Account of Trial, [, Hancock Co., IL], 24–28 May 1845, State of IL v. Williams et al. (Hancock Co., IL, Circuit Court 1845); handwriting of ; 101 pages; Wilford Wood Museum, Bountiful, UT; images in Joseph Smith Murder Trial Papers, 1844–1845, CHL.
because I did not <want to> know who did it— I stopped him before he mentioned any of the names of the others— If Daniels object in Speaking of this matter and the part he took in it with the officer of the guard, was to make himself appear a brave <big> man with me— he took the wrong way to do it—
I live 6 miles South of in the direction to — I have Seen Wm. M. Daniels— has had a conversation with him relative to the killing of the Smiths I had a conversation with him the night the Smiths were killed— he overtoook me out on the Prairie about 1½ miles from here— and told me the Smiths were killed— I dont know that I can tell the conversation— he told me that there was a company of men came up to the Jail, that there was a guard there that the guard fired on them— that the men and the guard clinched and had a scuffle— he spoke about one Mr. Worrill [Franklin Worrell] who had a very tight scuffle— that two or three men had hold of Worrill— that he came up and Struck Worrill on the hand with his hand— and then took his sword from him— he requested me if I Saw Worrill before he did to tell worrill where his sword was— he Said he threw over into the garden— Mr. Daniels Said nothing about any marvellous light about the body of Smith— he told me about the Setting of Smith up against the well curb, or wall of the house— but he Said nothing about four men Shall Shooting him— <he> Said nothing about 4 men being paralzied, so that they could not move & had to be carried off [p. 81]