| Orrin Porter Rockwell, AKA "Destroying Angel", was a gunfighter and bodyguard for Joseph Smith, founder and prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons). Joseph Smith prophesied to Rockwell that if he remained loyal and faithful and he didn't cut his hair or beard "...no bullet or blade can harm thee." Porter (as he is commonly called) took that prophecy at face value and avoided barbers. He was accused of the attempted assassination of Lilburn Boggs. governor of Missouri, who had issued an order to "exterminate" the Mormons. After Joseph Smith was assassinated and the Mormons were forced to move west, his reputation as the avenging or "Destroying Angel" grew. Whenever threats (real or imagined) were seen, Porter stepped up to eliminate those threats.The Mormons had fled west under the leadership of Brigham Young, to settle in Utah where Porter became the territory's earliest lawman. He was once heard to say, regarding the number of people he had killed, "I never killed anyone who didn't need killing". There are various versions of how Porter Rockwell died in 1878. Whether his boots were on or off and whether he was sober or drunk... no bullet or blade ended the life of Porter Rockwell. |
