Closing Argument of Onias Skinner, 29 May 1845 [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); unidentified handwriting, possibly ; docket by , [, Hancock Co., IL, ca. 29 May 1845]; eight pages; Mormon Trial Notes, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, Springfield, IL. Includes docket.
the sanction of the — Daniels statements alone— No others in upon his lone word have books been written, Executive messages issued, and newspapers filled— about the murder— Now when Danils is brought before you, He shows himself to be so corrupt that even withdraws his testimony from the jury and tells you he is unworthy of belief— A bold effort is here made in being the influence of the Executive and of the editor <of one> of the leading organ[s] of one of the great parties of the against and these <this> other defendants Such efforts have never before been made to prosecute men— I do look upon the editor of that paper as being beneath contempt
His business should be to assume a high & dignified tone, not attach his himself to any faction or make himself its champion— his object should be to elicit truth and not create prejudice—
You have been shown during this investigation that the foundation of all these public charges the foundation of the prejudice— has been falsehood—
Now more particularly to this case Before you can find any of the defts guilty you must believe from the evidence that a was found and entered [p. [5]]