Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1877-03-24
,h.xrs CONFESSION.

pass(u upon Sonn ~. Lee n osPtempsf
last, he made . written confession Of his
participation In the Mountain Mssdovs
massacre. and entrusted ID 10 the care Of
W. W. Bishop. . lawyer Of Phoebe. who
was one Of his counsel In the Trial. The
old ma. expressly stipulated vhh Mr..
Bishop that the confession should mol
b made public until after he had aionsd
for his awful crime BY laying down hi'
Life. The lawyer. however. deemed II
consistent with his honor and duty to
sail an abstract Of the document to the
New York Harold. and that paper pub
lished Il ON Thursday. while Lee vas
passina his last fssting moments In pre-
pairing himself fer the tsrribls ordeal
which tardy justice bad commanded hin
70 pass through. And 10. while the
veteran scaps-eoat Of the Mormon
Church was trembling on the verge Of
stsrnity. his confession was bsing fashsd
across the lightning wire. and the pee
pie Of the world were reading the story
Of the awful massacre at Mountain
Meadows from the lips Of the principal
actor.
II 10 said that Lee wrote another con-
fessioa after all hope Of escaping from
the penalty Of his crime had fisd. and
that this is fuller In detail than the one
now made public. But for all practical
purposes the one printed on Thursday
il sufficient. 1t 10 . terrible arraign-
men, OF the Mormon Church-an awful
commentary upsn the impious old
wretch who rules over that church. and
who darcs TO take upon himself the
sacred name Of Christ and call himsslf
q prophet Of tho Most High. This con-
fsssion shows Brigham Young 10 the
world In his true oharsctsr-a rsmoss-
less, cold bloodsd creature. whose guilty
soul revolts at no crime. and whose
treachsrous disposition makes friend
and foe equally insecure in his hands,
John d. Lee was q nero tool In his
power. Honestly believing in the prin-
ciplss Of the Mormon religion. hs re-
psrded the word Of brigham Young a.
the word Of God. and he has nov laid
down his life ON what he considered to
30 Goa's altar. but the great criminal
the moving spirit In that horrible trage-
dy-stii lives. and has the unlimited
cheek TO say In relation to the confession
Of the man whom he has sacrificed to
save his own worthless head: my
course Of life IL too we'll known by thou
sands Of honorable men for them u
believe for one moment such an secusa'
ton"
Lee says In his confession
.U.isbt ,ept me 70 Salt Lake W report 10
brigham Young. and promised mes crown
of celestial reward Tor what hSi eone. !
went and made . report 10 Young Yen uAy'
after the massacre. I toid him ai-Evsry'
thinr-who wore there and who were the
guilty who were active In tho kiliing-au
iknew; I sAid. Sustain US, or release "a
from tho Endowment oath TO avsnge thu
death Of the prophsts." brigham ionng
said, "I will communicate with ood.
went back next morning; brigham fosns
aid, "Brother Lee. not adroPof innocsn,
blood has been shsd. i have gone 70 uod
I'm prayer and God has shows me that u
wa lust act: the people did risht.oniy
thew we're . little hasty. I have evidence
from God that the act va. Just thatii
was in accord with Gods will. I sustain
nor and the brethren In all you did. Ai
fear 10 tresoaery on ths part OF ths
brethren. Go homo. tell the brethren
sustain them. and keep AL - secret a
thu grave. Never tell any one. Writs
me . letter laying the blame on the In.
dams. I will report 10 70 the United
States Is an Indian massacre" Young
vas then and for years aftsr fully satished
with me and my acts. He gave me thres
wives after that and Also appointed me
Probate Judge Of Washington county.
Nothing but covardice has made him do
vert me now. Fifty head oil cattle we're
vold In Salt Lste BY the authorities Tor
m~erchaiydiss. The emigrants hal $50 or
500 head Of cattle, but little money. when
C~rsdlcbaugh. Judge OF Utah. vent 10 the
Neadows 10 Investigate the massacre.
Young came with him. He (foungl
then knew all about the massacre. He
held Q meeting OF tho brethren and
prcsrhed at Cedar City. He said about
he smigrAnts: "Do you know Who they
weref will sll you. They were the
fathers, mothers. brothers. sisters. IN
cles. aunts and children OF the men Who
killed the Saints In Jackson county.
and Who sftsrward killed the Prophsts
in tho Carthage Jail. Their children
Are now In the poor-house. Their rela-
tives refuse them protection, because
thew are tho children Of thieves. outlaws
and murderers. I have been told that
therc are many brethren willing 10 inform
on thoso Who did this thing. I hope there
h NO truth In this. HOPE no such person
lives. II there 10. I will tsll you what your
fste will DO. Unless you repent at once,
ana hep secret all you know and protect
ssch other, you will die . dogs death. ]
vould y sooa 20 to hell ~ 70 posses .
.lsmncj, iost soul. Lat me hear no morv
Of treachery among my people," Any one
vbo would have proved . traitor then
would have met the Destroying Angel q
oncr. After I had reported 10 Ysung l
vent home. met Haight and gave him .
fnlI report u Youns's statement Haighs
,aid .weli done. good and faithful ser.
want: you shAll receive . celestial reward
t,r yonr services. You have deserved well
Of Col and the church" neat went TO
vork 10 write up an account OF the massa-
ere. laying the blame Of 10 IN tho Indians.
, 7 wrote . long letter. the same - has sen
intro.lucod In evidence against me. Brig
nan Young knees 10 was false. and written
40 save the Mormon Church. HIS report
10 the Government vas part Of aplan 70
AVE the Mormons from blame. ltWss
yesrs afterwurd before I knew I hal been
male 4 tool Of by the leaders. 4 only
obeycd the orders Of my superiors. itnen
believed I was serving God and would rr.
eeive 4 celestial reward. Now 1 know "
WAS wrong. and that my reward 70 not W
be celestial.
OF course this statement BY . con-
damned Murderer cannot be used ~ svi-
asncs to convict Brigham Young. And
yet there 10 not . rejecting man In tbs
coan.ry who docs not ins,incdvsly feel
th,t every word Of this confession.