Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1877-03-31
Mountain Meadows Massacre.
EXECUTION OF THE MORMON.
MONSTER.
SHOT DEAD UPON HIS COFFIN.

Salt LAKE CiTY, UraH, March 2S.--
John ID. Lee, the principal in the
Mountain Meadows massacre, was shot
ut Mountain Meadows. between IL and
l2 o'clock to-day, in expis,ion Of his
terrible crime. AT Ill A. NJ. precisely
Lee was brought out upon the scene OF
the massacre at Mountain Meadows be-
fore the executiss party and seated on
his coffin, about twenty feet from the
shooters. After ,he'orJer Of the court
was read to him aud the company pre-
sent by Marshal Nelson, Lee made
speech, bitterly denouncing Brigham
Young, and calling himself scapegoat
for the sins of others. Tie hoped God
would be mercitul He denied that lie
was guilty of bloodshed To the last, and
maintained that his mission to Noun
tain Meadows was one OF mercy, and
that he did all he could to save the
emigrants.
SPEECH OF THE DOOMED MAN.
The speech of Lee was as follows
81 have bat little TO say this morn
ing; OF course | feel that am upon The
brink of eternity, and solemnity of
eternity should rest upon my mind at
the present. have made out, or en-
deavored 10 do 80, a manuscript aud
an abridged history Of my life. This
will be published, Sir, / have given my
views and feelings with regard TO all
these things. | feel resigned to my
fate; feel as calm as summer morn
ing; | have done nothing designedly
wrong; my conscience is clear before
God and man, aud am ready to meet
my Redeemer, am not All in6del; I
have not denied God or his mercy; l
am q strong believer in those things.
The most regret is that Of parting
with my family; many OF them are un-
protected and will be left fatherless.
When | speak of these little ones they
touch a tender chord within me.
Here Lees voice faltered perceptibly. !
II have done nothing designedly
wrong in this affair. have used my
utmost endeavors TO save the people. /
would have given the world were it at
my command to have avoided that ca.
lamity. but / could not. am sacrificed
to satisfy feelings, and am used to graf
ify parties but | am ready to die. /
have no tear. Death has no terrors,
and no particle Of mercy have Iasked
of the court or officials to spare my life.
| do not fear death. / shall never 60
to worse place than the one l am now
in. have said it to my family, aud l
will say it today, that the government
of the United States sacrifices their best
friend, and that is saying great deal,
but it is true. l am true believer in
the Gospel Of Jesus Christ
| do not believe everything that ID
now practioed and taught by Brigham
Young. l do not agree with him I
believe ho is leading the people astray,
but believe in the gospel as taught ia
its purity by Joseph Smith in former
days. | have my reasons for saying
this. used to make this mans win
my pleasure, and / did 30 for 80 years.
See how aud what / have come 70 this
day. ! have been sacrificed IN COW.
ardly and dastardly manner. There are
thousands of people 10 the church hon
orable and good-hearted whom cher.
ish in my heart I regret to leave my
family. they are near dear to me. These
arc things TO rouse my sympathy. |
declare i did nothing designedly wrong
in this unfortunate affair. / did every.
thing in my power to save all the emi-
grants, bnt / an the one that must suf.
fer Having said this l feel resigned.
/ ask the Lord my God to extend his
mercy to me and receive my spirit my
labors are here DONE"
TnE EXECUTION.
After the speech Parson Stokes (Sfetb.
odisD made prayer commencing the
soul Of the condemned man 10 God.
Immediately after this handkerchief
was placed over Lees eyes lie raised
his hands and placed them on the top
of bis head, sitting firm, Marshal Mel
son giving the word 'irel' aud i've
guns fred balls penetrating the body 10
the region Of the heart. Lee fell square
back Oh his coffin dead. Death was in.
stantaneous The body was placed in
the coffin and the croxd dispersed.
There were abont seventy 1--we persors
all told on the ground. Not child or
a relative was there. The best order
prevailed. Lees last words to Marshal
Nelson were, "Aim at my heart"
The body was sent TO relatives q