The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1877-11-08
Brigham Young's '.Avenging Angel


correspondence Of the Cincinnati Enquirer.
what have told you must not find its way in
to print while Brigham Young lives" These words
were addressed to Your correspondent in Decem
ber, 1911 at Omaha The man who spoke them
was George 2. Case, for several wears resident of
Bay County, Michigan | found him in Omaha at
the date mentioned. sick. pennilesS, and seemingly
about to die, and it was only when he had become
convalescent and was about ready to start for Mex
leo that he gave me the information used below. |
had heard rrllnors that Case had passed several
years of his life in the employ of Brigham Young
but he denied these rumors in the most positive
manner until he felt assured that he would not be
betrayed. Partly because L pressed him to, and
partly from gratitude at the little had been able
to do for him, he gave such history of five wears
OF his life as made me almost hate the sight Of
him. year ago, when the John D. Lee excite
ment was at fever heat, certain officials were in
formed where Case could be found and were given
an lnklng OF what he could swear to if he would
but he left Vera Cruz about that time and sailed
for South America, where ne now is, if living.
AN AyENGING ANGEL
George P. Case was no more nor less than one Of
Brigham Goung's paid aSsasslns or oravenging angels
His acquaintance with Young was brought about
rather curiously. He al Salt Lake City, on his
way to California, This was in the spring Of 1906
and the Gentle population Of Utah was fast in
creasing. Being on the street at late hour
night, the Prophet recognized BY three or four
boisterous chaps, and they were ready to give him
a rough handling when Case came up and took the
old mans part and beat them OFT. He was asked to
call on Dung next day. and before the interview
closed Case had hired to the Prophet as detec-
tive He was led to believe that his duties would
be the same those OF an ordinary detective, but
it was not long before he discovered that his as
Sociatcs aSsassins, and that assassination
would become part OF his duties
UNsPoKEN THREATS,
Case was rough and reckless but he was neither
han
pointed out on the street as an avenging angel NJ
sought an Interview with Young. and stated his
desire to resign his position
1t would be safer or you to continue on" was
the Prophets reply
But don't want to. protested Case. II want
to go on to California
..Men who leave our service after being inrust
ed with our secrets do not always get along fine
ly, continued Young
H. spoke very pleasantly and he seemed very
friendly, but there something i'll his look and
tone that gave Case feeling Of uneasiness. He
was given day two to reflect, and he finally
decided to remain The mystery and adventure
of the new calling great temptation, the
pay good, and the Miehigander went back to duty.
KNIFE, BULLET AND DUNGEON.
Case had no incentive to deceive me in any par
tcular. He was then free from Mormon influence,
about to leave the country, and he giving me
information which he knew would be locked up
for years; and he made no statements which he
could not Dack mp by oates nttlltH, personal ucScrlp
tons and other incidents sufficient to prove that
he was telling the truth. He said that when once
a Gentle had been given over to the AyengIng
Angels he was dead man. They might put him
out of the way at once or might delay month,
according to circumstances. but the shadow of
death walked beside the victim from the moment
his name was handed in to the angels" In some
eases the victim was imprisoned for time, Ill or
der to cXtort information. or for reasons best
known to the Church. When once the dungeon
alive In some cases the dead body would be left
on the street. and it would be made to appear that
the man had been waylald. In other instances it
would be carried out on some highway, or flung
into the lake Many Of the Gentiles, and more
particularly those Of wealth and standing, had
nothing to say against the Church, but in many
eases gave it more Or less support Such people
had no cause for fear. Other Gentiles were fierce
in their denunciations and sometimes provoked
quarrcls; but unless they needed the contents of
warning letter their tongues We're soon slenced
'FoUNn DEAD"
one dav in 1867 a man named William Foster
Buckley, IA reSdentof Birmingham. England arriv
ed at Salt Lake i'll quest of his sister girl of nine
teen. who ran away from home and joined party
of Mormon converts ready to sail for America. Ou
her arrival at Salt Lake she married Il Mormon
named }. Y. Thomas living about fourteen miles
from the city She his fourth wife, and
by no means contented with her lot She ran away
from him two or three tunes, and was once punish
ed by being shut up i'll the cellar for two weeks
ana led on Dread ana wafer; NO one knew OF
Buchlrys presence III 'he vest Hh'li ne mao
reached SAT- Lake ana began making inquiries
about ms sister ne louha out where She was ana
rode out to the house and, when he learned from
her own lips how she was situated, his hot English
pi"od Hfeu up l" lhe poilihg point ne returned
TO the Guy !" secure an hterT!e" WIN the r'oPet
Al sucn interview Ne WAS Pl"lhl! SlFei I'd uH'eE-
S'a1u 'lat il'N SINtet "S' lrni''ln where sue "tS
and thai salt Lake City would not be a So { place
fol hm after twenty loIr hours more;
BUCKLEY purchased t"T horse5' auul'loha ute
arms aud a eleven ci"ck al ngt sci on Tor the
ranch ms "1ee' hrhE 10 rescue ms SiNler lr"nl the
h"ust ana rIe away WIN ileT- 9PleS n"d oeGn
WatcnllS az h'N y ltn ~ ~ ~