The New York herald., 1877-07-28
The Rise and Fall Of the
Aposcate Morrieitse.
I. BURTON'S MURDERS
How the Mormon Seer. Cursed
and Swore.
VACCINATIONS OF THE SAINTS.
Horrible Crimes Committed Under
Flag of Truce.

The telegram from Salt Lake City announcing the
arrest of Robert 7. Burton, bishop In the Mormon
Church. for the murder of Joseph Morris doubtless
the rst OF series Of interesting incidents that may be
expected from Utah from this time onward Like
every ng from that Territory at the present time
has spe ia interest in indicating clearly the course
of the governments representatives there dealing
with the leaders of the Mormon Church who have hth
erto cvaded the punishment due to their dlabocal
crimes.
PROPHET.
Joseph Morris was Welshman By birth. and in ma.
years had become associated with the Mormons
Manchester. England He resided time in st.
Louis NO., and huallv emgrated to Utah. He was OF
"a dreamy turn OF mind, and just such character
as would naturally assume the role OF prophet or
anything out OF the ordinary paths Of sober sense Ac.
cording his account OF his experience II was not
unlike that OF Mohammed, embracing Visions, angels
and all that Of thing. eliminating his receiving
a mission to reform the Mormon Church, which might
be regarded pretty piece OF work to give to anv
mortal.
BRIGHAM VULGAR AND PRoFASE.
Morris called upon Brigham with message from
heaven, and that cunning old scoundrcl, with keen
eye upon the finances his tthng Office terribly
indignant and pro;aney told Morris to "Givc his COM
phments his found god, ana added an indecent
the vulgnrIy and profanity that II turned what little
brain he nad and he started out openly as a idil
fedged prophet, In opposition to Brigham Young,
whom he ever alter denounced as 'rhe OF SIM"
Unaccountabe as II may seem, this lerate Welsh
man gathered around him o large number OF people
who believed that true prophet. and, IN tho
language of the Mormons that ne was the legitimate
and the people who focked to his standard were
intellectually MORALLY and financially as good as any
IN Utah.
srHE AposrArE CAMPS
As the traveller the Union Pacific Railroad
emerges from Weber Canyon he to the south Of
the rail and the OF low land mile or two
length studded with willows, close by the river sde
There Morris gathered his believers, received
grea, many revelations and his numbers grew rapidly,
embracing persons rom every country in Europe aud
from the United States. Brigham didn't like the ap.
pearance Of this thing If he cared nothing about the
persons who had lett him. least they were prophesy
ing too much against him and his measures,
and, whether by his nstgaton or not is now Of little
make trouble with the Morrsitcs Some 0t the prop
ery Of the latter had been orcby seized to pay some
court fines for non attendance at military drills and
such like claims. The Morristes re,alia!ed seized
Mormon wagon loaded with flour and held as hostages
the Two boys who had it in charge. Other diculucs
occurred and the Mormon administrators OF law were
CORRUPT OFFICIALS.
The only member OF the federal Judiciary then IN
Utah was Chief Justice John +. Kinney, who was
plant tool IN Tue hands Of Brigham Young. Kinney
Issued warrant ior The arrest OF Morris and icw Of
his associates Tor resisting the laws and holding IN
durapce vile of his disciples who had proved re-
creant to the revelations. Kinney subsequently, called
the OF Brigham, Tor militia TO support the
Marshal In enforcing the writ. The Marshal was q
Mormon, but fanatic, and avoided by every means
be could the presence OF the militia He know what
the consequences would be aud tried TO avert them.
Hc lett Salt Lake on bus and after hts departure
Kinney became urgent and the Deputy Marshal, as.
sisted by tho County Sheriff. Robert 1. Burton, pro-
cecded to the Morrsite camp, on the WeberRiver ac
companinied by about thousand militia and five
pieces Of artillery to Morris and Others
FIGHT
The Morristes had nothing but rude places OF shell
tar ct 10 bra
and when theirs munItlon was exhausted some one
hosted white flag. The Mormon oiLci.ls rode inte
camp. ordered the arms OF the Morristcs to be piled
up IN heap ground, and alter they had iully
surrendered their arms the murder took place
which Burton now arrested and Will be Drought ia
trial.
THE MoRRIsrrE VERSION
The following affidavit gives the Morrsite version OF
the afiair:-
.uSryEp STATES or AMERICA TERRITORY OF UTAH. ss -
Alexander Dow, OF said Territory being duly sworn.
In the spring Of 1861 Joined tho Merrisites and was
Raa %ise as was nns and the arms wsrs
s grounded ana guarded BY large number Of the posse
,hs Morrstes. Bsrs9n was much excited and said
upon Morris anu ,mnanded him to give himself
Vrr, SAID ne .nssa to sss, to Ss
% s Words bis s d
BIZ ;" S. n'f S s
standing i've to six paees distant Banks fell Mrs Bow
man, wif oil James Bowman, came running crying,
ON boodthrsty wretch' Bu,ton said, NO one shall
tell me that live" shot dead. Danish
running Morris. crying and burton shot
her ALSO easily taken Morris
Bank prisoners II he had tried standing out few
feet from Burton ali the time And iurther saith not
ALkXANDEss DOW.
Subscribed and to be fore this 18th OF April,
A. -. lS63-CHARLEs B. WAITE, Associate Justice Utah
Territory
BRIGHAM's RESPONSIBILITY.
In this case, that OF the massacre or the emil
grants on Mountain Meadows, tnerc will be no evil
dencc record 10 trace THIS murder directly TO Brig
had his secret Instructions rid Brigham OF his rival
There OF persons living who witnessed the
shooting Of Morris, nks and t3o two women, and t
has declared by all as nothing but murer In cold
blood and evident was II that Grand Jury i've
years ago found without delay an ndic ment against
Burton. He apprised OF the Indictment con.
ccaltd himself III Utah Tor over year, came to the
United States fncognfo aud aiterward was sent by
Brigham a TO England. BeevinR that the
trouble had blown he returned TO Salt Lake aud
took open position In Mormon AFFAIRS.
THE MURDERER.
Burton Is a major general IN the Nauvoo Legion
counsellor TO the presiding oisnop OF the ~nole
Mormon Church. the acting bishop OF the Fifteenth
ward o Salt Lake City and Of the highest social
rank IN the Mormon community.
Now, what will be done with him !? The evidence to
convict him Is abundant. Will the jury be unanl-
mousp The representatives OF the government there
are doubtful, but hcy proceed with bis case satisfied
that they produce the evidence OF MS guilt and II
mixed jury OF Mormons and Gentiles will not render
verdict according the evidence and facts, much
better will ue the To ask Of Csngross the eys-
laon necessary to bring criminals TO justice In Utah.