The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1877-09-15
MoRGANTowN. VIVA, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 49, 1877.
Mormon Crime-How Young Squclchcd
Secession.

SeceSSlOn.
lSaltI.ake Letter to New York Herald
Perhaps the greatest crime to which the
present grand jury has the clew was the
Morrisite massacre of 1865.
Since the establishment Of the Mormon
Church by Joseph Smith, lr., it has sus-
tanned from eight to ten serious schisms.
Among the most formidable cf these
schisms was one caused after the accession
of Brigham Young as prophet, by Joseph
Morris, who had been Brigham's faith
full follower for many years, but who at
length, distressing his master, concluded
to turn prophet ON his own account. He
appears To have been man eff some re-
markable gifts; he drew after him several
bishops and elders and laymen, number
ing some five hundred. His chief coun-
selor was John Banks, native of Man
chester, England, well educated and very
courageous. Between the doctrines of
Brigham Young and Joseph Morris there
was no marked difference save in one
articular-Brigham taught that he was
the true Prophet, anointed of the
Lord, " and Morris that he was Goods
anointed" In spite of the fact that
Federal Governor had been appointed to
the Territory, Young was monarch, not
only over that Governor butof all else he
surveyed. He determined to crush out
the Morrisitcs. Following legal forms
for forms sake he obtained writs of
habeas corpus and warrants from Chief
Justice Kinney, which were placed in
the hands of Deputy Marshal Robert T.
Burton. He called on the acting Gov
ernor, Secretary Frank Fuller Ga brother
of the notorious Fuller of the Mormon
Salt Lake Herald, for. an armed posse.
The request was granted, and Burton
left the city with five hundred armed
men and five pieces of artillery. On the
way he received volunteers TO the num-
Der of nearly five hundred more. Many
of these Joined Burton's forces as they
said to :" see the fun" They marched
to within half a mile of the Morrisite
camp, which consisted of few log
houses and several others made of will
lows interlaced with basket-work and
plastered inside--as unfit place of de-
Tense as can be imagined. The Mormons
first took possession of the Morrisite herd
and killed such animals as they required
for beef, while the boys in charge Of the
herd were senti in by Burton with paper
| tOH IL uOtitC W 10 tittu IL iC
did not surrender Internationally within
half an hour firing would begin. Burton
then placed his cannonin such aposition
as to rake the camp.
In the Morrisite camp at this time
there were not more than ninety able
bodied men, with over three hundred
women and children. Morris called his
people to the Bowery, great shed
rooted with limbs Of trees, for consulta-
ton or rather to await a revelation"
from on high. He told them the Lord
would reveal their duty, and stationed
himself on q platform, with imploring
hands and eyes turned heavenward.
Banks, his chief counselor, stood by in
a similar attitude, both believing the
revelation would come in answer to their
prayers. From time to time Morris en-
couraged the congregation, reminding
them of the promises: "They who wait
on the Lord shall not perish. Zone
shall chase thousand and two put ten
thousand to flight" But no revelation
came. As the last hallelujah died away
the sound of cannon smote upon the
melody. The shot fell short of the camp.
(Some of the Brighamite posse testify
that it was blank shot.) The next in
slant another cannon was fired the shot
struck the Bowery; two women fell dead,
horribly mangled, and girl of twelve
years had her chin torn away. One Of
the women who fell held a child in her
arms, which was uninjured. This cannon
shot caused a feaful commotion in the
Morrisite camp, in the midst of which
the doomed prophet stood looking up TO
| Al. L H. Tod tbo.,, f<,
open and let down troops of angels with
flaming swords to deliver him and his
people from the hands of the spoiIer.
Now commenced assaultand repulse,
scouting and contemplating, which con-
tinued all night OF the 18th of June and
the next two days. Some ten persons
were killed in the camp of the new
prophet and two of the Brighamites
we're felled by the Morrisitc sharp-shoot-
ers. The third day Sunday June ~,
1862, the besieged being exhausted, a
white flag was raised as signal for sur.
render. Up to this time the attack, how
ever unjustifable and illegal, had been
conducted under the forms of law and
civilized warfare. 1t degenerated into a
series of murders and assassinations. The
testimony to these murders was long
known to exist, but it has been left tt
the present United States attorney tt
bring the whole of It convincingly tt
light. Soon after his return from the
East Mr.. Howard succeeded in "spotting'
a most important witness, S. ID. Shrine
who was engaged in the Morrisite mas
sacre and who for prudential reasons hat
taken himself out of Utah and lain perdl
for years in q remotepart of California
Mr.. Howard himself went to California
interviewed Shrine, and brought himett
Salt Lake City, where he is now secluded
from Mormon vengeance. His disclos
ures, together with those of other wit
nesses, have led to the arrest of Burton
who has become counselor to the presid
ing bishopof the whole Mormon church
and of DIR. Jeter Clinton, who accompa
MED Burton's forces as surgeon, and wa
guilty of the most cruel murder perpe
trated in the camp of the Morrisites
Both these Mormon scoundrels are unde
indictment, and Clinton is in the peni
tertiary. / resume the narrative of TIN
massacre and proceed to describe thei
parts in it.
, The evidence, so far as it is DISCLOSED
. by the principal witnesses, shows tina
Brigham Young's orders were tina
, neither Morris nor Banks should b.
/, brought back alive. Both Bruton ant
|, Clinton interpreted these orders literally
! Immediately after the white flag wa
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