CCLHP: Deposition of L. D. Wintermote
State of Illinois
Coles County
L.D. Wintermote, being duly sworn according to law, deposes and says: I was standing in the door of Issaac Winter’s Tailor shot, and saw John OHair, the Sheriff of Coles County, come from behind the northwest corner of the Courthouse, and going quickly to the northeast corner of the Court-House fence, climbed over and came across the street close to the place where I was standing, then turning, went across the street to the east gate, hallowing, stand to them boys we are not whipped yet, and passed through the gate, and went to the corner of Judge Edwords’ office, and fired his pistol at a man in soldier’s clothes, who being dressed as he was and from his size I took to be Finny of the 54th regiment of Illinois. I saw John Frazier pass by being on a horse, and when he had got beyond the east gate of the Court-house yard, that is south of the gate, drew up a pistol and shot across into the Courthouse yard some three times, then dismounted and came in front of Judge Edwords’ office.
After that I saw John H. OHair and John Frazier come out of the east gate with a number of other men and passed down to Weisses lumber yard, where I saw some of them loading their guns.
I saw men coming out of the Courthouse yard, go to wagons on the street, and get guns and run to Judge Edwords’ office and fire at soldiers in the Courthouse yard. I knew none of the men personally, excepting John OHair and John Frazier. I saw Sheriff OHair fire three times at the soldiers.
L.D. Wintermote (signed)
Subscribed and sworn to
before me, this April 1st 1864
W.A. Whittemore, M.P.
