Transcript of Proceedings, , Sangamon Co., IL, ca. 17 July 1852, U.S. v. Joseph Smith III et al. (United States Circuit Court for the District of IL 1852); U.S. District Court for the District of Illinois, Complete Records, 1837–1856, vol. 4, pp. 486–697; handwriting of ; Records of District Courts of the United States, Record Group 21, National Archives at Chicago, Chicago.
and for the sum therein mentioned, or at any other time, or in any other Court, or for any other sum, and as to whether s were issued and returned on said alledged Judgement as is in said bill mentioned, this defendant has no knowledge or information except from the said bill and can therefore neither admit nor deny the same to be true, and requires of and insists that the said complainant be required to make full and strict proof of each and all of the said allegations in the said bill relating thereto.
This defendant further answering says that he believes it to be true and therefore admits that the in said bill mentioned has departed this life since the time when the said judgement in the said bill mentioned is therein alledged to have been recovered but as to whether the said was at the time of his said decease totally insolvent, and left neither real or personal estate to be applied to the judgement <payment> of his debts;
And as to whether the said , and in said bill mentioned are each and all or any of them are insolvent and now residents of the State of , this defendant has no knowledge or information except as he is informed by the said bill, and can therefore neither admit nor deny the same, and insists that the complainant be required to make full and strict proof the said several allegations in their said bill contained.
This defendant further answering says, he believes and therefore admits it to be true that the said Joseph Smith died intestate in or about the month of June A. D. 1844 leaving surviving him his widow , who has since intermarried with the said Lewis C. Bidamon and who are defendants to the complainants’ bill herein by the name of and Lewis C. Bidamon but whether the said Joseph Smith at the time of his said decease left surviving him the minor children and heirs at law in the said bill mentioned this defendant is wholly ignorant, and has no knoweledge or information except as he is advised in and by the said bill and can therefore neither admit, nor deny the same.
This defendant further answering says:—
That as to all and singular the other matters in the said bill of complainant as to the appointment and revocation of letters of administration of the estate of the said Joseph Smith deceased, and as to all and every allegation in said bill of complainant contained relating to any other property real or personal other than the property hereinafter described this defendant is wholly ignorant of the same and of all matters relating thereto alledged in the said bill except as he is advised by the said bill and can therefore neither admit nor deny the same and that this defendant has no right, interest or claim in or to any of the property real or personal in the said bill described, except the property in this defendant’s answer hereinafter [p. 627]