Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1875-08-03
Aa u N II p.
THE TRrxL OF JOHN D. LEE.
BEAVER, July 81.

Witness Farnsworth resumes for
the defense. Was nine years a
Bishop. Know how the Church
disciplines its members.
The question, Would Bishop
in 1857 dare to refuse to commit
MURDER" was ruled incompetent,
and also the question, " How does
the Church discipline its members
for disobedience
The prosecution alleged that the
laws of the Church contain the
doctrine of blood atonement, and
that examination into that matter
would open the door, in rebuttal,
to establish the acts of the Church
in the murder of the Parish family,
the murder of Gunnison, the kill
ing of Robinson, the cutting of
the throat of negro Tom, the cut
ting of the throat of Potts, at Coal
vile. and the murder of Yates.
The Court ruled out the ques-
ton.
The question, "What was the
relative strength of the whites and
Indians in Southern Utah in
1857 ?" was ruled irrelevant.
Witness cross-examination was
continued: About a year ago had
q conversation with George A.
Smith, and he, for the first time,
said he had no knowledge of Ark
ansas immigrants being in the Ter
ritory until the day he and I met
them at Corn Creek. Did not
swear yesterday that Smith told me
so at the time we met them. Re-
porter's notes referred to, and it
was shown that he said Smith told
him so, but gave no date. Saw a
man with the Indians near q dead
OK at Corn Creek, when we left the
immigrants there. Saw no buck
skins there. Have talked with
witness Hoops about that. Think
the man was an immigrant. Can't
say how long I saw him. Can't say
if it was a second. Cannot say
how long I looked at them. When
/ saw him the immigrant train had
not broken camp and was yet in
corral. Great sensation in Court,
Is witness Hoops said it was after
camp had been broken, and that
the Dutch doctor fingered behind
ct the OK as the train moved off ;
also, that the OK was inside the COR
raj, and was not seen till camp
broke. Witness drew a diagram
showing the position of the OK and
Of the immigrant camp. Witness
saw no dead OK in their corral.
Heard nothing of Dutch doctor
there. Heard nothing about chol-
era there. 1t is customary among
Indians to avenge wrong by one
white party on the first or any other
white party they may meet. There
are many tribes in the Territory,
but all speak tho same tongue.
There were not less than ten thous-
and Indians la the Territory in 1857.
The Territory was then larger than
now. Among the Mormons the
same rule of vengeance does not
prevail. No people holds a man to
more strict accountability than the
Mormons. No people are more
strict in Furnishing tor violation of
law. They do not believe in she'd
ding blood, and do not kill for adul-
terry.
John Hamilton, sworn.-In 1857
lived six miles south of Cedar.
Heard of the massacre. Afterward
saw Indians come by my place.
They had the bloody clothes of
women, household goods, saddles
and stock. They shot some of the
stock there. was afraid they were
hostile. They committed no out
RACES on me or my neighbors. The
Indians were peaceaole with US as
long as we fed them and gave them
work.
John Hamilton, sworn.-In 1857
lived six miles south of Cedar. Saw
the immigrants at Shirts Creek.
They came by there to get cow
which man in Parowan had traded
for lame cow. They again traded
the Parowan cow to my brother for
a steer. There was much trouble in
the county then. At our place, after
the massacre, saw Indians with the
goods and stock of the immigrants.
Also, men and women's clothing
with blood on it-piles of it. Two
Of the Indians were wounded.
Richard Robinson, swOrn.A-Lived
at Pinto Creek in 1857. Only six
able-bodied men lived there. Two
were absent when the immigrants
went by. l was an Elder there. Do
not remember Klingen Smith bring
ing me letter from Haight about
the approach of the immigrants.
Saw an open letter at Pinto from
Haight to Lee, before the massacre.
Do not know its date. Counsel
offered to prove its contents by wit
ness.l l am now a Bishop. Think
Amos Thornton delivered the letter
70 me. He is dead.
The defense stated that all their
testimony yet to be given would not
occupy more than an hour, but that
the evidence was not now to be had,
but would be here to-night-Brig-
ham Young's affidavit. They there
fore moved an adjournment until
Monday.
The Court granted the raotion, and
directed counsel concerning the
and settlement of in
structions for the jury. 1t was an
nounced that. the Court would
charge the jury before argument by
counsel would be allowed.
The Lyon County TIMES has a
correspondent at Santa Cruz. The
editor keeps outside of it always