Account of Trial, , Hancock Co., IL, 21–28 May 1845, State of IL v. Williams et al. (Hancock Co., IL, Circuit Court 1845). Transcribed from shorthand [before 24 Aug. 1858]; handwriting of and Daniel Mackintosh; 106 pages; Report of the Trial of the Murderers of Joseph Smith, 1845, CHL.
Franklin Worrel[l] Captain of the Gaurd, that was at the Jail, when the Mob, came up, was again called into the witness box by to ask him questions that were before omitted, for the defence, stood up in opposition to his asking him any further questions, which caused an investigation of the Law upon the subject, which lasted some time, but however it was finally decided by the Court, that have the privilege with strict injunctions, upon the witness to be sworn not to answer any questions that would implicate himself—
Mr. Worrel [Franklin Worrell], Do you know, if the Carthage Greys, that evening, loaded their Guns, with blank Ca[r]tridge, at this questin and spoke out to the witness saying, you need not answer, that question, the witness answered I will not answer that question, I know nothing about the Carthage Greys, only the six men that I had to do with, Well do those six men, load their Guns, with blank Cartridge that evening. I will not answer it. Let it go to the country then in that way. that he would not answer the question for fear of implicating himself. —Retired—
Mr. Daniels, stand up and tell the Jury, what you know, about these five men, , , , [William] Grover, and , Where, was you on the day of that occurence, I was in and . On the morning before the murder was there a meeting at . It was understood, that we should march that day, to , I understood so from the ’s address, I saw there , and Grover, and (pointing to each man as he named them) [p. [26]]