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.
morning. Left with companies for as I understood. Think I saw some of the Defendants at . Can’t say that saw all. Came to Railroad Shantees with captain [Harrison P.] Crawford’s company. Think the troops were disbanded—think read the order. Cannot tell what I did hear—cannot recollect half. There was a call for volunteers—don’t know by whom—was in bad health that day—not certain that I saw [William] Grover—saw and . Don’t recollect of ’s making a speech. Can’t say that the company of volunteers started this way. They were shooting at a mark when I left. Have no recollection of hearing the object of volunteers. Heard some one speak of going to . Spoken of by different persons. Heard some dispute about going. Heard say something about all those in favor of going to to take dinner at tavern. Don’t know the cause of dispute. Some in favor of going to and some not. Something said about Smiths and about blowing the jail to Hell by some individual—don’t know by whom. Returned because the lawful authority had ceased and I wished to go home. Heard a good Deal—can’t say what—don’t like to say unless I am certain—think heard say something ahout [about] volunteers; but can’t say what. Don’t recollect who he was talking with. Heard nothing of the kind from or . Think I saw on horseback. Don’t know the time of day—between 10 and 3 o’clock. Think was on horseback. Don’t recollect of seeing and Grover at all. The last place I saw he was alone on the prairie, near Marsh’s going towards . Can’t recollect what sort of a horse rode. Think the volunteering was spoken of publicly by several. It was said publicly by or captain Ware [Wier]—think to the import that those who would go to should advance to the front. Some advanced. Don’t know what else was said. Think was on horseback. The companies were called into line and those who would go to called to front. was from 10 to 100 feet off. Several with him. was not with him. Don’t know where he then was. The officer who gave the command was in front. The Captain and were both in front. Don’t know whether the Captain or gave the command. There were between 40 and 200 present. One company had stopped at the Railroad. Capt. Ware’s and Crawford’s companies were there, only, and I think they were in single file. Can’t say whether or Gen. Knox was in command. Think Knox was there. After advancing, there was an observation made by some one, that those who would go to should fall in behind the music, which was done. Don’t know whether was there then. I started for home. The last I saw of them they were shooting at a mark. Don’t know who spoke of blowing the jail to Hell. Can’t [p. 16]