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.
In relation to the evidence is nothing— Peyton said that they labored under mormon grievances and had no means of adressing themselves— Who has not said and felt so There is not 20 men not mormons in the who have not— presumes upon you want of discrimination and discernment when he says you must convict — — he asks you to convict a man for using language that every body used— This is all the evidence touching — After telling you to let & Grover off <against whom there was no [illegible]> thinks he has established such a character for candor with you, that you will convict the other Defts upon his word— If was as says fanning the flame of rebellion & blood, would not Walker have noticed it—
What is the evidence against — Peyton, Peyton says he saw at the Shantees, but did not hear him say one word— Now if Mr Peyton was one of the men, and if had heard him trying to raise vol[unteers] and fan the flames of rebellion and urge them on to murder would not Peyton have seen and known it— Walker says that said “the has done every thing he could do”— will I have said it and you have said it [p. [8]]