davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The silver state. [volume] (Unionville, Nev.) 1870-1903, 1877-03-24
John D. Lee contradicted his former

John ID. Lee contradicted his former
confession previous to his death. lie
said he was compelled to take the part
he did in the massacre. lie protested
in the strongest manner against attack
inc the emierants, and claimed that he
saved the lives of two children.
A clerk named Baker in the Treasury
Department was before the Police
Court in Washington yesterday, on the
charge of forcibly ejecting Or. Mary
Walker from the Treasury building
The DR.. testified that on the 10th in
slant she went to the Treasury to at
tend to some business with the Secre-
tary, and walked into the room and be
gan to write. Baker ordered her to
leave. She replied that she WAS citi-
zen of the United States and had as
much right there as anyone. Baker
said he bad been ordered to keep her
out. and if she did not leave he would
have to put her out. She caught up
her writing and walked away from him
when he followed her, caught hold of
| her wrist with one hand and put his
other arm around her waist and walked
her through the door and down the
steps. During this time she called
loudly to the Secretary to come aud see
| bow an American citizen was being
treated. The Court said DIR. Walker
ought to be respected, and he would
take the personal recognisance OF
Baker for his appearance for judgment,
The silver state. [volume] (Unionville, Nev.) 1870-1903, 1877-03-24
TIE EXECUTION OF LEE.

A very full report of the execution OF
John d. Lee at Mountain Meadows
Yesterday is furnished by telegraph to-
day. The crime for which Lee
Suffered the extreme penalty of the law
was Que of the most atrocious ever COM
rmit;ea by human beings, savage or civ
ilizsd. A train of emigrants, compris-
ING men, women and children, on their
way TO California in the summer OF
1857 were attacked by Indians, and
Mormon. disguised az Indians, while
,camped at Mountain Meadows on the
southern roate from Utah to Cali
forpia. They bravely defended them.
selves for two or three days, after
which, by a preeoncerted arr 'n8ement,
n company of Mormon militia pretend
sd to come TO their assistance, and pre-
vailed upon them to surrender their
arms TO assure the Indians that they
would not renew the conflict, The
militia then, at signal given by their
leaders, one of whom was John d.
Lee, fell upon the.defenseless emigrants
and massacred them intslscriminately
spa,ing neither age nor sex. OF the
whole number, some one hundred and
thirty or forty persons, only two
children escaped alive and they were
two young to Tell the tale. The news
of the massacre spread beyond the
dominious of Brigham Young, but it
was attributed by the Mormous to the
indians. The two eurEiving children
were surrendered to the United States
army shortly after the close of the
Mormon War, in 1858, snd taken east
to their relatives. For years it was
suspected that the Mormons were the
perpetrators Of the iendish act, but no
troof of the fact could be adduced un.
I'll few years ago, when Philip King
sgensmith, an apostate Mormon, &C.
cused Lee, Dame, Haight, and others
of plotting aud executing the butchery.
Lee was tried and convicted, and now,
twenty years after the commission
of the crime, upon the very ground
where the brutal Lee outraged and
murdered women and Drained inno-
cent chi dren, the murderer sitting on
his coffin, fell, his heart pierced with
I've b illets, aud blood atoned for
blood.
The silver state. [volume] (Unionville, Nev.) 1870-1903, 1877-03-24

ing. have done nobtdy designedly
wrong. My conscience is clear before
God and man, and an ready to meet
my Redeemer--this it j. that places me
upon this field
The silver state. [volume] (Unionville, Nev.) 1870-1903, 1877-03-24

The President has addressed letter
to Vice President Wheeler requesting
him to consult with Il. Hutchius, at
torney at law, in New Orleans, who is
we'll known TO the President, and be-
lieved to be familiar with the true con-
dition of affairs ia Louisiana.
The silver state. [volume] (Unionville, Nev.) 1870-1903, 1877-03-24
DEcLiNaD WITH THANKS.

To,day's dispatches from Washing
ton say the President is still in cores
pondence with prominent gentleman
ON the organization of the Louisiana
commission. Many have been asked
20 become members of the commission.
but nearly all have declined the empty
honor, upon the ground ofprivate en-
gagemeGts. or a desire to take no active
part in the complications arising from
the action of the Returning Board in
subverting the will of the majority. 1t
is doubtful at the present time if Hayes
can prevail upon any prom inent citi-
zen. who commands the respect of the
people regardless of party, to become
"a member of the commission, and be
will have to abandon the project or ac-
'cept the service of machine politicians.
The absurdity of she proposition is
generally recognized. 1t would have
no authority to take evidence or ex
anime persons or papers. Its decision
would have no weight in fact nor in
law, for the reason that it would have
to be based on thu personal observa-
tions and hearsay of its members, and
would neither receive nor be entitled to
any more consideration from the
country than that OF SIMILAR number
of citizens visiting Louisiana aud re-
porting on the condition of the State.
The fact that the property owners of
Louisiana freely and voluntarily pay
their taxes to the Nichols officials is
the best proof that could be adduced in
favor of that Government, and has
done more to satisfy the country that
Nichols should be recognized than the
report Of a commission appointed with
out warrant OF law. and having no au-
thority to take sworn evidence.
The silver state. [volume] (Unionville, Nev.) 1870-1903, 1877-03-24

ing. have done nobtdy designedly
wrong. My conscience is clear before
God and man, and l an ready to meet
my Redeemer--this it Is that places me
upon this field.
lam NOT AN EFIDEL!
have not denied Godor his mercy.
am strong believer ia these things.
The greatest difficult, is parting with
my family, many of whom are lett
without any means Of support and
fatherless. When | think of them
tender chord within ne is tonched.
(dis voice faltered qnite perceptibIy at
this moment.) have done nothing
designedly wrong in this affair. |
used my uttermost epdeavors to save
those people. | would have given any
thing at nv command to nave avoided
the calamity; but could not. lam
sacrificed to satiate public feeling and
am used to gratifying the desires OF
others bnt am ready to die. | have
no fear; death has no terror for me,
aud no particle of mercy have I asked
of court or officials to spare my lite.
I do not fear death; | shall never go to
worse place than the one | am pow
in. l have said it to my family, and |
will say it to day, that the Government
of the United States sacrifices its best
friend in executing me, and that is say
ing great deal--but it is true.
lam TRUE BELIEVER
In the gospel of Jesus Christ. I do
not believe in everything that is now
practiced and taught by Brigham
Young; l do not agree with him; ! be.
lieve he is leading the people astray--
but believe in the gospel as il was
taught in its purity by Joseph Smith
in former days. l have my reasons for
saying this. / used to make this man.
{Brigham) will my pleasure and did so
for thirty years. See how aud what |
have come to this day. l have been
sacrificed in a eowardly. dastardly
manner. There are thousands of peo-
pie in the Church, honorable and good.
hearted. that cherish in my heart.
regret to leave my family; they are
most dear to me-these are the things
that rouse my sympathy. declare
DID NOTHING WRONG DEsIGNEDLY
In this unfortunate affair. / did every
thing in nay power to save all the emf
grants, yet am the one that must suf.
fer.
Having said this. ! feel resigned.
ask the Lord. my God. to extend his
mercy to me, and to receive my spirit
Ny labors here are doner'
-
The silver state. [volume] (Unionville, Nev.) 1870-1903, 1877-03-24
His Last Words Implicating Brig
ham Young-He Dies "A Religious
Fanef tic.

MOUNTAIN MEADOWS. q. T., %.
At 45 minutes to eleven o'clock. pre-
cisely. this morning, Lee was brought
out before the executing party and
The silver state. [volume] (Unionville, Nev.) 1870-1903, 1877-03-24

His Last Words Implicating Brig
ham Young He Dies "a Religious
Fanatic
MOUNTAIN MEADOWS, q. T., %.
At 45 minutes to eleven o'clock. pre-
cisely. this morning, Lee was brought
out before the executing party and
SEATED ON HIS COFFIN,
About twenty feat in front of the execu-
TONERS. After the order of the court
was read to the condemned and the
company present by Marshal Nelson.
Lee made speech Of abont five hun
dred words, bitterly denouncing Brig
ham Young and styling himself
scapegoat for the sins of others. He
hoped that God would be merciful to
him; denied that he was guilty of
b,oodshed to the last, and maintained
that his mission to the Meadows was
one of mercy. At the conclusion of
his remarks Parson Stokes, Methodist,
made prayer, commencing the con-
demned mans sonl to the mercy of
God. A handkerchief was then placed
over Lees eyes; he raised his hands
and folded them on top of his head.
sitting firm without a perceptible trem-
or; Nelson gave the word "Firep' and
exactly at IL o'clock five guns fred
balls, each penetrating the body in the
region of the heart. Lee fell back
UPON THE CoFEIN. DEAD!
His death was instantaneous. The
body was placed in the coffin and the
crowd dispersed.
There were about seventy Ave per-
sons, all told, on the ground; not q
child or relative was there. Perfect
order prevailed. and all pronounced
the execution success.
Lees last words to Nelson were
''Aim at my heart" His body was
turned over to his relatives at Cedar
City.
LEES LAST SPEECH.
Having finished reading the death
warrant. Marshal Nelson asked Lee if
he had anything to say before the exc
cution was carried into effect. Lee re-
piled:
1T wish to speak to that man. -
pointing to Mr.. Fennermore. a photog-
rapher who was preparing to take a
view of the scene. The latter assent.
ed his readiness to listen and Lee con-
tinued, Il want to ask favor of you.
l want you to furnish my three wives
each copy of my photograph (mean.
ing the one then being taken); copy
of the same to Rachel and Sarah G,
and Emma"
Mr.. Howard responded for the artist
that be would do SO. Lee repeated the
udUSS ONtI dkdiH SIONiys SdyluS
please forward them" he then rose
to his feet and addressed the assem-
blage as follows:
Il have but little to say this morn
ing. OF course, feel that am
UPON THE BRINK OF ETERNITY,
And that the solemnities of eternity
should rest upon my mind at the pres
ent time. have made mp, or endeav
ored to do so. manuscript and una
bridged history of my life. which viii
be published soon. In it have eiver
my views and feelings with regard tc
all those things. l feel resigned to my
fate; feel as calm as summer morn
The silver state. [volume] (Unionville, Nev.) 1870-1903, 1877-03-24
WESTERN DISPATCHES

SAN Francisco, "a.

SAN Francisco, "a.
The race over the Oakland course
to day between Rarls and Bodine for
purse of $1,000 promises to be very
interesting. as they are both new
corners from the east and both first
class horses with record very nearly
equal. There was but very little odds
in the pools sold at the Lick Hoase
last night, both alternating as favor
ties.
The Thistleton Habeas Corpus.
The closing argument for Thistleton
in the habeas corpus case was resumed
at TX O'CLOCK last night, before Judge
Dwinelle, in the Fifteenth District
Court. j. b. Townsend summed or
the points relied on by the petitioner
but had not concluded at ten O'Clock
The Court allowed him thirty minu tel
next Monday evening. to which tim,
the further hearing of the case wa
continued.
The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-02-15
speete Resu mption Bill.

WAsHINToN, February IA bill
has been drafted to meet substantially
the recommendations of the President in
his recent special message with regard
TO early specie payments and submitted
to him, as it probably will be to the Com
mittee on Ways and Means. It's pro-
visions differ in several respects from the
suggestions of the President, but there is
reason 10 believe that he will not serious
ly object to the changes. The
bill provides for the use OF
thirty years four per cent bonds,
already authorized by the act Of July,
1870, and BY the redemption act of 1875.
The amount of greeIbscks to be funded
into these bonds is one hundred millions
of dollars, limited to ten millions in any
one month. A further sum of thirty
millions OF greenbscks is authorized 10
be Withdrawn in exchange for the sub.
sidiary silver aud TO this end the coin IS
10 be increased to the aggregate OF eighty
millions, including the fifty millions At
present authorized. The theory OF
the provision Is that the silver
change will take the place OF
the small greenback ones and twos.
These are limited by act Of 1873 to $780,
OOO, 900, but the amount now outstanding
IS believed TO be below $50, 100000. No
commission is allowed for funding or
the exchange of greenbscks for bonds or
silver coin. The expenses of engraving,
printing, etc, of the bonds are limited TO
to one.tour,h OF one per cent. Some as
surances have been given that the bill
will meet with fsver from both sides of
the House after the Presidential troubles
shall have been settled.
The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-02-15
The Indians Anxious for Peace.

CHEYENNE, w. T., February a.
Two Sioux Indians, Charging Horse
and Makes.Them .Stand.Up, arrived 8.
the Spotted Tail Agency on the 9th in
slant, having left the hostile camp Janu-
ary 10Th. They report Crazy. Horse,
with all the hostiles except the Uncspa-
pas, encsmped on the Tongue river, near
the mouth of Prairie Dog creek,
and that Sitting Bull and his con-
tingeut is on this side of the Yellow
stoi marching to join them. That ali
wish to make peace on the best terms
ob,siasble. and that they, themselves are
the official couriers to notify Gen. Crook
that such are the facts. The hostiles
desire that Spotted Tail may visit them
in person and bring some tobacco in
proof OF the sincerity OF the whites.
They express a willingness 70 come in
with Spotted Tail s1d acknowledge his
authority. Spotted Tail places great
cor fidence in the truth of their state
mene and has no doubt that he
will be able 70 bring them in. Runners
report thst there are large numbers OF
buffalo Hear the hostile camp, and that
the country theres5ou!s is covered with
4 deep snow crust, which will bear s
horse.
Gen. Crook and staff arrived st Fort
Laramie last evening, where he will re-
main for the present.
The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-02-15

LONDON, February H.-A dispatch 10
the Standard from Vienna says the Scr.
Wan diplomatic agent there has inti-
mated that the Car. on the 24th inst,
will order the mobilization al six more
army corps. Russia has already decided
upon her line Of action.
A later telegram from Vienna says
advices from 81. Petersburg, ktschSnsf
and Berlin indicate q decided tendency
10 the direction Of war, IL i. asserted
that the Czsrovitch has declared that
tie commencement OF war is I'm ent.
An Eoglsh physician with Murk,sR
Pashas army writes ~ tho Stafford
House charitable committee reporting
that the army is in n dreadful state on
account OF the insufiiciehcy Of hospital
accommodations, lack o. medicines, &c.
That between 20 and 30 soldiers arc
dying daily and dysentery and typhoid
fever have appeared and are spreading
rspidly.
The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-02-15

The htett,gesesr speaks of the bill
changing the collection of school taxes
ia this district from the city collector to
the hands of the sheriff as special legisls-
tion. The fact is the law changing it in
the first place was special legislation, and
the Legislature now only proposes to re-
store tie duty to the hsnds where it
originally belonged and from which it
should never have been taken. The act
which has passed the Senate, if it be-
comes law, will make the laws tor the
collection of school monies uniform and
the same system prevail throughout the
state
The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-02-15
v,s,TI,e,HE PENiTENTIARY.

The special joint Legislative commit
tee, composed of Senators TARR, NEW
LON and SCoTT, and Delegates CHAN
cELLoR, HAYS, WELLS, HoOFf and Nc
FADDES, appointed under the provisions
OF the Code to visit and report upon the
condition of the penitentisry, made a
trip to that institution yesterday. The
committee was accompanied by DR..
HALL, Messrs. SINPsoN, FARMS
WORTH and others of the House
and two or three citizens. The
visitors found the Board of Directors q
the Penitentisry IN session. Upon taeir
arrival they were shown through the
building and through the grounds AMI
workshops connected Herewith. The
dining room was visited while the con
victs were At dinner. At present the
north cell wing is used for dining
room, one end of it being psrtltiOEed of
for kitchen purposes. Each convict was
served with bowl Of beef soup,
a piece of boiled or roast
beet, potatoes boiled with their
skins on, and a supply OF good
bresd-making in all good, substantial
meal.
There are sbou. 1870 prisoners now
confined in the institution, and the dsiiy
cot of feediSg them in this substantial
manner, is between 9 and 10 cents each.
The committee examined the books
and accounts Of the Board. Mr.. CHAN
cxLLok, Mr.. HoorY and other members
gong over them critically, snd,
so lar n we heard, found
everything TO be oosre:t Mr..
McFAppKN, 9 member of the commit
tee. brought to the attention of that body
4 series of charges against Superinten-
den, BKIpsKs, preferred by a former
employee named ISRAEL who hsd been
discharged by the Board of Directors for
irregularities In office. After hearing
some statements and counter-statements
the committee adjourned until next
Saturday morning at s o'clock, in order
to give the parties time to provide their
witnesses.
We Judge from Mr.. AcFApprSs re-
marks that he has not much confidence
that the charges will be sus-
tanned; but the committee
Justly deem it due to the SuperiHten-
dept q, we'll q to the Board OF Directors,
the Board of Public Works whose sp-
po,ntee Mr.. BRIpars ID, and TO the pub
lie, that an impartial Investigation OF the
institution Be hsd.
The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-02-15
Disastrous Fire.

CIScISNArI. February l4.-An Ur-
bans, o.. special says that most d,sas-
t-ous fire broke out IN the back shed of
Kul!ing Camps bakery s. 4 o'clock this
morniug. Tne FIRE was in the centre o.
the town, and destroyed the principal
business portion Of the city. At ii
o'clock the flre was under control The
loss is about s75,oooi insurance un-
known.
URBAxA, o., February IA. "A very de-
s,ruc,iye fire occurred here sboui five
O'Clock this morning, on the northwest
corner OF the public square. One liver,
stable and ten or twelve business houses
and dwellings were totslly destroy ed.
Loss estimated At $4,000 Upon this
there is S2e, 600 insurance
The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-02-15

the chair, on the naval appropriation
bill. The blu sppropriatss Sl24S7 ,624.
Mr.. Whitthorns said that In the
proper place he intended TO offer - a.
amendment bill reported from the
Committee on Naval Affairs TO authorize
the appointment Of . mixed commission
to decide on the future naval policy OF
the United States. He called attention
to the fact that since 1861 there had been
expended on the navy over $500, ,0OO, 900
and yet 1t was not o. efficient to-day q
in 1861.
Mr.. Hale said that the gentleman
from Tennessee Whitthornel had last
year discovered q method tor Improving
the navy Of the U nited States, which Wa
BY the Impeachment Of the Secretary Of
the Navy. That attempt had failed;
now be came forward with the proposi-
ton for . commission which was 10 be
psnacea for oil the ills which affected the
navy department The commission was
TO be made up OF thrse persons who had
passed their lives In the naval service
and OF six persons who in oil pro liability
would know nothing whatever about the
subject which they were to inquire into.
He denied that the American navy was
in worse condition than il had ever
been before.
The bill was then considered by sec.
tions
Mr.. Hale moved to amend by incrsss-
ing the appropriation for the pay Of Oh
Ger. and seamen Of the navy. from So
0O0. .0O0 As appropriated in the bill 10 ST.
25O,OO0. Without coming tos vote On
the amendment the committee rose.
The conference report on tho bill pro-
viding tor the deficiency IN appropris-
tions for the support Of the public print.
ing office, was agreed to.
The House took recess until 7:30
this evening, the evening session 10 be
Tor the consideration OF the naval ap.
preparation bill.
EVENING SEssIoN.-The House met
At 7:30. and immediately went into COM
mittee Of the whole, Mr.. Mills, OF Texas,
in the chair, on the Dsvsl appropriation
bill. The pending question Was on the
amendment increasing the appropriation
for the pay OF officers and men In the
navy from 81 250, 900. To S9,OO0,OO0.
Without finishing the bill the COM
mittee rose and the House to L = recess
until 10 o'clock tomorrow.
The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-02-15
THE RAILROAD MEETING TO.
NIGHT.

The business men Of Wheeling should
not overlook the railroad meeting at the
Grant House tonight. The importance
of the enterprise is we'll understood, as is
the Importance for immediate sctisn
upon the proposition under consideration.
Substantially the proposition Is: For
$4,000 Wheeling can have valuable
railroad connection with the East and
the West and can have opened up to
her trade rich and thriving community
which now pays tribute to other cities.
Bnt this opportu .ity must be embraced
with but little delay.
The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-02-15
FusiIade Between Grave watchers.

CIsCISSATI, February IA Consider
able excitement having been csu.ed re
Gently at Rising sun, Indians. by the
robbery OF graves by ressurectIonists,
the citizens made efforts TO prevent such
occurrences. Yesterday the body Of a
little girl was buried, aud the friends
hired two men TO watch the grave.
Mayor Gillespie, also sent two
watchers 70 the grave, not
knowing the action of the relatives Of
the deceased. The result was fusilsde be-
tween the watchers, each being mistaken
for body snstchers. Henry Sommers Of
the Mayors party was slightly wounded
and Joseph Jones Of the other party dan
gerously wounded, receiving load o.:
shot in the side.
The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-02-15

YASHroS, February 1.-The Legs.
lsture has made large appropriations for
locating and improving the roads TO tho
Black Hills, and 10 points on the Mis-
souri riger. All that now remains 10
furnish large population there, With
all the facilities tor local government,
is the ratification Of agreement by ths
House of CongrCss, the Senate having
already approved il. The weather has
been very mild Tor the past month. and
has served 70 give great impetus 70 i'm
migration there, and trains are leaving
here daily tor the hills.
Tie legislature has changed the iocs.
ton OF the u. 5. Court In the Northern
district from Fargo 10 Bismarck.
The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-02-15
fnjaseslss Applied Ysv.

BALTIMORE, February H.--Th. coun.
eel irS the Weftsrn Union Telegraph
u as4Ey brought suit this morning. sk-
ing Tor an injunction 70 restrain the Bal
sinsore and Ohio Railroad Company and
Atlantic and Pacific Telegraph Com
pAny from using and operating ths linss
formerly operated by the Western Union
Telegraph COMPANY and ths Baltimore
and Ohio RsiirOsd Company A hear
ing 1. Get Tor February 18th.