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.
The first firing that I heard was when our company was called out. I called it out. Don’t know where the officers were. I was Orderly Sergeant. Was on the square and saw some one on the court house. Don’t know who or how many. Think there were more than one. We started as soon as we could get the company together after firing commenced. The persons were on the cupola. Can’t say how long after firing commenced until we got off of square. was standing on the corner with others. Heard him say nothing. Said nothing to me that day. Capt. [Robert] Smith commanded his company. I saw Joe Smith fall from the window. We were then near the corner of lane, about half way from the court house to the jail. Don’t know which way went or that he went to jail at all. Don’t know how long mob stayed after killing. Think they did not stay longer than two or three minutes. There was some firing after Smith fell. Did not see after killing. Heard none of the defendants speak of it since. Don’t know any of the men that were at the killing. Did not go out to the mob.
William M. Daniels sworn. On the day of the occurrence I was both in and . Was at in the morning. It was understood that the troops were in march that day, by the ’s orders. I saw , Captains , and [William] Grover, in . I am not certain whether I did or not see in . The companies started in the morning; what time I cannot say. They marched to the Railroad and there halted. Disbanding orders were read by . made a speech to the troops, but no one else. He said something of the necessity of getting rid of the Mormons, but cannot recollect what. He spoke of the necessity of killing the Smiths, in order to get rid of the Mormons, and wanted the troops to march on through to to come, with his company. said he would not do it; that if they wanted to go to , he would go with them, but as for going to , he would not. said he would go home. They called him a damned coward, and said they would never elect him to any thing again. Did not hear say any thing that I recollect—nor ; but Grover said if no one else would go, he would go alone, and started off. I came within about four miles of with them. A call was made at the Railroad Shantee for volunteers.
I understood the call was for volunteers to kill the Smiths. This was 10 or 12 miles from —about noon. Some carried their arms, and some put them in the baggage wagons. Most of the men were on foot. was on horseback—so was ; Grover was on foot. Between 60 and 100 started in this way. There were two or three baggage wagons, perhaps more. I left them about four miles from here, where they had halted. [p. 6]