Closing Argument of Onias Skinner, 29 May 1845, Copy [State of Illinois v. Williams et al.]
Source Note
, Closing Argument, [, Hancock Co., IL], 29 May [1845], State of IL v. Williams et al. (Hancock Co., IL, Circuit Court 1845). Copied [29 May–20 June 1845]; handwriting of and printed text; thirty-one pages; Wilford Wood Museum, Bountiful, UT; images in Joseph Smith Murder Trial Papers, 1844–1845, CHL.
— to pursue a high & dignified policy, just & impartial to all— to attach itself to no faction, nor to stoop to become its mouth piece & champion. The course of this paper is beneath the dignity of a respectable press & deserves the stern frown & rebuke of every good Citizen. No man is more strongly attached to the principles of his party than I am— principles that I love & revere; but, I am not [page torn] called upon to sanction & approve what my Conscience te[page torn] me is morally wrong, unjust, degrading to my party, destructive of the rights & liberties of the Citizen & dangerous to the institutions of my .
In this same State Register— on the same sheet with this caricature, over the Signature of the himself, is found a letter from which I will read you an extract. It bears date August 22d 1844 & is addressed to G. T. M. Davis:
As to the other matters, I am perfectly certain that Col. Buckmaster never made any such statement as is contained in your letter. He could not have done so, with truth. And I am equally certain that I made no such statements to , as he represents. It ought not to surprise you, that he should endeavor to excuse his part in a disgraceful murder, by pretending some authority for his conduct. At a proper time, a fair narrative of this whole business will be laid before the public. I will content myself at present by simply stating that made a speech to the troops of , to induce them to murder the Smiths. In that speech he expressly stated that the was opposed to them, in their measures and had refused to do them justice. He further stated, that the murder must be perpetrated, whilst the was at ; that the Mormons would suppose that the had planned it; and would murder him, by way of retaliation; that this last murder would create a great excitement in the , and cause a great many people to turn out to arrest them, in driving off the Mormons. On this important occasion, when he was endeavoring to persuade men to do a desperate deed and when the sanction of high authority would have been so much to his purpose, he never intimated any knowledge or consent on my part either express or implied; but expressly stated that I was opposed to their measures; and had refused to do them justice. And when it was further urged, that they ought to be in a hurry to commit the act, for fear I would get back from , and prevent it, the leader of the band said “damn the , if he attempts to interfere we will kill him also; and all the band said “amen.” [p. 27]
Closing Argument of Onias Skinner, 29 May 1845, Copy [State of Illinois v. Williams et al.]
ID #
19434
Total Pages
34
Print Volume Location
Handwriting on This Page
Onias Skinner
Printed text
Footnotes
Onias Skinner handwriting ends; printed text begins. A clipping from the Illinois State Register was attached to the bottom of the page. (See Illinois State Register [Springfield], 8 Nov. 1844, [2].)
Illinois State Register. Springfield, IL. 1839–1861.