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.
Did any one of them know you was opposed to the <murder of> Smiths. <I do not> No wether they did or not. did you say any thing to dissuade them from it. No but if the Agusta troops had been their it would not have been so. Why did you not send in to to give them warning. I told you before, they knew about it as well as any body els.
When you got to you went directly to the Jail. Yes. Did you go within the enclosure out side of the Jail. No. How far was you from the fence. I was about the midle of the road. in what direction from the Jail. In what possition did you stand to the Jail when you first went there. In the front or south of the Jail. Did you see any thing of great account there. I did. What did you see. I saw the Mob. Where in side or out side the enclosure. Inside.
How long was it after the troops came their, before they left again. I cannot tell. Was it as much as ten minutes. I have no Idea.
Have you not some little Idea. It might have been 15 minutes I could not say. Was there any strugle with the gaurd. Yes. Tell us about that. They had A strugle scuffle. Did the guard fire at all. I beleive they did. You kept your possition in front of the Jail from the time you went up in frunt of the window. I was in front of the Jail. Did you go inside of the enclosure at all. No. could A person get into the jail without first going through the enclosure. I believe not. About how far to the best of your knowledge is it from the front of the Jail to the fence. About ten feet. How far out side of the fence to where you was standing. I was standing in the midle of the road. Where you as far from the fence on the out side as the jail is on the other. Yes. You stood not far from the jail door in the midle of the road. Yes.
Did you see any apearance wounded men on the steps. Yes. How meny. Two. Did you see more than two. I saw three. did you see more than three. No. Did you know any of them. Yes one of them. Who was it. Wells [John Wills]. You did not know the other two. No. Did you hear these men say any thing about being shot. One said his arm was shot all to peices. This was Wells. Yes. Where any of these men mortaly wounded I do not know. Did you see the blood run out of his arm. Yes. Did you see the wounds of the other two. No I did not examin them. [p. [38]]