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.
belonging to Mr. Fuller of , since dead. I believe the wagon belonged to ’ company. , [William] Grover, and some one else, had companies—there were three. We got to the Railroad crossings between 11 and 12 0’clock; stopped and eat dinner. I knew , and saw him at the Railroad, also saw , , Grover and there. read an order to disband the troops, after dinner. I heard none of the Defendants make a speech. was on a sorrel mare when he disbanded the troops. and were on horseback, and Grover on foot. I heard no speeches.
I heard Grover call for volunteers to go to to see the , to know what he dismissed the troops for, with public arms in their hands. Nothing was said about Joe or . Fuller was there, but went back. Some went back and some came on. They started off pretty soon after dinner. I do not recollect of seeing any of the Defendants but Grover, till we got half way here. Then I saw and , but did not see . When I got within a quarter of a mile of the jail, and some more came up to us in Calvin Cole’s wagon. Four or five miles from here, where a division was made, I saw all the Defendants but . Some of the troops went to the left; I kept right on the road—they went up a hollow. I came to within a quarter of a mile of the jail, and was there when the Smiths were killed. There was one more wagon belonging to Fuller, driven by Houghton [Hoten]. overtook us in Cole’s wagon, but I do not know who was with him. Cole lives in . I do not know what was said. I saw Mr. Grover came back on foot. He rode some of the way with me. Grover said he had killed Smith—that he was a damned stout man—that he had struck him twice in the face. He also said that he was the first man in the house. When they returned from the jail I saw no more of the men. After we got started, say half or three quarters of a mile, I saw , and pass us on horseback. Do not recollect any two horse buggy. Some others were in the wagon when Grover was speaking of it. [John] Wills was shot in the arm; Voorhes [William Voras] in the shoulder. Grover said they were going to see what the had discharged them for. When we met a Carthage Grey, a man by the name of Burton, said they were going to take Joe Smith to and hang him. The Carthage Grey brought a letter, and read it. Mr. Grover gave orders for the teams not to go together, but to string along. I do not know whether there was any team ahead of me or not. The troops came from the jail on a run. A couple of young Chittendens told the team to go back. I went back to , to Mr. Fuller’s, that night, where I reached about 12 o’clock. Some of the footmen were ahead, and some behind. Grover left me on foot, and went on a horse. I do not know where the men got supper. I [p. 22]