The Morning herald., 1877-03-24
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BFFE n H
wkas Lss siys Of Dfighsm Xsuns's
John D. Lee, tho mlscreant convicted -
. leading participant in the Mountain
,lfsadow massacre, In 1857, having failed
to secure . Communication of his sentence,
has made . fsln confession OF that most
trescherous, cruel and cowardly crime. In
his confession, Lee criminates Brigham
Young. He says the massacre was the
result of Young's teaching, and was 'done
by order of those high in authority Ia the
Mormon community" Just before the
perpetration of the frightfal slaughter.
Major Digby, leading Mormon, addressed
those who were to do the wholesale muir
der, ssyipg; "Our orders are from our
leaders, Who speak with inspired tongues,
and their words are the win Of good men.
You have no right to question them. You
must obey as you are commanded" r~t
The descriptionof the slaughter, given by
Lee, is sickening. The emigrants-12o
men, women and children-had been in
duced, by treacberous professions Of friend
ship, to give up their arms. "The Indians
killed Ill the women and large children.
The Morlnons killed the men. The drivers
with me killed the sick and wounded. We
saved seventeen of the children. The dead
were stripped and mutilated, and the corpses
left on the field. The Mormons camped on
the field" Respecting Young, Lee says
Invent to Salt Lake City and made my
report to Brigham Young ten days after the
massacre. told him all, everything-who
were there, and who were guilty in killing
the emigrants. In fact, all knew. ! said
to him "You must sustain us or release us
from the endowment oath to avenge the
death of the prophets"
Brigham Young said III will commune
cate with Cod" I went back the next
morning, when Young said "Brother Lee,
not drop of innocent blood has been shed.
l have gone to God in prayer. God has
shown me 1t was just act. The people did
right, but were only little hasty. have
direct evidence from God that the act was a
just one, that 1t was in accord with Gods
will.
~ sustain you and the brethren in all that
you did. All that fear is treachery on the
part of the brethren concerned. Go home
and tell the brethren I sustain them. Keep
all secret as the grave. Never tell any one,
and write me letter laying all the blame
en- the Indians.
II will then report to the United States
government that it was an Indian massa-
cre."
Brigham Young was then and for many
years after fully satisfied with me and my
act. Hegave me three wives after that and
appointed me Probate Judge of Washing
ton county.
Nothing but cowardice has made him de-
sert me now. Fifty head Of cattle were
sold in Salt Lake City for merchandise.
The emigrants had $50, making 500 cattle
in all. They had only little money. When
Cradlebaugh was Judge of Utah and went
to Mountain Meadows to investigate the
massacre, Brigham Young came with him
he then knew all about the massacre and
upheld the brethren. He preached at Cedar
City, and said about the emigrants
'Do you know who they were? will
tell you. They were the fathers, mothers,
brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts and chill.
dren of the men who killed the saints in
Jackson county, and afterwards killed the
Prophet in Carthage jail. Their children
are in the poorhouse their relatives refuse
them because they are the children Of
thieves, outlaws and murderers. I have
been told there are many brethren who are
willing to inform on those who did this
thing. hope there is no truth in the ru-
NOR. I hope no such person lives.
"If there is, I tell you what your fate
will be-. Unless you repent at once, keep
secret all that you know and protect each
other, you will soon 60 to hell as damned,
lost souls. Let me hear no more treachery
among my people. Any one who had proved
traitor there would have met the destroying
Of