Transcript of Proceedings, , Sangamon Co., IL, ca. 17 July 1852, U.S. v. Joseph Smith III et al. (United States Circuit Court for the District of IL 1852); U.S. District Court for the District of Illinois, Complete Records, 1837–1856, vol. 4, pp. 486–697; handwriting of ; Records of District Courts of the United States, Record Group 21, National Archives at Chicago, Chicago.
Transcript of Proceedings, circa 17 July 1852 [ United States v. Joseph Smith III et al. ]
Page 535
defendants Hiram Griffin, S[iegmund] M. Walther, Benjamin P. VanCourt, Isabella Hickox and Leonard [Hickox] her husband, Maria Winter and John [Winter] her husband and Casamier [Casamire] Winter, Infant, and Lewis Stutts, by their solicitors and filed their answer herein.
Which is in the words and figures following to wit:—
The answer of Hiram Griffin, Sugsmond [Siegmund] M. Walther, Benjamin P. Van Court, Isabella Hickox and Leonard [Hickox] her husband, Maria Winter and John [Winter] Her husband and Casamier [Casamire] Winter Infant and Lewis Stutts, of the defendants to the bill of Complainant of the Complainant
These defendants now and at all times hereafter saving to themselves all and all manner of benefits and advantages of exceptions or otherwise that can or may be had or taken to the many errors, uncertainties and imperfections in the said bill contained and here protesting that said complainants have not shown themselves entitled to any relief in equity as against these defendants for answer thereto or so much thereof as these defendants are advised it is material or necessary for them to make answer to,
Answering as to interrogatory 1st. in said bill propounded Saith,
That they have no knowledge of any indebtedness of the said Joseph Smith deceased to the complainant or any other persons except as they are informed of the same by said complainants’ bill, nor have they any knowledge of the renedition of said judgement and the issuing the s and the returns thereon, nor of said judgements remaining due and unpaid except from information derived from complainants said bill, nor had they any knowledge, information or belief whatever of any of the matters in said interrogatories mentioned and referred to, nor of any such indebtedness until within the last past six months, since which time they have learned only from said bill and rumors that said indebtedness existed and this is all the knowledge or information they have upon the subject and therefore require proof of the same.
And these Respondants further answering, as to the 2nd. Interrogatory in said bill propounded saith.
That they have no personal knowledge of any of the matters and things therein mentioned and referred to, but have been informed and believe it to be true, that said Joseph Smith died as in said bill alledged and left him surviving his and heirs at law as in said bill alledged, and that the marriages took place as in said bill stated and set forth
That said defendants named therein as infants are such infants, and therefore admit the same to be true.
But these Respondants have no knowledge and cannot state as to their belief or otherwise what interest [p. 535]