By Jerald and Sandra Tanner
In our last newsletter we revealed that Gordon B. Hinckley and other members of the Mormon hierarchy had important McLellin documents that they deliberately suppressed from prosecutors in the Hofmann murder-forgery case to save the church from embarrassment. We noted that the material was a “key piece of evidence” needed in the investigation. Later we published the book, The Mormon Church and the McLellin Collection, and showed that those involved in the case were disturbed by the church’s attempt to cover up this important matter. We quoted the following from an article written by Lynn Packer:
Lead prosecutor Stott, when informed about Turley’s revelation, said he should have been told. “Certainly, if the church had some McLellin diaries or documents that could have been included in what Hofmann had categorized as the ones he had, we certainly would have been interested in them.” (Utah Holiday, November 1992, page 35)
On page 34 of the same article, Mr. Packer wrote.
Not knowing that church officials had found the McLellin collection hurt the state’s case, according to Salt Lake County investigator Michael George. “It goes to show elements of fraud and deception; from that standpoint, its important,” George said.
According to Packer, Judge Paul Grant, who conducted the preliminary hearing, was glad that church leaders “finally fessed up” that they had the McLellin collection. However,
Grant said the case may have taken a different course had the church promptly disclosed. He said a significant shift in public opinion against Hofmann might have prompted Hofmann’s attorneys to enter plea negotiations before the preliminary hearing began, rather than after, as they did. (Ibid., page 36)
Gerry D’Elia, one of the prosecutors, was very disturbed by the church’s suppression of the McLellin collection:
“I can’t believe that nobody came forward with it,” says Gerry D’Elia . . . “It was a waste of our time and taxpayers’ money.” Mr. D’Elia believes the information would have helped prosecutors. Knowing the church already had the McLellin collection could have established Hofmann’s motives. “Our biggest problem was the motive — that goes to the heart of the case,” says Mr. D’Elia. (Salt Lake Tribune, October 31, 1992)
We have recently issued a 2nd edition of The Mormon Church and the McLellin Collection. In this edition we have modified our conclusions regarding the Oliver Cowdery history. In the 1st edition we reported that two Mormon officials made comments that indicated the church had that early history. Further investigation, however, leads us to conclude that these officials may have been mistaken about the matter.
Our new book, The Mormon Church and the McLellin Collection, examines William McLellin’s charges against Joseph Smith and the Mormon Church. It contains important extracts from McLellin’s unpublished papers. In addition, it has a great deal of material regarding the church’s suppression of the collection.
[Note: The Mormon Church and the McLellin Collection is now included within the book Tracking the White Salamander.]
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