Account of Trial, [], Hancock Co., IL, 24–28 May 1845, State of IL v. Williams et al. (Hancock Co., IL, Circuit Court 1845). Published [ca. 30 July 1845] in Trial of the Persons Indicted in the Hancock Circuit Court for the Murder of Joseph Smith at the Carthage Jail, on the 27th Day of June, 1844, Warsaw, IL: Warsaw Signal, 1845.
expression. Voorhes shot him. I saw the light a short time after Smith was shot—say a minute or half a minute. It looked like a flash—right there at the moment, and right away again—at one side of the body. No one went to him after he was shot. -[[Here the Defendants Counsel read from the Pamphlet the following passage:—
After the breath had left his body, the person I have previously described, who had passed as the son of , -[and who is elsewhere described in the pamphlet as carrying a pewter flute,]- caught up a bowie knife, for the purpose of cutting off his head. The knife was raised ready to strike, when a light, so strange, so bright and sudden, flashed between him and the corpse, that he and the four men who had shot him, were struck with terror and consternation. Their muskets fell from their hands, and they stood like marble; not having power to move a single limb. They were about to be left, when , who had also beheld and been terrified at the light, shouted out to the men, ‘For God’s sake. come and carry away these men!’ They were obliged to carry them away—as they were as helpless as though they were dead. This light was something like a flash of lightning; and was so much brighter than the say, that after it passed it left a slight darkness like a twilight.”
Daniels proceeded:]- The Pewter flute man went to him, or tried to—the light I suppose stopped him. I saw no bowie knife. I do not know how Smith looked, and did not see him more again. I told of the mistakes, but was willing to pocket the money. Some of the statements I never saw till after the book was published. told them that if they did not run, the Greys would be upon them; he then said—“For God’s sake, come back and take these men off.” Some came back and took them off—no mistake about this. I went that night to Mr. Larkin Scott’s. Had seen Mr. Scott several times before. I commenced conversation that night with Mr. S. about the affair, and he told me he did not wish to know about it. Did not tell Scott that I had assisted in killing the Smiths. I went home the next day, to where I resided near Augusta. I went to bed and to sleep; no one slept with me that I know of. I have told no one that I assisted in holding the guard while the Smith’s were killed. Next night staid at home. I had no conversation about the killing of the Smiths while at Scott’s, except that mentioned before. Smith never appeared to me and gave me a cup of water—I dreamed that he did. I staid in Augusta some days. Think I got to about the 6th of July, and have lived there until within 6 or 8 weeks past. I know Thomas [L.] English, and have hunted with him in the bottom opposite to . While coming home had some conversation about his affair. I told him I could probably get $500 for attending this trial, but did not tell him $500 had been offered me to do so or to disclose the murderers. A man by the name of Southwick said I was a fool for [p. 12]