Salamander: The Story of the Mormon Forgery MurdersThis book looks at Mark W. Hofmann, a con artist and consummate forger who confessed in plea bargaining to murder and fraud. He eluded exposure by American document authenticators, as well as FBI technicians, Library of Congress curators, historians and polygraph experts. To date, total sales of his forgeries amounted to over $3 million. He created manuscripts, printed documents and currency, including letters and autographs prported to be those of Betsy Ross, Daniel Boone, Mark Twain, Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, Jack London, Charles Dickens and others. His lifelong struggle with Mormon origins and his own church's history led to his most famous forgeries, including the "white salamander" letter. He remained a respected member of the Salt Lake City Mormon community until late 1985, when faced with financial ruin he attempted to deflect creditors by murdering Steven F. Christensen and Kathleen W. Sheets. |
Contents
Pipe Bombs in the City of the Saints | 3 |
2 | 20 |
The Third Bomb Victim | 27 |
Copyright | |
22 other sections not shown
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Salamander: The Story of the Mormon Forgery Murders Linda Sillitoe,Allen Roberts No preview available - 2006 |
Common terms and phrases
Anthon transcript Arrington attorney authentic bank began Biggs Bill Hofmann blessing bomb Book of Mormon Brent Metcalfe called Cannon church leaders courtroom defense Deseret Book Dori evidence friends Gary Sheets George going handwriting heard Hinckley historians Hofmann documents Hofmann told interview investigators Jessee Joseph Smith Joseph Smith III Judge Building knew later LDS church loan looked Lucy Mack Smith Lyn Jacobs Mark Hofmann Mark's Martin Harris McLellin collection McLellin deal ment Metcalfe Mike Hansen Mormon history morning murder Oaks Oath paper papyrus Passey Pinnock plates plea bargain police Positive forgery preliminary hearing President Hinckley prosecutors purchased questions Reid Rendell reporters Rich Rigby Rust salamander letter Salt Lake City Schmidt Shannon Flynn Sheets's Simmonds Steve Christensen Stott Stowell letter talk Tanner Taylor telephone tell Terri Christensen thought Throckmorton tion Utah wanted Wilding Yengich Yocom