A weekly Universalist paper in Utica publishes a letter from A. W. B. [Abram W. Benton] of South Bainbridge, New York about Joseph's 1826 and 1830 treasure seeking trials. In the first, "considering his youth, (he being then a minor,) and thinking he might reform his conduct, he was designedly allowed to escape." In the summer of 1830 Joseph was arraigned again. Oliver testified "that said Smith found with the plates, from which he translated his book, two transparent stones, resembling glass, set in silver bows. That by looking through these, he was able to read in English, the reformed Egyptian characters, which were engraved on the plates." Josiah Stowell testified that he and Joseph almost succeeded in treasure seeking, but "did not get quite to it!" Addison Austin testified that he asked Joseph "to tell him honestly whether he could see this money or not. Smith hesitated some time, but finally replied, 'to be candid, between you and me, I cannot, any more than you or any body else; but any way to get a living.'"
[Source: Kenney, Scott, Saints Without Halos, "Mormon History 1830-1844," http://web.archive.org/web/20120805163534/saintswithouthalos.com/dirs/d_c.phtml]
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