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.
know William M. Daniels. Never worked in the same shop, but am well acquainted with him. Daniels came to where I was at work on the 27th of July last, the first time I had over seen him. I asked him if he knew any thing about the death of the Smiths. He said he did not—that he was in Augusta when they were killed, and remained there until the 27th July, when he came to , as he said, with the . Some two months after that we got into conversation again. He wanted to know why I worked so hard—said there was no use of a man’s working when he could get plenty of money without. Said he had a prospect in view by which he could get plenty of money without, and had already received some. Think he said $20, in a letter.
Cross Examined. Never saw Daniels till he went to . he came there the night of the 26th of July. Said he was in Augusta when the Smiths were killed. Am certain it was the 27th of July when I first saw him. He spoke of making $400 or $500 by a speculation, but did not say what sort of a speculation, or who had received the $20 from.
Abraham I. Chittenden sworn. Saw Capt. [William] Grover at my house early on the morning of the day the Smiths were killed. He breakfasted in my son’s room. I spoke to James Gregg, as he passed my house near night; he was riding a light gray stud horse. he came in from the eastward. Believe he was just from , but did not ask him. Think he was alone, and know he was not riding in a two horse buggy with . Did not see until the evening. It is supposed to be half a mile from my house to the : [Samuel] Fleming lives near the .
Cross Examined. The troops were encamped near my house. Never heard Grover say he was in . Do not know whether my sons were here. Gregg told me the Smiths were dead. Should think the sun was half an hour high when I saw Gregg. Saw after candle-light at Mr. [George] Rockwell’s. Think he said nothing about the Smiths being killed. Did not see , or Grover. Did not see a lot of men come in.—Saw two men come in with a message from the .
sworn. Reside in , did when the Smiths were killed, and was there part of the day. Saw come into town a little before sun down, and think he was alone on a clay-bank horse. Am certain he came in on horse-back. He halted a little above his own dwelling, opposite the post-offlce [office] door, and think, he got, off there. That is 40 yards from [Samuel] Fleming’s Tavern, I never offered [William] Daniels anything.
Cross Examined. Don’t know that an express was sent to . Do not recollect of seeing and [James] Gregg about dark. Was not at the Railroad shantee; was not present when they beat up for volunteers; did not see any of the Defendants in town that afternoon. went back some distance with me, and asked me for my horse, and requested me to advise some one to go back to . Think I saw him at 9 or 10 o’clock at night. When I saw last on the prairie he was on foot; Fults’s [Fultz’s] team was in company, I think.
sworn I was in on the morning of the 27th of June last. Saw immediately after breakfast that morning, in company with , in the ’s room. This was before 3 o’clock in the morning; and previous to the ’s holding a council of officers, to consider whether he would countermand the order given to march to at 8 that morning. Do not know whether was present at that council, or whether he was then in town. The orders were countermanded, and the main body of the troops dismissed. The went to with the Augusta troops; some of the troops were not dismissed.
Cross Examined. There had been great excitement. It was reported [p. 30]