Closing Argument of Onias Skinner, 29 May 1845 [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); unidentified handwriting, possibly ; docket by , [, Hancock Co., IL, ca. 29 May 1845]; eight pages; Mormon Trial Notes, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, Springfield, IL. Includes docket.
Thursday Morning May 29th court met at 7 o’clock pursuant to adjournment—
was followed by Mr for the defendants—
Mr Swinnard at 1/2 past 8 oclock rose and said—
Gentlemen of the Jury—
In consequence of the illness of it devolves upon me to make an argument—
[illegible][illegible] We are placed under peculiar circumstances— <said he> magnanimously agreed to let off two of the men G [William Grover] & — And he claimed such magnanimity in voluntarily withdrawing the of <the> 3 witnesses— Yet he tried he claims a great deal of candor— yet he tried throughout to avail himself of the statements of these 3 witnesses whenever it proved any thing for him
I do not wish to charge to the s any corruption or improper motiv[e]s— He comes here with a reputation of prominance in criminal prosecutions— And he wishes to sustain it— His ambition is enlisted in this case—
I attribute all his errors over zeal in this prosecution to his ambition Did you not look upon the case as close You have thought and do now [p. [1]]