The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-05-19


found previous to 1871 excepting those before the
Probate courts in ISL. About twenty persons
were indicted by the Third District Court, but
those indictments were quashed. In several Of
them Brigham Young was accused OF murder. The
quashing OF the indictments, which contained ter
ribe accusations was ncccssitated by the socalled
Engcbrecht decision by the Supreme Court OF the
United States
ConREsroNDENr-IIo many OF these murderers
have been executed.
Mr. HowARp--Only one.
coRREsruNDEXT-An who was he ?
MI. HowARp--John u. Lee, whom Brigham Young
accuses of being the one Mormon responsible Tor
the Mountain Meadows massacre Besides the We
inns Of the massacre there have been reported
some thirty or forty homcidcs IN the second JUN
cial district, where II took place
CoRREsPoNDENT-Is Brigham Young, and are
other members OF The Mormon Priesthood, likely to
be indicted by the Grand Jury which assemblies III
salt Lake City on the 2lst inst, orby the Grand
Jury which meets next september in the judicial
district where the massacre occurred?
Mr.. HOWARD lie is afraid Of it. lie has keen
sense OF the illness OF things. cannot with pro-
pricty say more.
Y0u<G's PROBABLE RESISTANCE.
CogREsp0>DEST--Should brigham Young ana
other Mormon leaders be thus Indicted, had you or
have you any reason to suppose that their arrest
and possible punishment would be rcsistcds
Mr.. HowAgD--ycs. When he was previously ar
rested for the same crime he successfully dehcd
the United States officers who attempted 10 serve
process Oh him. WI'hin the last two years he re-
sisted the Uniieo states Marshal with violence, for
which his body guards were indicted. One OF The
guards died before his trial. The other was con-
vlcted, fined and imprisoned by the Third District
Court during the present year.
CoRREsPONDEST-Are preparations now going
forward which indicate or threaten resistance by
Brigham Young or other Mormon leaders
Mr.. HowARD-My opinion is that Brigham Young
would avail himself OF the earliest information Of
proceedings by the Grand Jury against him. and
that Ills organized Nauvoo Legion would he called
into action TO escort HIM and other Church officials
who might be in danger Of arrest beyond the reach
of the officers OF the law.
CoRREsroSpENT-Would the strengthening of the
United States garrisons mere have santary nn.l.
ence:
Mr. IIowARD-It would give the officials and law
abiding people confidence, and III my Judgment.
avoid outbreak and secure peace and submission to
the lawful authorities. IL might also prevent the
escape of Brigham Young and other accused
members OF the Mormon Church, should they
again attempt to run away. am satisfied that the
Mormon militia has been rcorganizing and secretly
drilling at several places at the instigatiOn OF the
church leaders. This Is probably done not for the
purpose Of asking an aggressive movement but TO
protect the Mormon leaders in case OF
an attempted arrest ] have no doubt
the organizations and drills are yet kept
up under instructions still more secret than
before. This secrecy results partly from the gen.
eral condemnation Of them by the press. II Is my
opinion that the reports oi their movements IN the
newspapers have caused them to act with greater
secrecy, but have no idea they have abandoned
the work OF organization. The Mormon papers
here invariably denied the existence OF an organ
ized military force In the Territory, yet they have
failed to account for the military order which has
been issued for the assembly Of
men for drill. We have positive evidence Of
various meetings Tor drill and OF the issuance Of
military orders against the unsupported denial OF
the Mormon press which evidence is confirmed by
the repeated public utteranccs OF Brigham Young
before the expressions of the press made him eau
tious. lie is cunning.
CoRREsIvNpENT--lIas the publicity given to the
fact that Mornlons arc arming and drilling been
beneficial or otherwise to the OF public justice
Mr.. How ARD believe the exposures made by
the NEW YORK HERALD and Salt Lake Tribune have
been extremely beneficial They have called the
attention Of tile people Of Utah to the military ope
ratons and the approaching crisis here, and have
caused the Mormons themselves to vigilantly
watch the movements Of the church authorities,
otherwise the Mormon masses might within the
next six months be urged by their leaders to ex-
tremities.