Affidavit of the City Council

We the undersigned, members of the city council of the City of Nauvoo, testify that

John C. Bennett was not under duress at the time that he testified before the city council May 19th 1842 concerning Joseph Smith's innocence, virtue, and pure teaching-his statements that he has lately made concerning this matter are false,-there was no excitement at the time, nor was he in anywise threatened menaced or intimidated, his appearance at the city council was voluntary, he asked the privilege of speaking, which was granted, after speaking for some time on the city affairs, Joseph Smith asked him if he knew any thing bad concerning his public, or private character; he then delivered those statements contained in the testimony voluntarily, and of his own free will, and went of his own accord as free as any member of the council.

We do further testify that there is no such thing as a Danite Society in this city nor any combination, other than the Masonic Lodge, of which we have any knowledge.

WILSON LAW GEO A. SMITH,

JOHN TAYLOR, GEO W. HARRIS,

W. WOODRUFF, N. K. WHITNEY,

VINSON KNIGHT, BRIGHAM, YOUNG,

H. C. KIMBALL, CHARLES C, RICH,

JOHN P. GREEN, ORSON SPENCER,

WILLIAM MARKS,

Subscribed, and sworn to, by the persons whose names appear to the foregoing affidavit, this 20th day of July, A. D. 1842; except N. K. Whitney, who subscribed and affirmed to the foregoing this day, before me

DANIEL H. WELLS,

Justice of the Peace, within and for Hancock County, Illinois.