| 564 P. M. on the 25th, the justice proceeded to the examination in relation to the riot and after a good deal of resistance on the part of the prosecution, we were permitted to enter into a recognizance to answer at the next term of the Circuit Court, that we were engaged until dark in making out and giving our recognizances, that in consequence of the rumors as to the excitement in Warsaw and other points, and to allay the fears of the citizens of Nauvoo, I requested Gov. Ford to detail a company to Nauvoo, to protect the city, which request was promptly complied with, and that night Capt. Singleton, with a company of men from McDonough county marched to Nauvoo and took possession of the city and remained until the evening of the 27th when they took up their line of march for Carthage.
After the matter of the riot was disposed of the justice left, without saying anything in relation to the examination for treason, and in about the hour the constable returned with a mittimus, a copy of which accompanies the statement of my colleague, H. T. Reid, a copy of which was demanded and refused; that I requested the officer to wait until I could see Gov. Ford, and I was told he would wait five minutes, and as I went to the door I met Capt. Dunn with some twenty men to guard the prisoners to jail; that I accompanied Gov. Ford to the justice, R. F. Smith, who gave us a cause for issuing the warrant of committal, that the prisoners were not personally safe at the hotel.
I then requested the Governor to have a company detailed to guard the jail, which was done, and they arrived at the jail about the same time as the prisoners. On the morning of the 26th, the Governor visited the jail in company with a friend, at which interview the Governor again pledged himself for their personal safety, and said if the troops went to Nauvoo, as was then contemplated that they should go along to ensure their protection, that after the interview at the jail, the counsel for the prosecution wanted the prisoners brought before the justice for an examination, to which the counsel for the prisoners replied, that they were committed until they were discharged by due course of law, and that we could do nothing until the prisoners were legally before the court, where we would appear and defend; that the justice R. F. Smith gave the constable an order (a copy of which accompanies the statement of H. T. Reid Esq.,) for the jailor [jailer] to deliver up the prisoners, which the jailor [jailer] refused to do;-that the constable then repaired to the jail with a company called the "Carthage Greys," of whom the justice, R. F. Smith, was the captain, but not then in command; and by intimidation and threats, forced the jailor [jailer] to give up the prisoners to the constable, who took them before the justice, R. F. Smith, at the Court House, that on the motion for the counsel for the prisoners, the examination was postponed until the 27th, 12 o'clock, and subpœnas issued for witnesses on the defence [defense]. The two Smiths were then remanded to jail and orders were issued for a consultation of the officers, with the commander-in-chief, and it was determined that the troops should take up a line of march at 8 o'clock, on the morning of the 27th, for Nauvoo, and after the consultation, the justice, who was one of the officers in command, altered the return of the subpœnas until the 29th, and continued the hearing until that time, without consulting either the prisoners or the counsel; that on the morning of the 27th, the order for marching to Nauvoo, was countermanded, and all the troops disbanded but the company under Capt. Singleton at Nauvoo, Capt. Dunn's company of horse, and the Carthage Greys, that the governor determined to visit Nauvoo, escorted by Capt. Dunn's company; and the Carthage Greys were left as a guard for the prisoners at the jail, that after the troops were disbanded, I requested Gov. Ford to detail some men to guard the rout to Warsaw, as I apprehended much danger from that place, but I do not know whether it was done or not, as I left Carthage about 11 o'clock, A. M., and came to Nauvoo; that Gov. Ford and his aide, Col. Buckmaster, escorted by Capt Dunn's company, arrived in Nauvoo about 5 o'clock, P. M., where he addressed the citizens, and promised them protection, and a just execution of the laws, and immediately left the city for Carthage.
JAMES W. WOODS,
Attorney at Law, of Burlington, Iowa.
TO THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.
I desire to make a brief but true statement of the recent disgraceful affair at Carthage, in regard to the Smiths, so far as circumstances have come to my knowledge. The Smiths, Joseph and Hyrum, have been assassinated in jail, by whom it is not known, but will be ascertained. I pledged myself for their safety, and upon the assurance of that pledge, they surrendered as prisoners. The Mormons surrendered the public arms in their possession, and the Nauvoo Legion submitted to the command of Capt. Singleton, of Brown county, deputed for that purpose by me. All these things were required to satisfy the old citizens of Hancock that the Mormons were peaceably disposed; and
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