Closing Argument of Onias Skinner, 29 May 1845, Copy [State of Illinois v. Williams et al.]
Source Note
, Closing Argument, [, Hancock Co., IL], 29 May [1845], State of IL v. Williams et al. (Hancock Co., IL, Circuit Court 1845). Copied [29 May–20 June 1845]; handwriting of and printed text; thirty-one pages; Wilford Wood Museum, Bountiful, UT; images in Joseph Smith Murder Trial Papers, 1844–1845, CHL.
— the effects we now feell feel & it is indifferent to us from what spirit they come, such efforts <means> were never before used in our ;— they might do for the dark ages.— they would well fit the genus of despotism or characterise the Court of Star chamber but, they cannot be tolerated by public opinion in our Country or by the humanity of our people & institutions.
Gentlemen, you have witnessed in this trial what you never have before & God grant you may never witness again. You & the multitude that has been gathered here, have been shocked & appalled at beholding a concrted plan— a cool & deliberate plan for the of five of your fellow citizens through the forms of the law;— you have seen their murders attempted by the vile weapons of [page torn] & [page torn]nation of perjury;— you have seen [page torn], resenc[page torn] stand, before God & this Court Swear to a [page torn] of things concocted & planed by [page torn] their abettors, beforehand, to [page torn] you these men their lives. It is [page torn]ing, indeed, to Contemplate our Constitution;— of what value are our lives?— [m]ight we not as well be dead as living?— would it not be better to go back into a State of savage nature & protect ourselves by the [p. 30]