“Hinkle proved one of the worst of traitors that ever occupied a standing on earth yet the Lord deliver[e]d his Saints & Blessed be his name.” — Wilford Woodruff¹

George Hinkle played a pivotal role in the conflicts involving the Latter-day Saints in Missouri in 1838. He was a colonel in the Missouri state militia and led the Caldwell County regiment.² When Far West was surrounded by the Missouri militiamen, Hinkle betrayed Joseph Smith and other Church leaders by surrendering them to the militia, leading to their imprisonment.³ In the Missouri courts, Joseph and others were charged with “treason, murder, arson, burglary, robbery and larceny and perjury.”⁴ Hinkle also evicted Emma Smith from her home during this tumultuous period and started his own church after being excommunicated for his actions.⁵

1. "Journal (January 1, 1838 – December 31, 1839)," June 25, 1839 - June 26, 1839, The Wilford Woodruff Papers

2. “Hinkle, George M.,” josephsmithpapers.org; Saints, Volume 1, Chapter 30, 356

3. Saints, Volume 1, Chapter 30, 356-358

4. Introduction to State of Missouri v. Gates et al. for Treason, josephsmithpapers.org

5. Historical Introduction, Letter to Emma Smith, 4 November 1838, Footnote 6, josephsmithpapers.org; Michael De Groote, "George M. Hinkle: Mormons' Benedict Arnold," Deseret News, February 13, 2010; “Hinkle, George M.,” josephsmithpapers.org