The Republican journal., 1877-03-29
The Execution OF Lee

SALT LAKE CITY. March -: Al II
\. NJ. precisely, Lee was brought out up
On lle scene ol the llaSSltlt IL Mountain
Meadows. before thttXtcutln" party. and
seated Oh his coffin, about twenty trtl
from the shooters.
After Marshal Nelson had concluded
The ftaNim4 OF the order 81 the Court. III
1884 \. NJ, he asked Lee il he had amy
thing to say before the execution was car
Iitd INTO effect. Lee said Il wish tu
speak - thai man, pointing 10 Mr. Fen
nelnort. no was thing his CAM Ass neal
Us Ia take Lees photograph preceding
the shooting. Lee calling to the artist
ftnncluofr replied: In It second. Mr.
Lee. and waiting TIL the artist u,scnted
his readiness, 10 listen. Lee said II want
To ask You favor. want You to furnish
my thrtc wives each Il copl I'll the photo
graph (neaniug the one being iaktn) !.
copy OF The same 10 Rachel, Sarah G. and
Emma i.
Mr. Howard responded for the lfti,!
lie SAYS he will do il. Mr.. Lee
Lee repeated The names over again
carefully, saving Please forward them.
He then arose and said
| have bat little more to say this morn
ing. OF course feel that | am upon the
brink OF eternity, and the socmnity OF
The rlcmitN should rest upon my mind AT
the present. | have made out, or cndcaN-
ortd 10 Ito 50. a manuscript and an
abridged history of my life. This Will he
published. | have given my views and
feelings with regard 10 all these things.
feel resigned Ia my fate. feel It's calnl
IL, Il summer morning. have done moth
ln% dcsigncdly wrong. My conscience is
clear before God and man and am ready
10 meet my Redeemer This ii is that
places me upon this field. am not all
intidel. have not denied God or his mer-
cN. am a strong believer in these things
The most | regret is parting with my fam
lily. Many OF them are unprotected and
Will be LETT tathellesS. When | speak al
these little ones they touch Il tender chord
within me. Here Lees voice taltcred
pelceptibly. ! have done nothing de
signedly wrong in this affair used my
utmost endeaI 0lS to save this people
would have given worlds. We're il al my
command, TO have avoided that calamity
but | could not. | am sacrificed to satisfy
the feelings and am used to crafty the
parties. but aln ready to die. | have no
fear OF death: it has no telrorS. and Nc
particle Of mercy have asked from the
Court or officials 10 spare my life. | do
mot fear death: shall never 60 To :,
worse place than the one | am now in;
have said it to my family and viii say il
to-day, that thc Government OF the United
States sacrifices their best friend, and that
Is 4 great deal to say, but il is true. am
Il true believer IN the gospel Of Jesus
CHRIST. do not believe in everything that
is nov placticed and taught by Brigham
Dung | do not agree with him: be-
eVe he is leading the people astray, but
| believe in the gospel as taught in its pun
ity by Joseph Smith in former days
have my reasons for saying this. | USED
to make this mans will my pleasure. and
did SO for 30 years. See how and what
have come TO this day. | have been sac
riticed III a coWardly, dastaruly manner
There are thousands of people in the
church, honorable and good hearted, that
| cherish in my heart. regret to leave
my family. They are near and dear tc
me. These are things to rouse my sym
pathy. | declare that did nothing de
signedly wrong in this unfortunate affair
did everything in my power to save all
the cnigrants, but am the one that must
suffer Having said this / feel resigned
ask the Lord, my God" to extend his
mercy to me and receive my spirit My
laborS here are done"
After his speech. Palson Stokes (Aeth-
odlsl) made PRAYER commencing the soul
oil the condemned man to God. lmmedi-
ately after. Il handkerchief was placed
over Lees eyes. He raised his hands ;tnC
! placed them on the top of his head, sitting
| finn. Nelson gave the word, Fire y
and exactly II II O'Clock five guns Were
| fired, penetrating his body in the region
Of the heart. Lee fell square back upon
The coffin. dead. Death was nstanla-
ncous. The body was placed in the coffin
and the crowd dispersed. There were
about seventy five persons, all told, on
the ground, but not Il child or relative
there The best Of order prevailed. and
all pronounced the execution a success
Lees last words to Nelson were, Calm Al
my heart" The body is now passing t,
be Given to his relatives at Cedar CITY.