Jury Instructions, 30 May 1845 [State of Illinois v. Williams et al.]
Source Note
Jury Instructions, [, Hancock Co., IL, 30 May 1845], State of IL v. Williams et al. (Hancock Co., IL, Circuit Court 1845); unidentified handwriting; three pages; microfilm 1,521,604 at FHL. Includes docket.
That before they can find the Defendants guilty they must be satisfied to the exclusion of every reasonable doubt that the murder was committed by the Defendants, and not by others without their agency of the Defendants, and that if they entertain any reasonable doubt of the murder having been committed by the Defendants, that then it will be their duty to find the Defendants not guilty.
That in order to a verdict of acquital it is not necessary that the jury should be able to say who committed the murder. That if they are in doubt as to who the persons <are> who actually committed the murder, and if it is possible, consistently with the facts proven, that the murder may have been committed by other persons than the Defendants <and without their consent,> that then they must find a verdict of not guilty.
That it is not necessary for the Defendants to prove themselves innocent. and that unless the prosecution has proven them to be guilty, beyond all reasonable doubt, that then they must find the Defendants not guilty
That in making up their verdict in this case they will exclude from their consideration all that was said by [William] Daniels, and Miss [Eliza] Graham [1/4 page blank] [p. [2]]