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.
now informed that said conveyances are recorded as in said bill alledged,
These respondants do not know, nor can they state as to their belief or otherwise as to any of the other matter in said 7th. Interrogatory referred to.
And these respondants further answering as to Interrogatory No. 8 in said bill propounded, saith,
That they do not know nor can they state as to their belief or otherwise as to any of the matter and things therein in said bill referred to
And these Respondants further answering as to Interrogatory No. 9 say,
That they do not know nor can they state as to their <belief> or otherwise whether the said of the premises in the said bill described or any part thereof, is entitled to be endowed thereof, other than the premises herein before described as owned by these respondants and as to these premises respondants deny that she is entitled to be endowed therein or any part thereof.
And charges that since the death of said Joseph Smith, she has conveyed by deed in fee to these respondants and to said Benjamin P. VanCourt all of said premises in said deeds from her described,
Which said deeds are herein, this answer before referred to and made a part of the same.
These Respondants deny all fraud, combination or collusion whatever of which they stand charged in the complainants’ bill.
Respondants pray that they may have the same benefit and advantage of any defence herein set forth the same as if such matters had been specially pleaded, and as to any and all matters contained and not herein fully answered, respondants do not know nor can they state as to their belief or otherwise.
And now having fully answered all the matters and things in said bill pray hence to be dismissed with their costs in this behalf most wrongfully sustained.
Charles Wetzel
Lorenzo Risse
Bernard Eking
Simon Grill
Saml. M. Chapman
Daniel Elliott
United States of America)
ss. [scilicet]
District of )
Charles Wetzel, Bernard Eking, Risse Simon Grill defendants &c, being severally duly sworn depose and say, that the facts stated and set forth in the above and foregoing answer are true so far [p. 573]