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.
mobocracy & for his flame of rebellion. Suppose they were here — were not many other good citizens here at the same time from the surrounding country anxious to learn & understand the places & movments of the , both f[r]om interest & curiosity? Was there any thing peculiar or unusual in their conduct while here?— went to his usual place of stopping— got his dinner— met his friends & acquaintances— satuted [saluted?] & conversed with them. saw & conversed with many persons — shook hands & talked with his acquaintances & lounged lounged on the counter at the store. Is there any thing that looks like about this?— if they had come here with after blood— if they were firing the Carthage Greys with the Spirit of Mobocracy & fanning the flame of rebellion— if they had come here with murder in their hearts would it not have been marked upon their mien & manifested in their actions?— it it is inconsistent with human nature & your knowledge of the characters of men that it should not. And their conduct while here is perfectly consistent with innocence, but not with guilt. [p. 15]