Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1875-07-29

Opening Speech o. Lees Csunssi-
Thsery % the Dsss.ss-Thsy Ad'
mis Their Case ana Assenpt Pal'
Iiasisa- Lee Cs0pslled - D. q
NE Did -Strssgsh o. she IsAians
Etc., Etc.
BEAvrs, July 29.-In the Mountain
Meadow Massacre case to-day 6picsr.
for defense, moved . stay Of all further
proceedings. ON the ground that this ID
NO legal term. the court and G~ovsrnor
having fixed the term Of court without
due authority. The court ovsrrulsd the
motion. Al Lee came into court to-day
he she'd tears. Spiesr opened the case
for defense 10 the jury. He skstehsd
the course OF the Arkansas smigrants
down the valley Of Utah, and said
that their butchsry In cold blood was
unparalleled and hsndish. He would
not claim that Indians alone did the
deed, for white men were there with
hearts a. black - those Of the savages.
He would admit that orders were issued
10 those white men, such orders as could
not be disobsyed. and compelled the
obedience OF those who took part. He
would admit that the Mormon Church
had bad men In II a. In the case OF
oil frontier counties. Any church
gets such men In Il. He would
claim the Mormon Church was not alone
10 blame, but that the msn who did the
deed acted an much from the desire OF
their own wicked hearts as from rslig-
ious convictions. He would prove that
Lee acted under orders. but would not
claim, as Joshua did. that his orders
came from the Lord for the destruction
Of the people Of the City Of Al.
He would claim that no proof had been
made that Lee killed anyone. though
present. He would show that the emil.
grants In all Utah were treated kindly
and furnished with supplies. but in town
acted badly and created great trouble. 20
much 10 that tho train divided and had
two captains. He would claim that
Utah, ct the time Of the maasacre, was
In u state OF war. The people had 70
solyed 10 burn their homes and dee 10
the mountains, and do for Johnston's
army moro than the Moscowites did for
Napoleon. So the Mormons agreed
to store their supplies for sub
aistsnce In their retreat. He would
show that Corn Greek was the home Of
stalwart Indians, by Kanosh, their Chief,
yet living their. The smigrsnts had
difficulty until the Indians became en-
ragged beyond control by the settlers;
that the massacre was only an Indian
massacre though there were white men
In II, Just as there were at Dsernsld and
Wyoming. There was but n man Who
raised his hand and voice In all
these days sisgo at the Meadows for the
safety Of tho smigrsnts, mi man who
wept for them. one man who begged for
endorsements 10 ssve the smigrants.
and raised his voice. saying. before God
~ cannot do this DECD" That man
was John D. Lee. II Klingsn Smith.
q Bishop with authority. swsars he
dare not disobsy. and hred on the emil.
grants 70 save his own life, what
can DO expected Of the simple lsymsn,
Lee, who held an ofses ct that time.
The people Of Utah believed they were
executing tho will Of God In all they
did from day to day. a. much - did
those who destroyed Al or shalom. He
would show that there were but thirty
men at the massacre, and hundreds
Of Indians who compelled them
TO take an active part, but most OF
the men went to the Meadows honestly
to help save the smigrants. while some
went for murdsrous purposes. Those
who acted unwillinsly did 20 because II
they did not the Indians would have
killed them and swept OF their homes
and families and all settlements In the
Utah valley. History shows no POSI-
ton 90 terrible - that In which thsss
men were placed. Lee alone stood
up and said II any Ave men present
would 60 with him he would 90 into the
corral Of tho smisrants and with them
fight u out with the Indians. Conelud.
Ing. spicer says: "Lss. even By his own
nsishbors, vas being made great In this
affair. though only . private sisissn, mol
holding any ofios. In order to b offered
up o. Q ssShAes mfaeisniiy large 70 ap-
psass offended justice" spicsf spoke
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