, , England, to JS and Quorum of the Twelve, [, Hancock Co., IL], 10–21 Jan. 1844; handwriting of ; docket in handwriting of ; twenty-four pages; JS Collection, CHL.
Page 12
witnesses for the prosacution present at 9 o clock A. M. During this time I was also Buesey in procuerig [procuring] wittneses from Crewe, Distence 24 miles to Defend the prisnors which came on the mornig of the 2nd. I went into Court at 9 o clock with the attorney and found the prisnors at the Barr our attorney when he persented the Briefs to two of the Best council in the circuit to his astonishment he found them Engaged for the prssacution in addition to the attorny general with a blank Brief that if they would Convict the prisnors they mite make thir own charge of a fee he however Procuered two Councilers by the name of R. G. Temple and S. C. Egerton the Latter was the Judges Neffew the case was called and 3 Witneses for the prossacution gave their Evidence the sum of which Was that the prisnor Cartwrigt had ill treated his wife for witnes had seen mark of violence on her body some days before her Death the Learned Judge would not allow the Evidence in the Case because the Witness did not see any act of violence the day she was baptised and the conversation between the witnesses and deseased was when she was violintly opposing her husban and the Doctrines of the saints he said there was nothing to show but the Deceased had changed her mind and went volentarily to the Watters of Baptisim which was Evident because she followed her husband fifteen minuts after he Left his house to Repair to the Watter the man with his map was sworn but the Judge would not allow one Qestion to be asked him so he walked out of the court much Shagrind in Companey with the prosacuting attorny in Serch of their other Witnesses Which had not yet arivd and I Saw them Runig [running] in Breathles haste in Every Directi[o]n acrost the town for in serech [search] of their witnesses but Could not find them for more than an houer the Judee [judge] said that the witneses should forfit their Recognizances which was 20£ each and the prosacuting attorny should forfit his fee Which mad[e] him pull on a Long Sad Countence [countenance] and <with> all of his assistince assosiates While the Judge acquited the prisnors much to their Disopointment they were Remanded Back again to their Cells While another case was tried [p. 12]