Account of Trial, , Hancock Co., IL, 21–28 May 1845, State of IL v. Williams et al. (Hancock Co., IL, Circuit Court 1845). Transcribed from shorthand [before 24 Aug. 1858]; handwriting of and Daniel Mackintosh; 106 pages; Report of the Trial of the Murderers of Joseph Smith, 1845, CHL.
upon having a trial, the last term of the Court, and they are now come again voluntarily to be tried, and patiently wait the decision of the Law,
All this time, this charge has hung over their heads, their names, have gone to the world, carrying with them the alledged infamy, and crime, they have expected, as they still expect to hear all this clamours [clamorous] noise, go forth, but the complaintives, will be most signally refuted, and the public opinion corrected, by the testimony, that shall be adduced and by the Law,
The has intimated that he was sent here by the , of the , to plead in behalf of the people and that he intends to discharge his duty without fear, in so doing, he will favour these defendants, and every effort, shall be made by the defence, to protect and justify him, in the honest discharge of the same, we are here where we have been all the time, and where we have sought <to> shelter ourselves, from first, to last, from all the charges, they have preferred against us; When the testimony is heard, we expect then to discuss the testimony and the law, and it will be for you to render you verdict, according to that testimony and that Law,
Mr. Hobbart do you live in this . I do. did you live in on the day that Smith was killed. I did.
Will you state to the Jury, what you know, about that transaction, What day of the month, did it occur.
It occurred on the 27th. of June 1844. Was you there at the time, the transaction took place; I did not see the men killed. Was you there the time they were killed. No, but I saw him after he was killed. In what situation did you see him, At the time the men was killed [p. [10]]