The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-03-31
THE MORMONS SPEAK.
TFrom the Salt Lake Herald. March a51

From the Salt Lake Herald, March rs
We give up much OF the Herad's space this
morning the purported confession or statement OF
John d. Leo COPIED from the New York Herald J
We publish the document Tor what it is worth, which
We conceive to be very httlc OF such positive
truths as known. The only value OF the paper is
that it more firmly establishes Tho absolutely unreliable
character of that archaend, Leo. He has made SO
many and such conflicting statements in regard TO the
Mountain Meadows massacre--tnere two of them
but vary IN important partculars-that no confidence
be placed in any OF them, except as they
roboraied by the Testimony Of better and moro worthy
persons. The statement which we publish, while it
undoubtedly contains somc truth as TO tho
massacre Is Syaen.y paper Sdrol a
actual facts they transpred and the causes which
led to them but rather to SHIFT the responsibility
others than tho guilty parties. The impression sought
conveyed and even directly churged, Is that
Mormon Church and It's leaders horned the
ere. Lee would throw the entire blame upon others,
screening himself the shallow covering that he
eutrappcd and treaCherously betrayed tho emigrans
and ruthlessiy cut tho throais OF women and children
Tor the sake of his religion. For Lee's at the
Mountain Meadows We do not care to arraign his ghost
but would be unfair to lot his lying assertions Ilvc
alter HIM uncontradcted, to the injury Of others
against whom his mind became embiltercd for the solo
that they would not step in and try TO assist
cheating the law aud justice OF their DUE his blood.
The statement Is not official document, does not
bear slight evidence Of truth that the
signature Of Lee might give 10 H. nor Is It attested
cept by hand OF the criminals attorney, who claims
he has gathered 1t from hts client written words
There is evidence that Lee had anything 10 DO with
making the charges, presented But prcsuming that
he had paper should not be credited, aud Will not
be by those acquainted with the persons against whom
the paper aimed The sought most to DO injured
is President Brigham Young. Those who know that
gentleman BEST know that II would be impossible tor
MN conceive contemplate The execution OF the
diaboical deed OF 57 Such crime Is contrary to his
very nature, exhibited IN every act OF his private
and public life In that same year, when
affairs this Territory were desperate straits, and
the community was in arms, numerous and positive
orders by President Young chict executive and
spiritual leader here issued to the people 10 shed
no blood, which orders were consistent with the de-
spatch by him spare tho unfortunate Arkansas
company-"The cmlgrants must not be meddcd with
II takes all Iron county 10 prevent It, Those orders
are yet In EXISTENCE and complete retaliation OF
the bloody minded motives imputed tn President
YOUNG. Leo himself has frequently asserted, and
since his that the leaders of the Mormon
Church entirely blamelcss In the massacre that
the deed concoctod and executed by himself and
others tho nnighborhood. Again, We place IN evil.
dencc conlradictng his satcmentlti II be his-the
testimony Of Witnesses on the last trial at Beaver.