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PrevPrevious EpisodeHalloween Massacre at Hawn’s Mill (Part 6 of 7)
Next ExpisodeCelibacy, Polygamy, & Free Love in 19th Century (Part 1 of 6)Next

*Reflecting on Hawn’s Mill (Part 7 of 7)

Table of Contents: *Reflecting on Hawn’s Mill (Part 7 of 7)

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In our final conversation with Dr. Alex Baugh, we’ll talk about the lessons to be learned from Hawn’s Mill.  Who deserves blame in this escalation?  What might have helped calm things down?  Did Porter Rockwell try to assassinate Governor Boggs?

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GT:  There was an assassination attempt on his life and a lot of people want to pin that on Porter Rockwell.

Alex:  It probably was.

GT:  It probably was?

Alex:  Yeah, I think it was. He was visiting his in-laws, the Beebes. The Beebes lived in Jackson County. Monte McClaus wrote an article about it years ago. I taught his kids in seminary, actually. But if you line everything up, I think Rockwell, he was definitely there. Did he intend to kill Boggs? I kind of think not. He just wanted to make him–and why do I say that? Well he used a German buckshot pistol. So they were just small pellets, and it didn’t kill him. I mean, it could have, but I don’t think he intended it to. I think he was just upset with what this man did to us. I mean, his indecisiveness, his lack of humanity towards the Mormons. I don’t know what you want to say, I think he probably did it.

GT:  Oh, really?

Alex:  Yeah, I do. Would he deny it? Well, of course.  I guess the folklore around, “If I would have done it, I would have killed him.” Well, that’s just a good round about there. But Joseph had nothing to do with it. There’s no question there. Even though John C. Bennett and others wanted to pin that on him, there’s no evidence for that. Joseph was not an accessory to the crime. Rockwell acted on his own.

Check out our conversation….

- *Reflecting on Hawn's Mill (Part 7 of 7) - Mormon History Podcast
Dr. Alex Baugh discusses lessons learned from Hawn’s Mill Massacre and Gov. Boggs credit/blame.

 

Don’t miss our other conversations with Dr. Baugh!

333: Halloween Massacre at Hawn’s Mill

332: Finding Jacob Hawn

331: Was Extermination Order a License to Kill?

330: Mormon Dissent Leads to Salt Sermon

329: Mormon Expulsion from Jackson County

328: Trouble in Missouri 1833

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More Podcasts with these Guests:

  • Halloween Massacre at Hawn’s Mill (Part 6 of 7)
  • Finding Jacob Hawn (Part 5 of 7)
  • Was Extermination Order a License to Kill? (Part 4 of 7)
  • Mormon Dissent Leads to Salt Sermon (Part 3 of 7)
  • Mormon Expulsion from Jackson County 1833 (Part 2 of 7)

Get more information on the people and things discussed in this episode:

  • Guest: Alex Baugh
  • Haun's Mill Massacre, Hawn's Mill Massacre, Mormons & Crime, Persecution against Mormons
  • Historical Mentions Mormon History
  • Tags: Church History, GT Podcast, iTunes, murder

Tell me when the next episode drops!

PrevPrevious EpisodeHalloween Massacre at Hawn’s Mill (Part 6 of 7)
Next ExpisodeCelibacy, Polygamy, & Free Love in 19th Century (Part 1 of 6)Next

One Response

  1. Bak Irish says:
    November 18, 2019 at 11:23 am

    I generally agree with Dr. Baugh’s interpretations presented in this podcast series.

    Just a personal gripe, however. I have a hard time accepting any “historian” who uses pronouns like “we, us” and “they, them.” It seems to just blow objectivity out of the water, granted, at a superficial level.

    My ancestors were there in Missouri and I appreciated the insights.

  • Date: October 31, 2019
  • Guest: Alex Baugh
  • Haun's Mill Massacre, Hawn's Mill Massacre, Mormons & Crime, Persecution against Mormons
  • Historical Mentions Mormon History
  • Tags: Church History, GT Podcast, iTunes, murder
  • Posted By: RickB

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