CCLHP: Deposition of Erastus Kinzel
State of Illinois
Coles County
Erastus Kinzel, on his oath deposeth and says, I was engaged teaching school on Monday the 28th of March A.D. 1864. My school house was a short distance north or N.E. of Mr. Winkleblacks Residence where I was boarding at the time, and as I was going from my school room to my boarding house, I saw several men going in Northwards direction carrying guns &c., - some of the called out with an oath that they would kill me before morning. I went on to my Winkleblacks, house and a short time afterwards B.F. Dukes, Alexander Rodgersand Wash Tolan came into Mr. Winkleblacks yard with their Revolvers drawn – and demanded horses of Mr. Winkleblack, calling out shoot him, shoot him down, &c., Mr. W. gave up the horse he was leading, and Dukes took the horse off and said Rodgers came into the house with his pistol in his hand and demanded what guns there was in the house, they got two and left taking the guns and horse with them – while this was going on there was a wagon standing in the road down in front of the house - these men got out of said wagon, there were several men still remaining in the wagon – there was also another man standing in the yard with a gun in his hand.
Erastus Kinzel (signed)
Subscribed and sworn to before me this April 1st 1864
W.A. Whittemore N.P.
