Account of Trial, [, Hancock Co., IL, 24–28 May 1845], State of IL v. Williams et al. (Hancock Co., IL, Circuit Court 1845); handwriting of ; fifty-seven pages; Collection of Manuscripts about Mormons, 1832–1954, Chicago History Museum.
20 men started before I did for . after the ’s orders came they sent for the first 20 men & got others out to go boil up for volunteers—. I do not know who went off on the White Horse— He did not return— the men came back to the crossings of the rail road. I did not hear the 20 men say where they had been— they were talking some said they did not know whar they were going for others did say they knew— I had not been discharged from my unit— they kept a file of men guarding. so I could not go out. I was a prisoner when I joined the Company— & were on Horseback— I did not see those men afterwards that day nor did I see till I saw him at the Jail— made speech at the rail road— he was sitting on his Horse— he urged them to kill the Smiths to get rid of the mormon’s He wanted them to kill the Smith’s put the filling in the Book— said the news would reach & they would kill the — said if they killed Smith’s the mormons would kill & they would get rid of & mormons too— [p. [13]]