., in 1799 and was left fatherless when scarcely 2 years old, his widowed mother being then left to depend upon her own resources. At the age of 16 young Hyde left his mother and went to Boston, where he served his time as a baker's apprentice, and after wandering about several years landed at Palmyra, N. Y. A TIMES reporter wended his way to "1845" yesterday and found the old gentleman reading. He said:

"I opened a general store in the village of Palmyra. Joel and Levy Thayer, my uncles, were the principal merchants in the place. They had extensive pork-packing interests and operated a system of twenty-six boats along the canal. In other words they controlled that slice of the earth.

"The Smiths, whom history has chronicled as sheep-thieves and the founders of Mormonism, emigrated from Sharon, Vt. (where Joseph Smith, Jr., was born in 1805), to Palmyra in 1827. They lived in the outskirts of the village, and in the fall of the year the senior Smiths was employed by my relatives as a pork-packer, and shortly after his son Joseph was also thus engaged. While visiting the Thayers I became acquainted with the men, who I don't believe were ever guilty of any misdemeanor until they became involved in the religious riffle. One evening in the early part of 1828 Smith senior visited me. He seemed to be such a solemn looking duck that I didn't court his friendship, but he was so entertaining that after conversing with him until after midnight, I told him to call often. He was a slim man about 5 feet 11, and always appeared to be in a deep study. From the time of his first visit until his religious scheme was sprung I don't believe he missed a night without stopping with me for at least three hours. There wasn't a subject he couldn't discuss intelligently, and my opinion of him was high. His memory was something extraordinary. He could repeat several chapters of a book verbatim after it had been read rapidly.

"He was very shrewd and he gradually coached me along until he thought I was in his power and then he rung in his little game. At first he imparted as a great secret that his son 'Joe' had a wonderful 'gift.' That was all I could get him to disclose for over a week, and I guess he lost the confidence he had in me. Rectifying the misunderstanding with Mr. Smith I was again his right bower, and he said the possession consisted of two stones called Urim and Thummin which enabled the boy to seek treasures in the earth and surpass Daniel as a prophet. It might be appropriate to state now that the Smiths were monogamists and not polygamists; their sole object was to obtain riches, which they did, but ultimately it cost the 'modern Daniel' his life.

"The villainous impostors had already became quite popular with about a score of people, but they were without a system to fleece them. Eventually Smith, Sr., the great concocter and originator, enacted a little deal that successfully duped the innocents. It was May 17, 1829. Large banks of black clouds obscured the moon, and the night was hideous. Joseph Smith repaired to some woods about a mile distant from his father's house, and in about an hour returned. During his absence Smith, Sr., had gathered as many of his proposed victims as possible at his house. They were all engaged in conversation when suddenly a rumbling noise was heard, and the boy staggered in and fell on the floor with a large package. A host of people gathered around him. He was unconscious. Being resuscitated he related one of the most thrilling narratives ever heard. While looking through his magnetic arrangement he discovered some peculiar marks on the ground. Scrutinizing them more carefully he was able to discern their meaning, which was instructions for him. He obeyed and unearthed the package, which he carried. As he was about to turn homeward a mounted spirit appeared and demanded he should replace the treasure in the earth. Instead of complying with the mandate he picked up his baggage and ran. By dodging behind trees and in bushes he evaded his pursuer, who never ceased attempting to hit him with his scorpion sword.

"The contents of the parcel were kept secret for a long time and I was the first person Smith, Sr., confided the arrangement to. The mysterious package was alleged to have contained seven gold plates 16 inches long by 10 wide and 1/8 inch thick. Certain marks or hieroglyphics on those plates recorded the history of a highly civilized community that peopled this earth many centunes ago. No one could comprehend the meaning of the characters engraved on the tablets but young Smith, and he had to use his transparent rocks. When translated the golden sheets would be of great value. Hidden treasures would be revealed and everybody who contributed to the grist by way of money would become the possessor of immense wealth. Being the first person to whom the secret was given of course it was only fair that I should be the first to receive an offer. If I would donate a stipulated sum to the fund Smith, Sr., agreed to install me as treasurer. I had so much faith in the old man that I was inclined to believe his bald-headed assertions, and told him I would go to his house the Sunday following and see the plates.

"He was surprised when I made the payment of my initiation fee conditional. He thought I was so completely in his power that I wouldn't hesitate to subscribe. When I said I would go and see the 'keys' to everlasting riches he was dazed. In fact I paralyzed him. After whipping around the stump with his fire-escape whiskers flapping with the wind he finally said: 'It will mean death for you to attempt to look at the plates They are sewed in a silk sack and the first person who disbelieves the truth of my assertion will be obliterated.' I began to think now that the man was demented and my belief was strengthened by the fact that Smith senior was a somnambulist. I told him his declaration made me more anxious than ever and if I could die looking at those plates that was just the death I wanted -- anything to gratify my appetite for those golden tablets. Finding I wasn't his mark he tried to ensnare others and was successful. Smith's hearers, or proselytes, generally wanted to see the great 'prognosticators,' but Smith's answer would invanably be that the Angel Maroni, who had charge of the plates, commanded that no one should see them under penalty of death and confiscation. The generation that existed there were, according to the 'store-keeper,' too corrupt to come in communication with the plates. Slowly the people gained in faith and gradually money poured into the coffers of Smith & Son. Finally the day for the revelation of the hidden treasures came, and after being concealed in a room for several hours with his son, Smith finally emerged and told the leaders of the party to go into a forest, about two and one-half miles from Palmyra, and dig for the treasure. The people rebelled against the prophets and for a few moments Smith & Co. were in very warm water. Joseph Smith, Jr., agreed to go and point out the lucky spot and the people were again appeased. Everybody wanted the young prophet to ride in their vehicle, and it seemed at one time as though a riot was inevitable so eager were the 'gold-seekers' to arnve at the promised land and become rich. The matter was adjusted. Smith was given a horse of his own and there was no preferment.

"Arriving at the designated place each man's territory was apportioned and they went to work on the fool's errand. Such a gang of hustlers you never saw. They beat our Italian street laborers. Toward evening Joe smith left the diggers and returned to his home. The people continued to dig, not one of them returning that evening for fear of losing their ground. The next day they continued with renewed energy, but no gold or anything else was iscovered. Smith would tell them to persevere and they kept on like ground-hogs This continued for a week and an acre of ground was turned over. In some cases there were excavations twenty feet deep, but for the most part after the miners had gone ten feet they would seek new fields. The people became despondent and clamored for their money. The feeling toward the Smiths was so obnoxious that the brace of scoundrels condescended to go to the scene of their myrmidons' labors, but before this arrangement was made Smith made the plebeians promise they would remain away from the gold-fields for three days.

"At the expiration of the days of grace Smith and his constituents, who had become very wrathy, went to the forest, which looked like the relics of an earthquake or an eruption. It was about 9 o'clock Sunday evening, and after an hour's devotion, in which the junior Smith was very active, the party proceeded to explore the mysterious depths. When they reached the twenty-foot hole Smith commanded all to descend. The mandate was complied with, and while all were engaged in prayer there was a sudden illumination that dazzled the gnome-like occupants. The elder Smith gave one sepulchral grunt and then all was in confusion. The people fled in all directions, leaving their conveyances and implements behind. Several women who were in the party were trampled upon, and the whole fizzle was over. When Smith returned to his home it was surrounded by the disappointed, who were almost wild in denouncing the fiend. He reprimanded them severely and said they were in red-headed luck not to be burned up, as the Lord was very angry, and their dubiousness in believing the word of God caused the whole misunderstanding. So the fools were again satisfied and Smith took care of their donations. Although the first game had caused some dissension in their ranks Smith was not to be baffled by a small thing like a threat of being lynched, and started to unfurl another scheme.

"This is the point where Mormonism got its foothold. It was promulgated that Joseph Smith had a conference with a deputy from Heaven, who authorized him to establish a kingdom on earth and appoint his father high-priest The ire of the surrounding inhabitants was aroused by this declaration, and the Smiths were threatened with annihilation. But he again restored the people to his confidence and commenced his "bleeding" and work which broke up no less than forty families in the village of Palmyra.

The first one to fall in line was Martin Harns, a farmer estimated to be worth $30,000. Harris' wife objected to his becoming a member of the church, but he was obdurate and wouldn't listen to any suggestions his wife offered. The result was the family split. Mrs. Harris took the farm and stock and her husband $10,000 in cash, which he was to contribute to the Lord. The Smiths got their divvy of this amount and the balance was sucked from the pocket of the unsophisticated farmer. When this racket had got under good headway Smith tried to bring me in again, promising to make an apostle of me. I never consented to join the ranks, but, thinking I was getting there rapidly, Smith unfolded his plans to me.

"The next man to fall in line as a leader was Sidney Rigdon. He came from Ohio and was born in Pennsylvania in February, 1793. He was a fairly educated man and is credited with publishing the first Mormon bible, which was, in fact, composed by old man Smith, although the congregation believed that it was translated from the golden plates by Joseph Smith by means of Urim and Thummim. When the manuscripts were ready they were given to a printer, and Martin Harris paid $3,000 for as many of the handbooks. Services were held openly a short distance from the village, and Smith, Sr., would baptize people by immersion. Generally he would perform four or five ceremonies of this sort every Sunday to the merriment of the citizens, who would be stowed away behind hay-stacks near the pond.

"Having secured as many suckers as possible the prophet proclaimed that they should seek new pastures, and they set out for Kirtland, O. ... [missing lines]...

L.F.C.

Note 1: The supplier of this article conveys to the newspaper's readers a number of what appear to be factual errors; however, parts of the account may be based upon true memories. The story given here appears to place Sidney Rigdon in the Palmyra area before the Book of Mormon was published. The chronolgy is not reported in enough detail to be certain that this is what is meant, of course

Note 2: See the Salt Lake City Deseret News of Nov. 10, 1888 for a follow-up article.

FOLLOW UP

Editor Deseret News:

The foregoing appeared in the Chicago Times of Sunday, Oct. 14, and is a fair specimen of the generality of articles on the subject of Mormonism, with which the eastern press delights to [spread] popular prejudice as regards said subject. The ignorance of the great masses of the journalists so-called, their unwillingness to properly inform themselves on the subjects on which they pretend to inform the public, their mental imbecility and willful mendacity is proverbial, but the foregoing article beats the record. To anyone who knows the least thing about Mormonism, its doctrines and history, and the character of its founders, the absurdity of the statements made therein is patent, but to make sure of the falsehood of these statements your correspondent went to interview Mr. Hyde, and the following conversation ensued:

"You were a resident of Palmyra, N.Y., at the time the Smith's lived there?"