John Taylor’s Injuries at Carthage Jail

[Rozan]

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Last week, I visited Carthage Jail two times.  I was inspired to make this journey to discover the truth about what happened to Joseph and Hyrum Smith on 27 June 1844, when he and his brother were incarcerated there.  I had asked in prayer that Joseph Smith could give me a tour, and explain the events in Nauvoo and Carthage.  I learned a part, and expect I will make additional journeys to receive more.

I had the most significant Spiritual manifestation in the upper room of Carthage Jail.  I sat on a bench against the same wall as the door.  From my position, I could look along the length of the bed, and out the window where Joseph fell.  As I listened to the tour guide, I saw, in my minds eye, Joseph Smith standing near the foot of the bed, with his back toward me.  He was firing down at John Taylor, who was scooting under the bed.  I did not see, Willard Richards, but I felt that he was near me, and he shot Joseph twice in the back. 

After I left, it was my understanding that in order for the conspirators to craft a believable narrative, Joseph was thrown from the window.  His brother, Hyrum, who had been shot in the face, was lying face down on the floor.  He was shot in the back by Richards, after Joseph had been killed. 

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Joseph carried an Allen and Thurber Pepperbox .31 caliber six-shooter pistol.  His brother had been shot by his friend, John Taylor.  John turned his gun on Joseph, when Joseph pushed him to the floor.  John fired up from his position, and the ball lodged in the ceiling of the room.  While Joseph's attention was on John, Willard slipped behind him and took his life. 

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During my second visit I was told that there were two spots of blood on the floor, according to information relayed.  They were not where Hyrum was killed.  One was near the foot of the bed, and the second was in the more toward the corner at the foot of the bed.  I found a picture where there was a frame around a blood spot near the bed.

John Taylor received a total of four wounds during these few minutes in Carthage Jail.  He received a wound that entered just above his wrist and traveled down into his hand.  He was also shot in the hip, the thigh and the knee.  I presume that those injuries were all on the same leg, but I cannot find any verification.  According to Taylor's account, he was first shot in the thigh, which rendered him incapable of movement.  He said that then he crawled under the bed.  His testimony is that these shots came from the doorway, that was being blocked.  Richards said he was hiding behind the door, knocking down rifle barrels with his cane. 

One important point that has been stirred in my soul is that the mob were armed with black powder muskets with .69 balls.  With those weapons, you can fire one shot, then you have to take a minute or two to reload.  Yet, somehow different shooters, or the same firearm (loaded multiple times) were able to target John Taylor's leg and hit very near the other injuries. Furthermore, it is beyond belief that a mob of men couldn't burst in the door and not be hindered by one hiding behind it, trying to stave off an attack.  It seems pretty clear to me, that should there have been a mob at the door, they would have been in and done the bloody work and left none alive. 

Further evidence that the official story is faulty comes when we evaluate the seriousness of John Taylor's injuries.  I have read news report which says he was "lightly" injured.  It is also reported that the ball that struck his knee was never removed.  If Taylor had been hit in the leg/hip three times, with a musket ball, he would have never been able to walk again.  In addition, a caliber that size that hit the knee, would have destroyed the knee and the ball would not have been left in his body. 

This passage describes the damage that only one round from that musket would have caused:

If someone was shot in the leg by a black powder .69 musket, they would likely experience a severe, potentially life-threatening wound with significant tissue damage, bone fractures, and heavy bleeding due to the large diameter and relatively slow speed of the musket ball, which would cause extensive tearing and cavitation within the leg muscle upon impact; depending on the location of the shot, it could also lead to potential complications like infection or damage to major blood vessels. 
   Key points about a musket wound:

•         ◦ Large projectile:  A .69 caliber musket ball is considerably larger than a modern bullet, leading to a larger wound channel and more tissue destruction. 
•         ◦ Low velocity:  Compared to modern firearms, a musket bullet travels at a slower speed, meaning it may not exit the body readily and can cause more damage within the tissue. 
•         ◦ Deformation on impact:  The soft lead musket ball can significantly deform upon hitting the body, creating further damage to surrounding tissue. 
•         ◦ Potential for bone fractures:  A direct hit on bone, especially in the leg, would likely result in a significant fracture. 

   Immediate effects of a musket wound to the leg:

•         ◦ Severe pain:  The impact of the musket ball would cause immediate, intense pain at the wound site.
•         ◦ Bleeding:  A large wound would result in significant blood loss, potentially leading to shock if not treated promptly.
•         ◦ Tissue damage:  The large projectile would tear through muscle and surrounding tissue, causing extensive damage.
•         ◦ Possible bone fractures:  Depending on the location of the shot, the musket ball could fracture the femur or tibia bone in the leg. 
•    Long-term complications:
•         ◦ Infection:  Open wounds from a musket can be highly susceptible to infection due to the potential for debris and contamination from the gunpowder residue.
•         ◦ Disability:  Severe leg injuries from a musket could result in permanent disability, depending on the extent of tissue damage and bone fractures.
•         ◦ Amputation:  In extreme cases, a badly damaged leg from a musket wound might necessitate amputation to prevent further complications.

This sounds a severe, life-threatening situation if John was truly injured as he claimed.  So, what is the emergency action that Willard Richards takes, in order to preserve John's life?  He drags him into the criminal cell, hides him under the straw bed, and leaves him there for eight hours.  That is really the official story. 

It is much more likely that John Taylor was wounded by a small caliber weapon, the pepper-box that Joseph carried.  That is what I saw in that upper room.  The close proximity of the wounds, to each other, suggests the shooter was near John, and it suggests that these were fired quickly.  That is not possible with the weapons the mob carried. 

I will leave the question of motive for another time.  But, I will say that a few months before Joseph was murdered, he told the Saints that there were people in Nauvoo who were conspiring to take his life.