June 24, 1843
Dixon, Illinois
Although Reynolds and Wilson sought to prevent Joseph Smith from obtaining legal counsel, they were unsuccessful, and Joseph obtained a writ of habeas corpus, returnable before Judge John D. Caton at Ottawa, Illinois. Cyrus Walker, candidate for U.S. representative, agreed to serve as Joseph’s lawyer only after securing Joseph’s promise to vote for him.
Sources:
Sustaining the Law: Joseph Smith's Legal Encounters, Gordon A. Madsen, Jeffrey N. Walker, and John W. Welch,
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