Account of Trial, [], Hancock Co., IL, 24–28 May 1845, State of IL v. Williams et al. (Hancock Co., IL, Circuit Court 1845). Published [ca. 30 July 1845] in Trial of the Persons Indicted in the Hancock Circuit Court for the Murder of Joseph Smith at the Carthage Jail, on the 27th Day of June, 1844, Warsaw, IL: Warsaw Signal, 1845.
were killed until after dinner, and then was sent off on the road with the Ranging company. Was at ’s store a few moments. After dinner was at ’s store and lay on the counter for about an hour. Stepped into the street and was called by to get on his horse and go in his place. I asked him where to. He said Captain [Thomas L.] Barnes will tell you. I got on his horse and started. Doctors [John W.] Morrison and Barnes were with me. I understood that Dr. Barnes was captain of the Rangers that went out every day. He is now in court. We went about four miles. I saw no person but a son of ’s going on a lope to . We were on a mound. Our horses feeding. Don’t know what we went out for. Saw no company of men. Young Catlin belonged to ’s company. None of my company left me. Was gone 3 to 4 hours. Did not get back until Smiths were killed. Met and a Mormon, , 3 miles from town going to with the news of the death of the Smiths. While on the mound saw some men in the direction of road coming towards . Was then three of four miles off. I begged to get off, but could not. Think there was more than fifty, some on horseback. Saw no wagons. Saw a carriage pass the men and come this way till timber hid them. Didn’t know what this meant. Supposed they were coming to town to hear the news about the Hell hounds. I mean by Hell hounds the Mormons. I did then and still want the Mormons exterminated. Don’t know what others want. Heard nothing of the killing of Smiths or of the . Did not know what the object in going out was, but to see if suspicious characters were driving stock to . Knew of no conspiracy to kill Smiths. Never heard Defendants make any admissions. If they had I would not have heard it. Saw some of the Defendants that day. Started back from mound when we saw . I understood that he had a communication from Capt. [Robert] Smith for the . Drs. Morrison and Barnes rode up to him. I heard but little of their conversion until he tried to get Morrison to go to with him. He appeared frightened. I then said to him that he was a young lad and I had no idea they would interrupt him. The is there—go on. Never had a word with any of the Defendants about the matter. Think I saw some men, don’t know how many, going back. Paid no attention, think about 20. It was a common thing for men, in large numbers, to come from and dine at my house. I was very much astonished and horror-struck when I heard of the death of the Smith’s, for a few moments. Heard no threats to kill the Smith’s, except from some drunken loafers, in whom I had no confidence. They were from . Knew nothing about guard at the jail.