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.
nothing at all about the killing of the Smiths said he wished all the Mormons in were driven out that he was sorry they ever came— he afterwords went to and after he came back he told me he had he had made a great speculation by riting a book about the proceedings in why says I you told me you know nothing at all about it well says he as long as I can make a speculation I will and do you say nothing more about it he told me he had got one hundred dollars in traid which suited him as well as money— why says I you are not Intelligent enough to write a book oh says he I will tell you being a brother chip I will tell you I have a friends to help me he said it suited him much well to enter into such a business—
he told me some time afterwords when we went a hunting that he was to get 500$ to sware against some person for killing the Smiths he mentioned no names— he said he was not sure he would take it but he believed he would take the money put it in his pocket and go off to the East and leave them all he did not care about either party I mad[e] the remark to him he that he was getting into a curious business if he did not know anything about it [p. [46]]