Holy Murder. The Story Of Porter Rockwell.

CHARLES AND HOFFMAN BIRNEY KELLY

Publication: Minton, Balch & Company, 1934, New York

First edition. 8vo. Red cloth, ix [3], 313 pp., frontispiece [photograph of Orrin Porter Rockwell taken six weeks before his death], illustrated, plates, portraits, footnotes, acknowledgments, bibliography, index. Rockwell was known for his close association with Mormon leaders, especially Joseph Smith, and his role as a bodyguard and enforcer. The book chronicles his life, highlighting his involvement in various significant events, including the Mormon exodus from Nauvoo, Illinois, and his role in the settling of Utah. Porter Rockwell was the chief of the Danites, the "Destroying Angels," who recognized no authority as superceding that of the Mormon Church and who cut throats without compunction at the command of that Church's head. He is variously credited with from a dozen to a hundred murders, but not once, so far as the record shows, did he draw gun or dagger in self defense. Filled with an holy zeal, he slew only in cold blood and for the glory of the Mormon God and the exaltation of the Mormon Prophets. Six Guns 1223 says, "Has much on John D. Lee and Orrin Porter Rockwell and their crimes, the 'Destroying Angels,' and the Mountain Meadow massacre." Former owner's neat bookplate on the front pastedown sheet, else fine, bright copy lacking the elusive dust jacket . An exceptionally nice clean copy.