The mob of eighty men, whose faces were painted black, were under the direction of the notorious Captain Williams, who is represented in the picture as standing just back of the four men who are shooting the Prophet as he is lying partially stunned against the well curb. The Captain is directing the murder, as is to be seen in the engraving. Farther to the right is Captain Smith, with his company of Carthage Greys, who were entrusted with the care and custody of the prisoners under the pledge of the Governor of the state for their safety. In the afternoon of the day of the murder, the mob were concealed in the woods about three-quarters of a mile northwest of the jail, where they had previously marched. The front of the jail is to the south. Communication for some time was kept up between the mob and the Carthage Greys by couriers, until a perfect understanding was effected between the two mobs, for by this mutual understanding the State troops had become identified with the murder. The diabolical plot was so arranged that the troops had their guns loaded only with blank cartridges. From the situation of affairs, the disbanding of the troops at Carthage (except those treacherous Greys), and the Governor being at the same time in Nauvoo disarming the Nauvoo Legion, looks like a very deep plot for the murder of those two innocent prisoners. What makes it still more apparent that the State was guilty of this foul deed, is the fact that not one of those who were immediately connected with the murder were ever convicted, while many of them roamed at large, although well known to the community as having taken part in the murder, some even boasting of having participated in the vile act. One man in particular, who lived in what was known as Morley's settlement, near Carthage, openly claimed to have helped in the massacre. While I was in St. George about two years ago I read from a record book the following: "Mr. Meradis Perry, a near neighbor of ours, was one of the mob who killed Joseph Smith. He came home from Carthage sick and begged my father to kill him; 'for,' said he, 'I can neither eat nor sleep. When I close my eyes I can see Joseph Smith before me; I am a miserable man.' My father told him that he was in the hands of the Lord, and he would deal with him as seemed good onto himself; that Joseph was a true prophet sent of God, and his blood, with that of his brother, would cry from Carthage jail against his murderers as did Able's against his slayer. My father, James Bellows, lived near Morley's settlement." The daughter of Jas. Bellows, who has the record named, vouches for the above, having seen the mobber. She says he was a miserable human being.