number; pledged themselves that said and should be personally safe— and that said Mormons none <none> of them as we could perceive were armed so far as was discernable; and further that the said statement made in the Old School Democrat of the 12th instant over the signature of that he and said were disarmed soon after they were arrested on the trespass suit commenced against them by Said Smith, and that their arms were not returned to them until after said Smith’s discharge at was incorrect, and in relation to this these deponents say that said and were arrested on said action of trespass at on Saturday morning the 24th of June last; that they were not disarmed by the sheriff of who had them in custody nor by any other person until the following day at Paw Paw Grove thirty two miles distant from , and that the arms of said and were restored to them by the said Sheriff of who had them in custody for default of bail at their and own request while on a the journey from to before the company had arrived within at least eighty miles of .
I. D. McComsey
L. P. Sanger
Sworn and Subscribed to before me at this 29th day of July A.D. 1843
Frederick R. Dutcher Justice of the peace
To The Editors of the Warsaw Message
Gent— At appears from an article in your paper of the 15th of July under the Editorial head that there is a question of veracity therein raised between Mr and myself, relative to the proceedings had after the late arrest by him of Joseph Smith. Now in order that the public may no longer be deceived in the premises be pleased to publish together with this note the above affidavits that the charge of falsehood may attach where it properly belongs.