180 years ago today - Mar 24, 1832

[General] Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon are tarred and feathered. Rigdon is dragged behind a horse over frozen ground by his heels. His head bumps along the ground and he "loses his mind" for a few days. He asks his wife for a razor to kill Joseph Smith and when she refuses he asks Joseph Smith for a razor to kill his wife. During the attack the mob attempts to force Joseph Smith to drink something and chips his tooth and injures his palate, causing a whistle in his speech which lasts the rest of his life. According to one account, Smith is attacked for seducing Nancy Marinda Johnson, in whose father's house he was residing. Other reports say that "Dr. Dennison" is asked by the mob to castrate Smith but refuses. One mob leader says it was because documents were found indicating that Smith was trying to steal their property. The day after the attack, Smith preaches to a congregation which included several of his attackers.

[Source: On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]