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.
, and were insolvent as is in said bill alledged, nor either of them, nor has he any knowledge, nor can he state from his belief or other means as to their residence,
And this respondant further answering as to Interrogatory No. 3 says:
That he does not know and cannot state from his belief or otherwise whether the said Joseph Smith died seized of all or any of the premises in the complainants’ bill described other than the said lots 1, 2 and 3 in Block 127 and Lot 2 Block 139 as above stated and set forth and as to these lots respondant denies as he is advised and believes, that the said Joseph Smith had any interest at the time of his death, and as to the other premises described this respondant disclaims all intent therein or any part thereof,
And for answer to Interrogatory No. 4 says:—
That he has no personal knowledge of the appointment of said administratrix of the estate of said Joseph Smith deceased nor of the appointment of said , nor of the revocation of their said letters of administration, nor of the appointment of the said John M. Ferris adminstrator D. B. N., but is informed of the same and therefore admits the same to be true as in said bill is alledged, he also admits that inventories and sale bills were filed in the matter of the administration of said estate,
But denies that they amounted to the sum in said Bill stated and set forth, and states that by said inventories filed in the proper Court of Probate Jurisdiction of said County of amounted to a large sum to wit, to the sum of more than ten thousand dollars as by the records thereof does appear.
Answer to Interrogatory, in said bill, No. 5, this respondant says:
That he has no knowledge or belief of any of the matters in the said Interrogatories referred to, nor of any sale or pretended sale by said in said bill mentioned.
This respondant further answering as to interrogatories No. 6 in said bill says;
That he is informed and believes it to be true that divers persons in possession claiming title to some of the premises in complainants’ bill mentioned have permitted the same to go to sale and acquired <tax> titles thereon, but to what particular lots and premises or for what purposes, he has no knowledge or belief except as follows:
The North East 1/4 of lots 1 and lot 3 Block 127 lot 2 in Block 127, lot 2 on Block 139, which were duly sold for taxes due the State of and the County of for the year 1845 on due judgement of Circuit Court for said state for the April term thereof, and duly sold to this respondant, that under said [p. 579]