The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-04-12
Lee'a Confession.

WAsHIsGToS, April 1.-THE pub
lished statement that E. Gilman, one Of
Lees guards, has fled at the Attorney.
| Generals Office an affidavit 10 the eject
that the confession OF Lee was obtained
by Howard, Prosecuting Attorney, by
promising reprlve, and that several
important facts in the confession, impli.
eating Brigham Young were omitted. is
denied by the AttorE ey-Gereral
SALT LAKE, April 1.-THE follow
ins card appears in the Tribune to-mor-
row:
To the Editor of the Tribune:
The affidavit of Z. D. Gilman, made
for compensation, which csr be'proven,
regarding Lees confession, is n job put
up by the Mormons and system In
their interest. The man Gilman was not
guard of Lee at Beaver and was not
within 200 miles OF Lee when in prison
there, hut WAS employed at the peniten-
tiary in Salt Lake with no chance or
rign, to talk with the prisoner, and
never did talk with him to
the knowledge OF the officers. he
was discharged from the peuItentiary
for conveying letters to and IRON the
prisoners. Alter his discharge, he was
used to break down and cast doub. over
the confession of Lee His affidavit was
taken privately, and he absconded before
it was known that il had been taken.
rhe whole confession is now in the Off
GERS hands, written in Lees hand.
writing, and will be used in due time for
the ends of justice. Gilman is a noted
liar, has been impeached in court,
aud there are not ten men in the
territory who are acquainted with hun
who would take his oath or word
Lee, on his first trisl attempted TO palm
confession exonorsting himself, which
WAS refused by the prosecution. He
made tine same attempt after his convic.
ton. He wss told plainly and ne un-
derstoOd that II was not satisfactory be-
cause he denied facts plainly proved in
the trial against himself and rfpsed to
furnish such testimony rs would be &C
ceptsble in court as TO the crimlnallty of
any living person in the massacre. lie
then had petition gotten up by his
family, which WAS signed by Mormous,
principally at Paugeeritcn, and pre-
sented to Gov. Emory, bu. that officer
declined to interfere. Lee himself for
two weeks before he left Salt Lake for
Beaver, on March 9th, had been told by
Marshal Nelson snd District Attorney
Howard that MS statement WAS not &C
ceptabIe, snd would not justify interier-
euce, and he accepted The situation. He
had the kindest feelings toward the AZ
torney and marshal and other officers,
and so expressed himself to the last
When the statement made by Lee is eX-
amined, il will be found TO contain more
damaging relations than those referring
To the Mountain Meadows massacre. IL Is
without change, alteration or mutilatIOn,
bears date and signature III his hand
writing AID will furnish material from
some other sCapegrace, under the manlpu.
IaiIon Of II Jack Mormon lawyes, 10 base
an affidavit on. We understand the sit.
uation and will pursue il from the van.
tage ground. Lees confession has Not
been sold, suppressed or in any other way
put to an improper use but Is in the
haI ds OF the officers Tor further and, l
hope, immediate use. We trust the re-
suit of our work viii vindicate u, against
secret attacks by parties VINO are inter-
ested in embarrassing our actions.
GSigned SUMNER HOwAED,
Z. S attorney.
WM. NELSON,
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