The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1877-03-31
NOTES FROM THE "LlFE
OF JOHN D. LEE "
FROM Manuscript IN THE POS.
SESSION OF w. w. BISHOP.
barney Carter, Chief OF tho Destroy
ing Angels. --KillinR OF Rosmos
Anderson, etc.

William Laney, of Harrisburg, Utah
Territory, had formed the acquaintance
Of the family of Alden while on mis-
sion to Tennessee, and be was saved
from a mob who thrested his death be.
cause he was q Mormon preacher.
When Fancher's train reached Parowan
Mr.. Laney met young Alden and recog.
nized him as the son Of the man who
had saved his life. Alden told him that
he was hungry, that he and bis COM
radss had been unable to purchase sup
plies from the Mormons ever since they
left Salt Lake City, and that there ap-
peared to be conspiracy that had been
formed against that train by which the
Mormons had agreed to
sTARyE TIE EMIdRANTs.
Laney took young Alden to his house,
gave him his supper and let him sleep
there that night. The next day Laney
was accused by leading men with being
unfaithtul to his obligations. They said
he had supported the enemies Of the
Church and given aid and comfort to
one whose hands were still red with the
blood Of the Prophets. A few nights
after that the
DESTROYING ANGELS,
who were doing the bidding of Bishop
Dame, were ordered to kill William
Laney to save him from bis sins. he
having violated his endowment oath and
furnished food to a man who had been
declared an outlaw by the Mormon
Church. The "Angels were COM
manded by Barney Carter, son-in-law
Of VIM. H. Dame. who now lives in Los
Angeles county, California. The Angels
called Laney out Of the house, saying
that Bishop Dame wished to see him.
As Laney passed through the gate into
the street, he was
STRUCK ACROSS THE BACK OF THE HEAD
with large club by Barney Carter. His
skull was fractured somewhat and for
many months Laney lay at the point OF
death, and his mind still shows the ef-
feet Of the injury he then received, FOX
his brain has never quite settled since.
l have frequently talked with Laney
about this matter, but as he was fully
initiated into the mysteries of the Church
he knows that he will yet be killed if his
life can be taken with safety, il be make
public the facts connected with the con-
spiracy to take his life. He is still
STRONG IN THE MORMON FAITH,
and almost believes that Dame had
the right to have him killed. Al
the time Carter attempted to take the
life Of Laney, the Mormon Church
was under the blaze OF the reforma.
ton, and punishment by death was
the penalty for refusing to obey the ord.
ers of the Priesthood. One OF the OBJ.
jects Of the reformation was to place the
Priesthood in possession of every secret
act and crime that had been committed
by man OF the Church. These secrets
were obtained in this way: A meeting
would be called; some Church leader
would make speech defining the duties
that the people owed to the Priesthood
and instructing the people why 1t was
necessary that the Priesthood should
control the entire acts of the people, and
it was preached that to keep back any
fact from the knowledge of the Priest
hood was an
OBJECTIONABLE SIN.
After one or more such discourses,
the people were called upon by
name. commanded to raise from
their seats, and standing in the midst
Of tho congregation, to publicly
confess all their sins. II the con.
fession was not full and complete. 1t was
also made the duty Of the members OF
the Church, or any one Of them who
knew that the party confessing had com.
mitted q crime which he had not di.
vulged, it was TO be then made public by
tho party knowing the same. Unless the
party then confessed, q charge was pre-.
ferred against him or her for violation
| Of nauauanla md ainlaaa f.all raa.io.