Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1877-03-29

t0S hutuOIs SSSOVVS wa S33AASN ~ VONOVVs
For this are we Presidents. An ex.
change says: ''The tomb Of Andrew Johnson
is unmarked and unhonored. A little wooden
shed covers the grave of the President and
his wife, who lies buried at his side,--Whioh
side il question, for neither grave bears
single mark i
The Mountain Meadow Massacre. Z
Lee, One Of the Leaders. Finally E1piates Hi.
Crime.
In the month of September 1857 com.
pany of emigrants en- route to Califor-
MIA were brutally murdered while pass.
ing througD Utah. Twenty years
passed before any one was punished
for the crime, but on Friday, the 23d,
John D. Lee, one Of the alleged leaders
Of the massacre paid tho penalty of his
crime.
At 10 a. m. precisely Lee was brought
| out upon the scene of the massacre at
Mountain Meadow, before the execut.
ing party, and seated on his coffin,
about twenty feet from the shooters.
After Marshal Nelson concluded
reading the order of the court, at
1924 a. ln., he asked Lee if he had
| anything to say before the execution
was carried into effect. Lee said
81 wish to speak to that man. [point-
ing to Mr.. Fennimore, who was fixing
his canvas near by to take Lees pho
tograph preceding the shooting.1 Lee
calling to the artist, Fennimore re-
piled, sin second. Mr.. Lee," and
waiting till the artist assented his
readiness to listen, Lee said II
want to ask you a favor. want you
to furnish my three wives each with
copy Of the photograph lmeaning tho
one being taken a copy OF the same to
Rachel A., Sarah G. aud Emma B."
Mr.. Howard responded for the artist,
''He says he will do it, Mr.. Lee." Lee
repeated the names over carefully,
saying, ''please forward them" He
then rose and said: shave but little
to say this morning. OF course I feel
that am upon the brink of eternity,
and the solemnities of eternity should
rest upon my mind at the present.
have made out, or endeavored to do so,
q manuscript and an abridged history
of my life. This will be published.
Sir, have given my views and feel
ings with regard to all these things.
I feel resigned to my fate. l feel as
calm as a summer morning.
! 1 have done nothing Intentionally
wrong my conscience is clear before
God and man, and am ready to meet
my Redeemer. This it is that places
me upon this field. l am not an inf
del. I have not denied God or his
mercy. I am strong believer in
those things. The most regret is the
parting with my family: Many of
them are unprotected and will be left
fatherless. When I speak of the little
ones they touch a tender chord within
me Here Lees voice faltered per-
ceptibly.] l have done nothing de-
signedly wrong in this affair. I used
my utmost endeavors to save the peo.
pie. would have given worlds, were
they at my command, to have avoided
that calamity, but could not. I am
sacrificed to satisfy feelings, and am
used to crafty parties, but am ready
to die. have no fear of death. 1t has
no terrOrs, and no particle of mercy
have asked, for do not fear death.
l shall never go to a worse place
than the one lam now in. have said
it to my family, and will say it to-
day, that the government of the United
States sacrifices their best friend, and
that is saying a great deal, but it is
true. lam true believer in the gos-
pei of Jesus Christ. do not believe
everything that is now preached and
taught by Brigham Young. I do not
agree with him. believe he is lead
ing the people astray, but I believe in
the gospel as taught in its purity by
Joseph Smith in former days. have
my reasons for saying this. used to
make this mans will my pleasure, and
did so for thirty years. See how and
what have come to this day. have
been sacrificed in cowardly manner.
There are thousands Of people in the
church, honorable, good.hearted, that
I cherish in my heart. l regrett0 leave
my family. They are near and dear
to me. These are things to rouse my
sympathy. I declare I did nothing de-
signedly in this unfortunate affair.
did everything in my power to save
all the emigrants, but l am the one
that must suffer. Having said this
! feel resigned. ask the Lord my God
to extend His mercy to me, and re-
, ceive my spirit. My laoors are done
The last moments and the death.
After the speech Parson Stokes
Methodist, made prayer commend
ing the soul of the condemned man tt
God.
Immediately after this the hand
kerchief was placed over Lees eyes
, and he raised his hands, placing then
on the top of his head, sitting firm.
Nelson gave the word "fre!' an(
exactly at II o'clock five guns were
fired, penetrating the body in the re
gion of the heart. Lee fell square
back upon his coffin, dead. His deatl
was instantaneous. The body was ther
. placed in the coffin and the crowd dis
persed.
There were about seventy-6ve per
! sons, all told, on the ground. Not ,
child or relative of Lee was there
4 The best of order prevailed. All pro
! nounced the execution a success.
"Lee's last words to Nelson were
"Aim at my heart.
e LEES CONFESSION.
Lee lefta long confession written il
s February which gives history of tn
massacre. According to this docu
ment a few Mormon leaders aided by
band of Indians did the work. lie
a claims to have been forced, unwilling
ly, in the matter and places the chic
:, responsibility upon President Haigh
= and Col. Dame. According to hi
u story an effort was made to dislodg
the emigrants from their camp for tw
or three days, but without success
u The Mormon leaders then deliberatel
l. arranged to secure a truce and bot
. parties raised white flags. The MOI
e mons then concealed portion of thei
party and the Indians, and led th
e helpless party of emigrants into th
N ambush. where. upon given signal a
Y were killed. The reason given for thi
d by Lee were that the emigrants wer
g abusive of and hostile to til
Mormon religion. Lee admits ha,