Question: What do the Hurlbut affidavits say about Charles Anthon and the characters copied from the gold plates?

Claimant	Claims	Comments
Charles Anthon	Claimed that he did not pronounce the characters shown to him by Martin Harris to be "reformed Egyptian." Claimed that no translation of the characters had been shown to him. Claimed that he told Martin Harris that he was the subject of a hoax. Claimed that he declined to write his opinion down. Claimed that the characters resembled something copied from the "Mexican calendar."	The problem with Anthon's remarks is that whatever he told Martin Harris encouraged Martin, who returned convinced that Joseph could translate and that the plates were authentic. Martin's willingness to risk his money and good name in Joseph's project argues against Anthon's later categorical denials.

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