| 529 (As the Illinoisans call the Missouri people pukes, this circumstance caused considerable amusement to the members of the bar.) During his plea his language was so outrageous that the Judge was twice under the necessity of ordering him to be silent.
"Mr. O. H. Browning then commenced his plea, and in a short time the puking lawyer returned and requested the privilege of finishing his plea, which was allowed.
"Afterwards Mr. Browning resumed his pleadings, which were powerful; and when he gave a recitation of what he himself had seen at Quincy and on the banks of the Mississippi River, when the saints were 'exterminated from Missouri,' where he tracked the persecuted women and children by their bloody footmarks in the snow, they were so affecting that the spectators were often dissolved in tears. Judge Douglas himself and most of the officers wept, for they were under the necessity of keeping the spectators company.
"Elder Amasa Lyman during the evening preached a brilliant discourse in the courthouse, on the first principles of the gospel, which changed the feelings of the people very materially.
"The following letter is from the editor of the Times and Seasons:-
"'American Hotel, MONMOUTH, Warren County,
"'Illinois, June 5,1841, Wednesday evening.
"'We have just returned from the courthouse, where we have listened, to one of the most eloquent speeches ever uttered by mortal man, in favor of justice and liberty, by O. H. Browning, Esq., who has done himself immortal honor in the sight of all patriotic citizens who listened to the same. He occupied the attention of the court for more than two hours, and showed the falsity of the arguments of the opposite counsel, and laid down principles in a lucid and able manner, which ought to guide the court in admitting testimony for the defendant, Joseph Smith. We have heard Mr. Browning on former occasions, when he has frequently delighted his audience by his eloquence; but on this occasion he exceeded our most sanguine expectations. The sentiments
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