History draft; handwriting of , John L. Smith, Jonathan Grimshaw, Robert L. Campbell, , , and ; 101 numbered pages plus several inserted pages; CHL. This manuscript covers the period from 1 March 1843 to 31 December 1843.
& ordered to stand still, or they would shoot me through. <& ordered to stand still, or they would shoot me through.> I told not to come any nearer, as I would not offer any resistance<& I hope you will not resist the officers.> <as was advancing rapidly towards me, I said——& I said you are not going to resist the officers, are you, , he replied No, not if they are officers I know the law too well for that.> they then hurried me off, put me in a Waggon, without serving any process, & were for hurrying me off without letting me see, or bid farewell to his <my> family or friends; <or even allowing me time to get my hat or clothes, or even suffer my family < or children> to bring them to me.> I then said gentlemen if you have any legal process I wish to obtain a writ of , and was answered “God damn you, you shant have one” <still <continuing their punching me on both sides <with their pistols.>> then sprung & seized the horses by the Bits, <saying there is no law in God’s world allowing a man being taken without; his clothes> & held them, until my family co[ul]d bring my hat & coat— & again threatening to shoot , who said there is no law on Earth that will discharge any <requires a> Sheriff, to take a prisoner without his clothes.> fortunately at this moment, I saw a<nother>friend <man> passing, & told him these men are kidnapping me, & I wish a writ of Habeas Corpus to deliver myself out of their hands, <but as he did not appear to go, I told to go,> who immediately proceeded to <on horseback> where the also proceeded with me at full speed <without <even> allowing me to bid <speak to> my family <or bid them> good bye;> <the Constables <officers> held their pistols with the muzzles jamming into my side for more than 8 miles, & only desisted, on being reproached by for their cowardice in so brutally illtreating an unarmed defenceless prisoner;> on arriving at the house of Mr. Mc. Kennie the Tavern keeper, I was thrust into a room & guarded there, without being allowed to see any body, and <fresh > horses were ordered <to be ready> in five minutes. I again stated to I wish to get Counsel, when he answered “God dam you, you shant have counsel, one word more God dam you and I’ll shoot you”, What is the use of this <so often> said I, I have often told you to shoot, and I now tell you again to shoot away— I saw a person passing and <shouted to him thro’ the window> said “I am falsely imprisoned here, & I want a Lawyer”— A Lawyer <Mr. > came, & had the door banged in his face with the old threat of shooting <him,> if he came any nearer, another <Lawyer Mr. > came & received the same treatment: which began to cause considerable excitement <in ,> a Mr. asked what was the matter, when he told him all, & stated that the intended to drag Joseph <me> away immediately to , & prevent his <my> taking out a writ of Habeas Corpus, [p. 44]