In February, 1852, I was snowbound in a hotel in Mentor, Ohio, all day. Martin Harris was there, and in conversation told me he saw Jo Smith translate the "Book of Mormon," with his peep-stone in his hat. Oliver Cowdery, who had been a school-teacher, wrote it down. Sidney Rigdon, a renegade preacher, was let in during the translation. Rigdon had stolen a manuscript from a printing office in Pittsburgh, Pa., which Spaulding, who had written it in the early part of the century, had left there to be printed, but the printers refused to publish it, but Jo and Rigdon did, as the "Book of Mormon." Martin said he furnished the means, and Jo promised him a place next to him in the church. When they had got all my property they set me out. He said Jo ought to have bene killed before he was; that the Mormon committed all sorts of depredations in the town about Kirtland. They called themselves Latter-day Saints, but he called them Latter-day Devils.

Claridon, Geauga Co., Ohio,

Dec. 25, 1884.

R. W Alderman.

Witnessed by:

Clara Alderman,

A. B. Deming.