Joseph related an anecdote. while young his father had a fine large watch dog. which bit off an ear from David Staffords hog, which stafford had turned into the ^Smith corn field. Stafford _^^{shot, the Dog, &} with six other fellows pitched upon him [Joseph] unawars. & Joseph whipped the whole of them. & escaped unhurt. which they swore to as recorded in Hurlburts or Howe's Book [Philastua Hurlbut, Mormonism Unvailed]

while in Kirtland a Baptist Priest come in my house & abused my family. I turned him out of doors. he said he's come to strike me & continued to abuse me. I whipped him tell he begged.- he threatened to prosecute me - I sent Luke Johnson the constable after him & he run him out of the county into Mentor