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 ; fifty-seven pages; Collection of Manuscripts about Mormons, 1832–1954, Chicago History Museum.
On the day Jo Smith was killed I was in I was not in all day I came in about 10— I am acquainted with . . am not with G [William Grover]. I Saw . that day it was shortly after I came in I saw I heard him say nothing about the arrangements that were going on— I was at the Jail at the time Smith was killed was there before the firing commenced I saw some men out west of here that took me to the Jail— was about 1 to <1>½ miles from the men— when I got back I saw some persons pretty near the Jail I met some youths who told me that the Mormons were coming to rescue the prisoners— there was a scuffle between the guard and the mob the guard all fired— the mob threw the guard on the ground— I saw a man with his arm bleading dont know how it was hurt dont know who he was— cant tell whether the guard held hurt mob or no Should think from the Scuffle that there were— I have lived in this 10 or 11 Ears and know a good many of the Old Citizens— it might have five or ten minutes after I got to the Jail before the Grays got [2 words illegible] it I cannot tell [p. [25]]