, , 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 13
the attorny generals said he would not let the prisnors go in this Way but he would have them tried on the Evide[nce] given at the Corinors inquest so the prisnors were again arained at the Barr and all the the prosacueting attorny had all His witnesses present at the Second trial <but> the Judge said they had forfited their Recognizances and he would not allow their Evidence altho the testimony of the same witnesses were in the depossesions [depositions] before the corinor the Prisnors Were again acquited to the Confounding of all thos Who had secritly given their mony to aid the prosacution and the Loss of attornys Costs as the Judge would allow no Costs from the Crown whatever to the great Joye and sadisfaction of many saints some of whoom traveled all night to Be at the trial among whoom were sevral sisters who had come at many who were not saints were Deeply interested in the affair and when the Prisnor Came out of their Dungeons met them with tears of Joye and gladness while our Emimes [enemies] stood and gased [gazed] at us with Burning anger in their harts a Gentle man who in chester by the name of Collison not a saint who has not Been Baptized invited the prisnors and all the saints that were there to his house where we all partook a good diner and his Lady Waited upon the table with unfained kindness and all we had to do <During the trial> was to sit and Look on an see our Enemies Confound themselves and had we used all the skill that we were prossed <Prossession> of we Could not have gained so Compleet a victory as what the Lord wrought out by his own powr for the Dilvery of the Prisners and there is one circumstance I wish to mention it has left such an impression upon my mind and that is this while the grand Jury were out it was very Cold and snowed Very hard <much> and at the time they Brught the Bill against the Prisnors there was a sharp flash of Lightni[n]g that shone through the Windows of the court room so as to dim our Eysight for several seconds and one hevey Clap of thundr that shook the Castle to the foundation [p. 13]