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.
Do you know whither , Came to the baggage waggons again. I do not. How far does that hollow reach. From the timber to where they turned off on the prairies. Is there timber between here, and where they turned off. There is. Well explain it to us. They took that hollow to the left of the road, and that hollow led to the timber, and I came up the road. And what became of you then. I came into . How did you travel. On foot. Had you any Gun or any thing with you. I gave it up, when I was disbanded. Did you get here, before these men. I did. How long before them. I could not say. Did you see any of these men, before the main company, got here. I think I did not. When you came to , did you come to the Square. I went to the Jail in the first place. Who did you see at the Jail. I dont know. Did you speak to any body at the Jail. No, what did you go to the Jail for in the first place. To see what they were going to do. Did you see anybody at the Jail. I saw the gaurd. Did they speak to you. No, They were marching round. Why did not you speak to them, and tell them, the mob were coming up. Because they knew about it, as well as any body else. Did you hear before you got up, that the gaurd was to have their Guns loaded with blank cartridge. I understood so. How long do you say it was from the time you came to the Jail till the time the mob came. It was from five to fifteen minutes. Was there a signal Gun fired before the Mob came up, There was Guns fired. How many. Two, or Three, How far were the troops from the Jail when <the> Guns was fired. I cannot tell. Were the men that came up disguised. Some of their faces were blackened with powder, some were black, and some were not. How many were blackened. I could not say. Where did you stand. probably fifteen, or Twenty feet, off the Jail, outside of the yard [p. [29]]