No Forgiveness: Family, Polygamy, Murder, and Justice among Idaho's pioneering Mormons
No Forgiveness: Family, Polygamy, Murder, and Justice among Idaho's pioneering Mormons
No Forgiveness: Family, Polygamy, Murder, and Justice among Idaho's pioneering Mormons
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Description
Description
On the morning of July 5, 1911, D.S. Neal left his house south of Sorensen Creek in Idaho's Teton Valley to irrigate his field. His neighbor, Ellington Smith, mounted his bay horse and rode the short distance to where Neal was working. Shouldering his rifle, a Winchester Model 86, Smith dismounted, climbed over the fence, and stepped into the field.
Thus begins the story of the murder of David S. Neal and the subsequent trial of Ellington Smith. Both men were members of the same Mormon ward and came from polygamous families.
Drawing from family letters, historical newspapers, state archives, and interviews, the author presents a detailed narrative of the two families involved, Smith's insanity defense at trial, the conditions at the Idaho State Penitentiary, and the many prominent businessmen and politicians who took sides in the case.
Meticulously researched and written by Neal's grandson, journalist Daniel H. Neal, the book intertwines a hidden family history with themes of politics, the culture of Mormon theocracy, plural marriages, and frontier justice.
Critical Reviews
Critical Reviews
Part family history and part community reckoning, No Forgiveness is wholly enjoyable. This riveting tale with fleshed-out characters and engrossing scenes does a lot more than just unpacking a fascinating murder - it makes pioneer life come alive, highlighting the humanity of all involved.
- Benjamin E. Park, American Zion: A New History of Mormonism
No Forgiveness is a rich historical account of early 20th-century pioneers' conversion to Mormonism and their settling in southeastern Idaho. Daniel Neal tells the compelling story of his grandfather's 1911 murder by a fellow Mormon and how the tragedy affected the two families. I highly recommend it.
-Larry E. Morris, author of The Fate of the Corps: What Became of the Lewis and Clark Explorers After the Expedition
No Forgiveness is the story of an early 20th-century murder in a Mormon corner of Idaho, and of the two families most affected: "Here on Earth, a stream of sorrows cascaded over both." Dan Neal is a member of one of the families; his account, therefore, is deeply personal while honoring the faith and choices of its subjects. Neal's research gives us a bright, clear window on the time.
-Tom Rea, founder and editor emeritus of WyoHistory.org.
Publishing Information
Publishing Information
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