A court was here convened on the [blank] day of [blank] for the purpose of investigating those charges which had been preferred against me. A great excitement prevailed, on account of the scandalous falsehoods which had been circulated, the nature of which will come out in the sequel. In the mean time we as soon as Mr Joseph Knights [Joseph Knight Sr.] had heard of my arrest, he immediately repaired to two of his neighbours respectable farmers <​viz: esq. James Davidson & John Reed men​>, renowned for their integrity and Well! How how had he the horse of you? <​Ans​> He bought him of me, as another man would do. Q. Have you had your pay? Ansr That is not your business. The question being again put, the witness replied, I hold his note for the price of the horse, which I consider as good as the pay—for I am <​well​> acquainted with him and know him to be an honest man, and if he wishes—I am ready to let him have another horse on the same terms. Mr Jonathan Thompson was next called up, and examined. Question, Has not Joseph Smith, the prisoner had a yoke of oxen of you, Ansr Yes, Did he not <​obtain them by​> tell<​ing​> you that he had a revelation to the effect that he was to have them? Ansr No, he did <​not​> mention a word of the kind concerning the oxen, he purchased them, same as another and man would? After a few more such attempts, the court was adjourned untill [blank] <​detained for a time​> in order that two you young women <​(daughters to Mr Stoal)​> might be sent for, with whom I had <​often​> kept <​often​> company; in order if possible to elicit something for from them that might be made a pretext against me. The court again sat, and the <​young​> Ladies were <​separately​> examined touching my Character, Conduct, and in general, but particulcarliy as to my behaviour towards them, both in public and in private. When they both bore such testimony in my favor as left my enemies with out a pretext on their account. Several attempts were now made to prove something against me, and even circumstances which <​were alleged to have​> had taken place in Broom[e] Co were brought forward, but which my lawyers would not admit of being here brought against me. In order therefore that I should if possible be made [to] appear guilty of something. The Court was detained over untill a warrant was obtained from Broom County. and served upon me just immediately after I had been acquitted and set at liberty by this court. The Constable who served this warrant, had no sooner done so than he began to abuse and insult me, and so unfeeling was he with me, that although, I had been kept all the day in court with out any thing to eat since the morning yet he hurried me off to Broom County, a distance of about 15 miles we before he allowed me time <​to​> eat anything. <​about this time we were over against my own house, I wished to be allowed to go to home for the night <​offering security for safety—​> but would not [illegible].​> He then took me to a Tavern, and gathered in a number of men who used every means to abuse, ridicule, and insult me. They spit upon me, pointed their fingers at me, saying to me, prophesy prophesy, and in many <​others​> ways did the[y] insult me. I applied for some thing to eat, The constable ordered me some crusts of bread and some water which was the only fare I that night received; and I at length got some respite from my persecutors, being furnished with a bed in the second story of the house, At length the constable and I retired to bed, he made me lie next the wall, and he lay down beside me, and lest I might escape, he <​and​> put his arms around me, and upon my moving in the least, would clench me fast, fearing I intended to escape from him. Burch, a lawyer for the prosecution

Next day I was brought before the Magis<​trates​> Court of Broom Co, and put upon my trial. My former, faithful friends and lawyers were again at my side, my former persecutors were again arrayed against me. Among the latter was one Mr Seymour a zealous professor and advocate of the presbyterian creed,) who had made himself conspicuous against me; and had been all along <​both​> during the former and present trial.18 Many witnesses were again called up forward and examined. Some of whom swore to the most palpable falsehoods, and like to the false witnesses which had appeared against me on the former trial, they condradicted themselves, so plainly that the court would not admit their testimony, and after using Others were called who proved <​showed​> by their zeal that they were willing enough to prove something against me, but all they could do, was to prove tell somethings which some body else had told them, in this frivolous and vexatious manner did they proceed for a considerable time, when finally, Newel Knight was called up for <​and​> examined by Lawyer [William] Seymour, (who was a Presbyterian, <​and who had been specially sent for on this occasion—​> and had shown great zeal, lest the people should be deluded by me, and false doctrines propagated in the neighborhood.) to the following effect. What is your name? Ansr Newel Knight. Did the prisoner Joseph Smith, Cast the Devil out of you? <​Ansr​> No Sir— Why have not you had the Devil cast out of you? Ansr Yes Sir. And had not Joe Smith some hand in its being done! Ansr Yes Sir. And did not he cast him out of you? Ansr No Sir, it was done by the power of God, and he was Joseph Smith was the instrument made use of on the occasion, He commanded him out of me in the name of Jesus Christ. And are you sure that it was the Devil? Ansr Yes Sir. Did you see him after he was cast out of you? Ansr Yes sir, I saw him— Pray, what <​did​> he look like? (Here one of my lawyers, informed the witness that he need not answer the question) The witness replied, I believe I need not answer your last question, but I will do it provided I be allowed to ask you one question first, and you answer me. Viz: Do you Mr Seymour profess understand the things of the Spirit? Ans No I do not pretend to such big things. Well then said Knight, ’Twould be of no use to tell you, what the Devil looked like. for it was a Spiritual sight, and of course you would <​not​> understand it, were I to tell you of it. The lawyer dropped his head, whilst the loud laugh of the assembled audience <​multitude​> proclaimed his discomfiture.

Mr Seymour now addressed the Court, and in a long & violent harangue endeavored to blacken my character, and bring me out guilty of the charges which had been brought against me, among other things, he brought up the story of my having been a money digger and in this manner proceeded in hopes to influence the court and the people against me. My Lawyers followed in my behalf Mr Davidson and Mr Reed followed in my behalf, they showed they held forth in its true colors, the nature of the prosecution, the malignancy of intention, and apparent disposition to persecute their client, rather than to afford him justice. They took up the different arguments which had been brought by the Lawyers for the prosecution and having shewed their utter futility & misapplication. then to h proceeded to scrutinize the evidence which had been adduced, and <​each​> in his turn, thanked God that He had been engaged in so good a cause as that of defending the Character <​cause​> of a man, whose character stood the so well the test of such an scrutinizing enquiry. In fact these men (although not regular lawyers) were upon this occasion enabled to put to silence these their opponents—and convince the court that I was innocent. They spoke like men inspired of God, whilst their lawyers who were arrayed against me, trembled under their sound of their voice, and quailed before them like criminals before a bar of Justice. The majority of the all who had attended, had now began to see find that nothing could be sustained against me. Even the Constable who had arrested me and who had treated me so badly—now came and apologized to me, and asked my forgiveness of his behaviour towards me. And so far was he changed that he informed me, that the mob were determined; that if the court acquitted me, that they would have me, and rail ride me and tar & feather me, and further told me that he was willing to favor me so, that he would lead me out in safety by a private way.

The court finding the charges against me not sustained I was acquitted to the great satisfaction of my friends and vexation of my enemies; who were now once more set for me, but through the instrumentality of my new friend the Constable I was enabled to escape them, and make my way in safety to my wife’s sister’s house. where I found my wife—with whom I next day returned to my own house.