Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1875-08-05
THE TRIAL OF JOHN D. LEE.
BEAVER, AUGUST 3.


search of the chief of the Beavers.
To-day he found him, and held an
interview by aid of an interpreter
This chiefs name is Beaverite. He
became chief by recommendation of
the Mormons and the ratification of
the Indian agent, on account OF his
good behavior. He is about forty
six years of age, and is afflicted with
partial blindness. He said: Il was
not at Corn Creek, but am brother
to the mother of Kanosh, chief of the
Corn Creek Indians, and am warm
friend with the Pahvants. Often
talked over the matter with them.
The story of the poisoned OK is not
true, nor is that of the poisoned
spring. It's running water. No In
dams were ever poisoned, us the Nor
mons say. No Indians ever told me
of it, and l am with them often and
must have heard of it. There were
no Corn Creek, Pahvants or Beavers
at Mountain Meadows. 1t is all one
lie who says so. All the Indians there
were not more than a hundred, for l
knew Mequepas, who was there with
his Cold Creek Indians. He was my
friend, and so were all his Indians. l
have often talked with them during
the last seventeen years. Mequepas
always said and his warriors always
said they were making a living by
hunting around Cedar. When John
D. Lee came and told them to come
and help kill the immigrants, Meque-
pas said there was not guns nor pow
der enough. Lee said the Mormons
would furnish guns and pow
der. Mequepas asked what the
Indians would get, Lee said the cloth
ing, all the guns and horses, and some
of the cattle to eat. So they went.
Mequepas was wounded and died
year after of his wounds. All the In
dams tell the same story. No In
dams in Utah had any animosity
against the whites then. All was
peace with the indians. One Indian
tried to steal horse of Dukes party
and a guard shot him, and for day
or two there was trouble and some
That was the only trouble
that we ever had. l know all these
Indians. I know the Indian tradi
tons, and know what l tell is true.
l tell it now because the towards
had thrown all the blame upon the
Indians. Lee is like an Indian who
shot two miners long ago. He got
caught, and when brought here he
got scared and shook like coward.
So Lee, he got scared now and say
Indian did it all. Lee led the Indians
at the massacre, and Mequepas al
ways said Lee was chief over him in
that fight"
Some singular facts have come to
light regarding the defense, to be con-
sidered in connection with Lees dec
laration that his counsel is defending
some person not in Court. 1t ap-
pears that Spicer was first counsel in
the case, but for two days past Spicer
has not been in Court and has appar-
emily withdrawn from the case, being
unable to agree with other counsel.
Being questioned, he answered, 81
guess they have got enough of me-"
Hoge, the next counsel, was regularly
by Lee. Bishop, of Phoebe,
came here and entered the case after
visiting Salt Lake, and it is under
stood he gets no fee from Lee. Suth-
erland first appeared in Court for
Dame, and never appeared for Lee
until the impaneling of the jury be-
gan, since which he has taken the
lead and management Of the case.
Bates is Sutherland's partner, and
early in the case went to Salt Lake,
whence he was constantly commune
eating with Sutherland, and where he
took the dispositions of Brigham
Young and George A. Smith. Suth-
erland & Bates are regularly retained
attorneys by the Church by the year.
These things are the subject of con-
slant comment. Bishop was heard
to say that he had called upon Muir
dock, the Mormon Bishop here, and
had stated that the defense expected
now, as the jury list was drawn, that
verdict of acquittal should follow
the trial. Murdoch took all night to
consider, and the next morning at
sunrise reported that he would not
attempt to guarantee anything. Bish-
CD then said his client should turn
States evidence. Then followed his
confession and its refusal. 1t is con-
coded that the strength of the prose-
cution surprised all, and that now, if
the Mormon authorities could advise