Closing Argument of Onias Skinner, 29 May 1845, Copy [State of Illinois v. Williams et al.]
Source Note
, Closing Argument, [, Hancock Co., IL], 29 May [1845], State of IL v. Williams et al. (Hancock Co., IL, Circuit Court 1845). Copied [29 May–20 June 1845]; handwriting of and printed text; thirty-one pages; Wilford Wood Museum, Bountiful, UT; images in Joseph Smith Murder Trial Papers, 1844–1845, CHL.
at 8. in the morning & at the shanties at 12. M making rebellious & seditious speeches to the troops:— & in this portion of his argument you noticed his <bold> wonderful effort of weaving in his and abandoned testimony & to achieve his victory by the free use of what he had openly professed to abandon:— it is a strong evidence of his candor & magnanimity & of the sincerity of his fair professions. He tells you that he was at at the time the Smiths were Killed & at at sunset the same evening; & these are the circumstances upon which he professes to rely for his conviction. I told you before, Gentlemen, what brought to the shanties— his purpose in going & the way he went. He had come up to the day before in with [Canfield] Hamilton in his carriage— he borrowed a horse to go & intercept the troops on their march to — he returned with his horse in the evening to , when he got here expecting to return to in the same conveyance in which he came out. The Smiths were killed while he was here— the horrid news filled every one with consternation & alarm — intense excitement & fear spread with the rapidity of the wind— a general & desolating war was expected to [p. 12]