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.
another said no, he had killed him. said they had finished the men. Grover said he had killed old Joe. I saw no arms. After that, part of the men stood guard and part went to bed. Do not know what time they left next morning. Was not as many at breakfast as at supper. Grover and boarded there and were at breakfast. The family were all up when they came. and Grover were not there before the late supper. Grover and were at door when Mr. Key called for supper. The wounded man sat by the stove about an hour. His name was William Voorhes [Voras]. I knew him. His parents lived on and I had seen him before. Did not know how Voorhes got wounded. Heard no talk about it in the morning. Don’t know how many were on guard that night. They got to bed about 2 o’clock. It was general talk amongst the crowd that they had been killing the Smiths. I saw next day a short time before night. It was not quite dark when came into the hall and said he was just from , &c. Never saw Voorhes afterward. Mr. [James] Gregg was in the carriage with . Mrs. Dearborn came after supper was partly ready and helped. One of the persons wounded was a lad 14 or 15 years old unknown to me. I have never seen him since. said, We have finished the men. Grover said the same. They were all rejoicing. Did not hear any thing else.
Cross Examined.
I saw when he drove up in a two horse carriage with James Gregg. It was an open carriage, had two seats. There were no others with them. did not board at Fleming’s. He staid but a few minutes. Fleming’s house is on the brow of the hill. lived in part of [George] Rockwell’s house, further from the , nearly opposite. He did not stop at home. Heard no news from before he came in. I was at dining room door and Mrs. Fleming in the hall. saw, but did not speak to me. Neither Mrs. F. nor myself asked any questions. I had heard make threats to kill the Smiths and drive the Mormons the day they were killed. I heard him in the bar room and street. He in one room and I in the other. Don’t know who he was talking to. He was at Fleming’s that morning. Made threats after breakfast. Saw him start for in a carriage alone. Said after he got in the carriage he would kill Joe Smith. It is about 18 miles from to . Don’t know how the roads were. There had been much rains about that time. I am positive it was the same day the Smiths were killed that started for and returned that evening in the same carriage. Grover and came about midnight. Had heard nothing more about killing Smiths from time came until they arrived. Saw Grover that morning at breakfast; but did not see him after breakfast until midnight. Also saw there at breakfast and did not see him [p. 19]