Sarah Pratt: Credible Witness?

[_Runtu]

The following comes from Wilhelm Wyl's 1886 book, Mormon Portraits. Wyl interviews Sarah Pratt, wife of Orson Pratt, who gives us the following:

"I want you to have all my statements correct in your book and put my name to them; I want the truth, the full truth, to be known, and bear the responsibility of it.

"I have told you that the prophet Joseph used to frequent houses of ill-fame. Mrs. White, a very pretty and attractive woman, once confessed to me that she made a business of it to be hospitable to the captains of the Mississippi steamboats. She told me that Joseph had made her acquaintance very soon after his arrival in Nauvoo, and that he had visited her dozens of times. My husband (Orson Pratt) could not be induced to believe such things of his prophet. Seeing his obstinate incredulity, Mrs. White proposed to Mr. Pratt and myself to put us in a position where we could observe what was going on between herself and Joseph the prophet. We, however, declined this proposition. You have made a mistake in the table of contents of your book in calling this woman "Mrs. Harris." Mrs. [G. W.] Harris was a married lady, a very great friend of mine. When Joseph had made his dastardly attempt on me, I went to Mrs. Harris to unbosom my grief to her. To my utter astonishment, she said, laughing heartily: "How foolish you are! I don't see anything so horrible in it. Why, I AM HIS MISTRESS SINCE FOUR YEARS!"

"Next door to my house was a house of bad reputation. One single woman lived there, not very attractive. She used to be visited by people from Carthage whenever they came to Nauvoo. Joseph used to come on horseback, ride up to the house and tie his horse to a tree, many of which stood before the house. Then he would enter the house of the woman from the back. I have seen him do this repeatedly.

"Joseph Smith, the son of the prophet, and president of the re-organized Mormon church, paid me a visit, and I had a long talk with him. I saw that he was not inclined to believe the truth about his father, so I said to him: 'You pretend to have revelations from the Lord. Why don't you ask the Lord to tell you what kind of a man your father really was?' He answered: 'If my father had so many connections with women, where is the progeny?' I said to him: 'Your father had mostly intercourse with married women, and as to single ones, Dr. Bennett was always on hand, when anything happened.'

It was in this way that I became acquainted with Dr. John C. Bennett. When my husband went to England as a missionary, he got the promise from Joseph that I should receive provisions from the tithing-house. Shortly afterward Joseph made his propositions to me and they enraged me so that I refused to accept any help from the tithing-house or from the bishop. Having been always very clever and very busy with my needle, I began to take in sewing for the support of myself and children, and succeeded soon in making myself independent. When Bennett came to Nauvoo, Joseph brought him to my house, stating that Bennett wanted some sewing done, and that I should do it for the doctor. I assented and Bennett gave me a great deal of work to do. He knew that Joseph had his plans set on me; Joseph made no secret of them before Bennett, and went so far in his impudence as to make propositions to me in the presence of Bennett, his bosom friend. Bennett, who was of a sarcastic turn of mind, used to come and tell me about Joseph to tease and irritate me. One day they came both, Joseph and Bennett, on horseback to my house. Bennett dismounted, Joseph remained outside. Bennett wanted me to return to him a book I had borrowed from him. It was a so-called doctor-book. I had a rapidly growing little family and wanted to inform myself about certain matters in regard to babies, etc., -- this explains my borrowing that book. While giving Bennett his book, I observed that he held something in the left sleeve of his coat. Bennett smiled and said: 'Oh, a little job for Joseph; one of his women is in trouble.' Saying this. he took the thing out of his left sleeve. It was a pretty long instrument of a kind I had never seen before. It seemed to be of steel and was crooked at one end. I heard afterwards that the operation had been performed; that the woman was very sick, and that Joseph was very much afraid that she might die, but she recovered.

"Bennett was the most intimate friend of Joseph for a time. He boarded with the prophet. He told me once that Joseph had been talking with him about his troubles with Emma, his wife. 'He asked me,' said Bennett, smilingly, 'what he should do to get out of the trouble ?' I said, 'This is very simple. GET A REVELATION that polygamy is right, and all your troubles will be at an end.'

"The only 'wives' of Joseph that lived in the Mansion House were the Partridge girls. This is explained by the fact that they were the servants in the hotel kept by the prophet. But when Emma found out that Joseph went to their room, they had to leave the house.

"I remember Emma's trip to St. Louis. I begged her to buy for me a piece of black silk there.

"You should bear in mind that Joseph did not think of a marriage or sealing ceremony for many years. He used to state to his intended victims, as he did to me: 'God does not care if we have a good time, if only other people do not know it.' He only introduced as marriage ceremony when he had found out that he could not get certain women without it. I think Louisa Beeman was the first case of this kind. If any woman, like me, opposed his wishes, he used to say: 'Be silent, or I shall ruin your character. My character must be sustained in the interests of the church.' When he had assailed me and saw that he could not seal my lips, he sent word to me that he would work my salvation, if I kept silent. I sent back that I would talk as much as I pleased and as much as I knew to be the truth, and as to my salvation, I would try and take care of that myself.

"In his endeavors to ruin my character Joseph went so far as to publish an extra-sheet containing affidavits against my reputation. When this sheet was brought to me I discovered to my astonishment the names of two people on it, man and wife, with whom I had boarded for a certain time. I never thought much of the man, but the woman was an honest person, and I knew that she must have been forced to do such a thing against me. So I went to their house; the man left the house hurridly when he saw me coming. I found the wife and said to her rather excitedly: 'What does it all mean?' She began to sob. 'It is not my fault,' said she. 'Hyrum Smith came to our house, with the affidavits all written out, and forced us to sign them. 'Joseph and the church must be saved,' said he. We saw that resistance was useless, they would have ruined us; so we signed the papers.'"

A couple of things stand out to me.

She knows the approximate dates of Joseph's marriages. We know this because the alleged proposition by Joseph Smith occurs in 1842, whereas Presendia Harris' relationship with Joseph Smith began in 1838, hence "since four years." She knows that Louisa Beaman was among the first and that the Partridge girls lived with Joseph as wives until Emma sent them away.

She attributes the lack of progeny to Joseph's having had intercourse "mostly" with married women and John Bennett's skill as an abortionist.

One thing that is interesting is that she mentions a Mrs. White as a known prostitute, whereas Robert Foster lists Mrs. White as one who was known to be intimate with John Bennett, along with Sarah Pratt, Martha Brotherton, and others.

So, is this a reliable account, or is this a woman with an axe to grind? If the latter, what do you think was her motivation for becoming such a bitter enemy of Joseph Smith? That's what I can't figure out. If Bennett had really seduced her, why would she have turned against Joseph Smith?

[_Sethbag]

This is a real catch-22. If she's so negative against Joseph, it must be that she's "biased". But what made her so biased in the first place, if not the things she accuses Joseph of?

It's like the TBMs will not credit the testimony of anyone who does not speak in glowing terms about the Prophet. Anyone else is biased.

I'd be "biased" too if I'd experienced from Joseph what she did. She had ample, first-hand reasons to be "biased" against the Prophet. She knew that the emperor had no clothes, and wasn't afraid to say so.

Has anyone got a link to the "extra sheet" Joseph Smith is supposed to have printed with affidavits against Sarah Pratt's character? I'd be interested in seeing what Joseph had to say about her.

[_karl61]

she said her former landlord said they were forced to sign affidaviats - well given the testimony of the judge from Missouri who was forced to sign an affidaviat by an armed group - (I think Joseph and Hyrum were there) this sounds like something they would do.

[_Runtu]

This is a real catch-22. If she's so negative against Joseph, it must be that she's "biased". But what made her so biased in the first place, if not the things she accuses Joseph of?

It's like the TBMs will not credit the testimony of anyone who does not speak in glowing terms about the Prophet. Anyone else is biased.

I'd be "biased" too if I'd experienced from Joseph what she did. She had ample, first-hand reasons to be "biased" against the Prophet. She knew that the emperor had no clothes, and wasn't afraid to say so.

Has anyone got a link to the "extra sheet" Joseph Smith is supposed to have printed with affidavits against Sarah Pratt's character? I'd be interested in seeing what Joseph had to say about her.

I don't have the extra sheet, but here are the testimonies of the couple that Mrs. Pratt says were coerced by Hyrum Smith:

July 23,1842.

Mr. Orson Pratt, Sir:—Considering a duty upon me I now communicate to you some things relative to Dr. Bennett and your wife, that came under the observation of myself and wife, which I think would be satisfactory to the mind of a man could he but realize the conduct [of] those two individuals while under my [ ce]. I would have been glad to have [ ] forever in silence if it could have been so and been just.

I took your wife into my house because she was destitute of a house, Oct. 6,1840, and from the first night, until the last, with the exception of one night, it being nearly a month, the Dr. was there as sure as the night came, and generally two or three times a day—on the first three nights he left about 9 o'clock—after that he remained later, sometimes till after midnight; what their conversation was I could not tell, as they sat close together, he leaning on her ... whispering continually or talking very low—we generally went to bed and had one or two naps before he left.

After being at my house nearly a month she was furnished with a house by Dr. Foster, which she lived in until sometime about the first of June, when she was turned out of the house and came to my house again, and the Dr. came as before.

One night they took their chairs out of doors and remained there as we supposed until 12 o'clock or after; at another time they went over to the house where you now live and come back after dark, or about that time. We went over several times late in the evening while she lived in the house of Dr. Foster, and were most sure to find Dr. Bennett and your wife together, as it were, man and wife. Two or three times we found little Orson lying on the floor and the bed apparently reserved for the Dr. and herself—she observing that since a certain [ ] he had rather sleep on the floor than with her.

I am surprised to hear of her crying because Bro. Joseph attempted to kiss her as she stated, even if he did do it; for she would let a certain man smack upon her mouth and face half a dozen times or more in my house without making up the first wry face. I will not mention his name at present.

There are many more things which she has stated herself to my wife, which could go to show more strongly the feelings, connexion, and the conduct of the two individuals. As to the lamb which Dr. Bennett speaks of, I killed it, and kept a hind quarter of it for my own use, and saw the Dr. and Mrs. Pratt eat of the balance; The (Dr.) told me he would like to have me save enough blood to make a French pudding, which I believe Mrs. Pratt spoke of afterwards and said it looked so that she could not eat it. I had not instructions to save the entrails [to be sacrificed], and the Dr. was not present to [sacrifice] them himself, consequently his statements that he burned them on twelve stones is a falsehood, for the hogs eat them.

Your friend
Stephen H. Goddard

I certify that the above statement of my husband is true according to the best of my knowledge.

Zeruiah N. Goddard. Sworn to before me July 23d 1842.

Geo. W. Harris, Alderman of the City of Nauvoo. (Affidavits and Certificates, August 31, 1842)

Testimony of Mrs. Goddard

Dr. Bennett came to my house one night about 12 o'clock, and sat on or beside the bed where Mrs. Pratt was and cursed and swore very profanely at her; she told me next day that the Dr. was quick tempered and was mad at her, but I have no other reason. I concluded from circumstances that she had promised to meet him somewhere and had disappointed him; on another night I remonstrated with the Dr. and asked him what Orson Pratt would think, if he could know that you were so fond of his wife, and holding her hand so much; the Dr. replied that he could pull the wool over Orson's eyes.

Mrs. Pratt stated to me that Dr. Bennett told her, that he could cause abortion with perfect safety to the mother, at any stage of pregnancy, and that he had frequently destroyed and removed infants before their time to prevent exposure of the parties, and that he had instruments for that purpose &c.

My husband and I were frequently at Mrs. Pratt's and stayed till after 10 o'clock in the night, and Dr. Bennett still remained there with her and her little child alone at that late hour.

On one occasion I came suddenly into the room where Mrs. Pratt and the Dr. were: she was lying on the bed and the Dr. was taking his hands out of her bosom; he was in the habit of sitting on the bed where Mrs. Pratt was lying and lying down over her.

I would further state that from my own observation, I am satisfied that their conduct was anything but virtuous, and I know Mrs. Pratt is not a woman of truth, and I believe the statements which Dr. Bennett made concerning Joseph Smith are false, and fabricated for the purpose of covering his own iniquities, and enabling him to practice his base designs on the innocent.

Zeruiah N. Goddard (ibid.)

It's interesting that these testimonies were sworn before George W. Harris, husband of Lucinda Harris, one of Joseph's polyandrous wives.

[_harmony]

One thing that is interesting is that she mentions a Mrs. White as a known prostitute, whereas Robert Foster lists Mrs. White as one who was known to be intimate with John Bennett, along with Sarah Pratt, Martha Brotherton, and others.

What a little Peyton Place! Abortions. Prostitution. Adultery. Fornication. Nauvoo must have been a very interesting place to observe, what with all the sneaking around going on. And our dear "prophet" right in the middle of it all.

[_Sethbag]

What's really interesting to me is that the affidavit designed to smear Sarah Pratt, for the defense of Joseph Smith, reiterates the claim made by Sarah Pratt that Dr. Bennett performed abortions, and had tools for doing that, and had done it many times, etc. So we have a contemporary witness to Sarah Pratt's relating that Dr. Bennet performance abortions to cover up ill-advised pregnancies. Interesting.

About the only way a TBM can dismiss the credibility of Sarah Pratt's having said this about Dr. Bennett and the abortions is to question the legitimacy of the whole affidavit, which kind of hurts their case in questioning Sarah Pratt's motives and bias.

[_Runtu]

What's really interesting to me is that the affidavit designed to smear Sarah Pratt, for the defense of Joseph Smith, reiterates the claim made by Sarah Pratt that Dr. Bennett performed abortions, and had tools for doing that, and had done it many times, etc. So we have a contemporary witness to Sarah Pratt's relating that Dr. Bennet performance abortions to cover up ill-advised pregnancies. Interesting.

In hindsight it's worth noting that these affidavits were drawn up as part of the campaign to deny that Joseph Smith was in any way involved in polygamy. The party line in 1842 was that it was all Dr. Bennett's doing and Joseph was an innocent victim. A few years later, the party line changed so that Joseph was indeed practicing plural marriage (meaning that Mrs. Pratt had at least been truthful about that aspect), but she was still vilified and called untrustworthy nonetheless.

[_Yoda]

What is the TBM stance on this? That the entire thing is a pack of lies?

I'm sorry, but that just seems a little too convenient.

[_rcrocket]

A few observations:

1. Family lore of the descendants of Sarah and Orson (her children left the church in large part but many of the descendants returned and some have been general authorities) attribute Sarah's mistake to being deceived by John C. Bennett when Orson was on his mission. After Bennett left the Church, Bennett claimed that Joseph had seduced Sarah, and Bennett's story was published in the Sangamo Journal. Joseph Smith repeatedly denied this story, and felt that he was forced to publish previously confidential information he had about Bennett, that one of the reasons for Bennett's excommunication was his affair with Sarah Pratt. Contemporaneous writings indicate that Bennett would tell young ladies that Joseph had received a revelation that men could have sex with any available woman and Bennett was there to comply. John D. Lee's confessions indicate that Bennett had had an affair with Pratt. Non-member Jacob Backenstos (Sheriff) executed and published an affidavit saying that Bennett had told Backenstos that the former had had an affair with Sarah, adn that "she had made a first rate go."

Orson Pratt came home from his mission and discovered that church officials were in the middle of investigating the allegations of the affair, and that the church was coming close to excommunicating Sarah, withdrawing a food allotment given the wives of missionaries. (Richard S. Van Wagoner and Steven C. Walker, A Book of Mormons [Salt Lake City, Utah: Signature Books, 1982], 211), although this is excerpted from a secondary source and I lack this particular book.)

A Community of Christ-friendly website which reproduces the affidavits and counter-affidavits is at http://restorationbookstore.org/article ... ttcase.htm.

Once Orson came to conclusion that Joseph had not had the affair, or had authorized Bennett's affair, he forgave Sarah and returned to the church (or depending on how you looked at it, returned to fellowship). From Nauvoo forward, however, Sarah was an unbeliever, thinking that her deception was Joseph Smith's fault. One of her sons became a notorious hunter of Mormons for incarceration under the Edmunds-Tucker Act.

2. Wyl was a notorious muckraker and yellow journalist. This little piece (which is really well known in historical circles) was published after Orson's divorce of her, and after Orson's death, and after the church turned down her request for a pension. It wasn't until after the church turned down her request for a pension in Salt Lake that she really became virulently anti-Mormon.

One of the challenges in understanding Mormon history is that one must be discerning in the authorities offered. They tend to be quite polar -- either very anti-Mormon or very pro-Mormon. I don't quite believe either side fully, but am willing to look for areas of agreement between them -- the standard historical method.

rcrocket

[_Sethbag]

Bob, what's your take on the claim that Dr. Bennett was in the practice of performing abortions for people, where a pregnancy was socially inconvenient or embarassing?