Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1877-03-31
THE MORMON MURDERER.
A Correspondent Details nm Interview with
Authorities ut salt Lake City.

correspondents Details an Interview with
Authorities ut salt Lake City.
At IN interview with Governor Emery,
at Salt Lake, he informed New York
HeraM correspondent, in reference To
some rumors in regard to petitioning
him for the Communication of Lees sen.
tence to imprisonment for life, that he
had not heard the subject mentioned.
He declined to indicate what course he
would pursue in case such a petition
should reach him. He expressed the
hope, however, that no such petition
would be presented, rs he felt the full
responsibility which would devolve upon
him in such M emergency.
1t is certain, however, that the pre-
paration of such document was Mt one
time discussed in an influential Gentle
circle, and that few persons, Mormon
and Gentle, expressed their readiness
to sign it, though much larger number
on both sides not only refused to tolerate
the idea of any change in the sentence
or any delay in its execution, but threat
ened to wait upon the governor and re-
monstratc against his interference. One
liberal Mormon said Oh being inter-
viewed on the subject "No, sir I
would rather shoot Leo myself than
have him escape. have long enough
encountered the stigma, both in Europe
and America, which the Mountain
Meadow massacre has cast upon the
people of Utah.
"Iwent through the field of the tragedy
in the spring of 1858 and saw the skele.
tons of it's victims exposed, and heard
the story of the fiendish massacre from
the lips of young man who was
forced witness of portion of the bloody
scene, and my feelings were such that I
would have shot the old scoundrel Lee
myself had he appeared before me. The
man who wants Lee spared is no friend
to the Mormon people,"
Bishop Smoot, of the fourishing city
of Provo, thirty-fve miles from Salt
Lake, in conversation on the subject ex-
pressed himself cautiously. He was with
President Young through all the trying
scenes of the invasion of General John
ston's army in 1857, and thought he
knew his mind in reference to the
massacre. He (Smoot) had believed that
Lee was a guilty man, though he knew
but little more of the circumstances
than were familiar to the public. He
knew well enough that Brigham Young
had been ready and anxious that justice
should be done to the instigators of the
Mountain Meadow massacre; but it had
been the principal aim of the judges and
prosecuting officers until recently to
reach Brigham, George A. Smith, and a
few other leading Mormons. Brigham
Young" continued Bishop Smoot, chad
always said and published that he would
lend any aid necessary to bring the
guilty parties to justice whenever court
should be organized which was not con-
trolled by the mob who sought above all
things else his (Young's) own life." The
bishop said that were a petition for COM
of Lees sentence to imprison.
ment presented for his signature he
should probably append his name, though
he would rather not sec such petition.
Brigham Young, understand, since
the conviction of Lee, in an interview
with an ex-officer of the courts here who
had something to do with Lees first
trial, expressed himself in this way
" My religion teaches me to see You in
h before giving You any evidence
while you are aiming to convict me-"
This remark probably referred to the
fact that much of the evidence which
convicted Lee was procured through
church instrumentality.
was told by n former church attorney,
who figured in the first trial, that the
failure of the jury to agree on conviction
ut that time was principally due to mis-
on the part of the counsel
by Lee and the church. In
fact the most of the evidence that con-
victed Lee was ready for use, but was
not brought in court for some reason,
perhaps because it was incompatible with
,he theory set up and argued earnestly
oy counsel, that the massacre was an
Indian, not Mormon affair. This de-
eated the case Subsequently the
present district attorney, Howard, de-
ermined to try Lee upon the merits of
he case, and procured certain documents
rom the church authorities, including
Brigham Young's letter of instruction to
pare the immigrants and see them safely
md speedily out of the Territory. This
etter did not reach Lees camp at Cedar I
Jity until after the slaughter, though the
'oung man who bore it, is said to have !
made the quickest round trip ever made (
'etween Cedar City and Salt Lake City,
'eing about nine days.
1 believe, my informant says, that it {
vas not understood that the church
desired to shield Lee or pre- 6
ent the facts OF the massacre coming '
ut in evidence, but that the church at i
orneys were simply to represent and &
rotect their interests. Others think {
hat Brigham Young was desirous of saw t
ng Lee, if possible but this view can ,
ot be reconciled with the undoubted t
act that the trial which convicted Lee c
,as essentially q church prosecution; |
hat the principal, if not all the impor-
ant evidence was given by Mormons, l
nd that the jury was largely composed
{ Mormons. The case was not even e
by the introduction of
an acknowledged partici-
ator in the massacre and Mormon
postle.
Owing to the inadequacy of provisions
,r the safe keeping of prisoners at t
'eover, United States Marshal Nelson t
pplied to Governor Emery for a squad q
{ Federal soldiers to guard Lee and an
ther squad to execute him. This led to V
correspondence with General Sher-e f
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