The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-03-25
An Interesting Conversation with the
IZ Herald Correspondent.
NE DENGNATEs POINTS on INTEREST.
The Doomed Man Sees His
:. Coffin Made.
coNcEALING THE ExECUTIONERS.

Owing 70 the lateness Of the hour o. which we 70
eevsd dispatches from the HERALD correspondent
present ~ the execution Of John D. Lee and the mpes
feet condition in which they arrived. It impossible
TO give our readers the story its entirety. What
published yesterday contained merely the general
iacss. hurrsdy prepared and forwarded 70 New York
To-day, therefore, we lay before our readers the ul
report, which will be ionnd full Of interest
[Dx TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD
CEDAR CITY, Utah
FRIDAY NIGHT. March %. 1871
turing Thursday night Ho uniformed me that ho found
the prisoner quite ready engage conversation on
any subject that might be suggested TO him. During
their talk Loe quoted extensively from the Scriptures
In answer TO Mr.. Stokes when they touched on tho
question Of Mormonism. These quotations were
mon doctrines. He his defence Of tho
Mormon faith. Mr.. Stokes naturally argued with tho
prisoner, bu. found him impossible In his belief
HK WANTS A Rig CROWD.
Leo exhibited q strange anxiety during the whole
journey from Beaver City to tho Mountain Meadows
that there should be large crowd OF people present
his execution and at times no expressed desire that
be might make dying speech he frequently said II
would be long one. Yet he did not 10 be much
ehAgrined being told on Thursday the first time
that the execution was 10 be a comparatively private
one.
IGNORANCE HIS DESTINATION.
II was not until had passed through Cedar City
Thursday that Leo began realize that he being
taken the Mountain Meadows 10 suffer death II Is
strange that the scenery along route the
and the valleys, which had been familiar hm for
many years. did not attract bis attention but at length
che truth aawned upon him. iaelsN
- GOOD SLEEP AND A HEARTY APPETITE.
But the knowledge OF the fact that desire for a
lhrons OF witnesses to the execution was to be
yratined and that he to be Shot to death the
very ground where his crime had been committed, did
not Affect Lee IN any visible manner He had no dit.
ncaity In falling into sumber during ths progress
oe his ninety mile Journey He heartily Of the fat
bacon and crackers given him and sionaly drank
drains Of whskey with evident relish.
TELLING STORIES on tbs VERGE OF THE GRAVE
His gilt for telling stories not diminish for he
frequently INDUCED "reminiscences, and many of his
yarns OF character unit for publication This
was singular trait the ans character though
he no doubt enjoyed this method OF Willing away the
few hours Of life LETT to MIN the effect his hearers
was by no means pleasant one.
ANXIETY TO MISERY.
While we were camping out Thursday night Lee
asked Marshal Nelson to shoot him then and there
and end tho dreadful suspense he was enduring
Later that night Deputy Marshal Pratt had occasion
10 walk out OF camp with Lee. and while they
away the Marshal was led something that
Lee said that The prisoner had contemplated the idea
Of running away in order have the scntincs shoot
him down.
On this information the lieutenant who commanded
tho military decided change his previous
Lee II he should happen to try escape but to throw
down their guns and capture him unhurL
PULLING THE WRONG TOOTH.
Il appears that Leo had been copious consumer Of
medicines for time. and particularly relish ed
patent compounds which, he said maintained hrs
stitution. Once, while we halt, he asked
Ihe army surgeon who accompanied the troops, and
requested him pull OF his teeth which troubled
him. The surgeon complied, but accidentally pulled
he wrong TOOTH upon which Leo cooy asked MIN to
Gull the other-"the next one, )" as he expressed It,
LEES GARRuLIrY.
Tho readiness Of the prisoner TO talk with any one
aear HIM was remarkable. Ifasked any questions
about his religion no could easily be drawn into a
discussion lasting for hours During these
lions he was always quoting Scripture with great
hcilty. though random. To officer he remarked,
~ heard you talking and laughing while praying
Tor you" Mourning seemed to escape Lees notice.
RErRIBurrvE JUSTICE
A. we came upon tho ground where the dreadful
massacre had taken place none OF those who hap
pened to look on Lees stod and hardened visage
soud feel any sympathy for the ianatcai monster who
TAD taken part In that nendsh butchery. The scenes
,nacted IN those Meadows twenty yenrs ago came TO
he minds OF the spectators with greater force than
wer. and as We remembered tho innocent blood that
sad been 30 cruelty shed on that September day the
feeling That rctrbutve justice had ovortaken at least
one OF the murdorers paramount among tho spec.
tatorx IL was indeed. peculiarly solemn spectacle,
shis bringing Of murderer to the scene OF his crime
TO sudcr the death he richly meritod.
TALK WITH THE CORRESPONDENT.
During brief Interview that your correspondent
bad with the condemned early this morning
Me following conversation occurred
CoRREsPoSoRSr-whcr you born, Mr. Leey
LRK--i was born at Kaskaska. Randolph county.
ILL.,, on the 9th OF September, 1912.
commemorative did you embrace Mormon.
Ism?
Lxx-Though was born and baptized Catholic,
brought up ms Methodist. Aiterward I joined
the Mormon Church, and have still faith In the gospel
A. delivered to Joseph Smith. But do not believe in
many Of tho ideas engrai,od the Church by Brig.
ham Young.
LEE SACRIFICED BaiGuAM.