The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-03-31
JOHN n. LEES LAST Mom ENTs.
The Econe Of the Execution Of the Sentence of
Death.
In. Y. Harald.1

The Econe Of the Execution Of the Sentence o
| Death.
IN. Y. Herald.1
| Before 8 o'clock the soldiers, undel
the command of Lieut.. Paterson, hat
been placed In wagons and driven to the
scene Of the emigrant camp, where the
criminal was to expatiate his crime
Some of the soldiers were posted on the
adjoining hills to guard against sur.
prise. The wagons were meanwhile
placed in line near the monument and
army blankets fastened over the wheels
Behind this screen the squad of men
who had been appointed to shoot Lee
were to be stationed. The purpose Oh
this concealment of the firing party was
to prevent the men composing it from
being seen by any one, there being a
fear that some Of the numerous reIa-
tives of Lee might wreak vengeance on
the heads Of his executioners.
The boards of which the coffin was to
| be formed were next unloaded from q
wagon and the carpenters began to nail
them together. 1t was O rough pine
box. While 1t was being made Lee sat
at some distance away with Marshal
Nelson intently watching the scene
around him.
The civilians began to arrive lust
then, and those specially invited as wit
nesses were allowed to come within the
military enclosure. All of the others
were allowed to witness the proceedings
from considerable distance east OF the
ravine. Lee sat like an Indian chief
near the spot where he was to die, as
cool and collected as ever. He began
writing an autograph note In the Dis
trict Attorneys memorandum book.
Then he exchanged a few words with
the Rev. Mr.. Stokes.
At 80 o'clock the military were
drawn up in line and closer up to the
scene of execution. Then the photo
grapher made his appearance on the
scene. Soon after this the prisoner
arose, and holding the arm of Mr..
Stokes and preceded by the Marshal
and District Attorney, advanced
toward the little corral Of wagons. The
coffin had been In the meantime placed
about twenty-five feet from the wagons.
Lee was dressed In gray coat and
light brown overcoat. He seated him
self on the coffin as soon as he arrived
at 1t. AS soon as he seated himself he
looked around hurriedly, though eoolly.
A few minutes were then occupied by
the photographer, who took o picture Of
the condemned man and the grouped
line of spectators. Then the reporters
were invited to approach, and Marshal
Nelson read the death warrant. Dur
ing the reading Of the document the
prisoner manifested no emotion, and on
its conclusion he was informed that he
could then speak IL he desired.
He proceeded to deliver his random
speech. His voice was very clear and
his manner self-possessed, but he talked
sometimes with remarkable precision.
and then rushed off into humid style.
When he spoke Of Brigham Young's
treatment OF him he exhibited feeling.
The speech ended, Lee requested the
Rev. Mr.. Stokes to offer q prayer. and
both knelt beside the coffin. The
minister prayed with fervency for the
prisoner and his family, and asked that
II he was an innocent man, as he pro-
fessed to be, his innocence might be es-
tablished hereafter. Then the reporters
withdrew, Lee took off his overcoat
without assistance and shook hands
with Mr.. Stokes, Marshal Nelson, Dis
trict Attorney Howard, and few
others. The handkerchief was tied
over his eyes, and as it was being done
he asked the Marshal not to tie his
hands. The favor being granted, Lee
clasps his hands over his head, bracing
himself up at the same moment. ex-
claiming, Enter my hearth
ALI near the prisoner stepped aside,
and Marshal Nelson, at little distance
to the southwest, pronounced the words,
"Ready-aim-firel |" A flash was Soon,
and T $40 foil auar- with uut Cnud upon
his coffin, his arms falling on both sides
Of the box; then there came three or
four slightly disconnected reports.
Lees pulse ceased to beat probably at |
The moment his heart was penetrated. |
Several Of the five balls with which he |
was shot passed entirely through his |
body, and cut ridges in the ground in |
,he rear. Nine guns were fired in all, |
our Of them containing blank cartridg- |
30. Three Of the balls penetrated the |
heart, making but one hole on the body.
A few minutes after the shooting a
,orporal tainted in the ranks. The
,ody was placed in the coffin and a
negative was obtained of
t., and the spectators were allowed to
Jew 1t. The color had entirely left the
ace, the mouth had fallen open The
offin was nailed up at once, to be taken
~ the soldiers to Cedar City, and thence
o Lees wife Rachel in Pangwitch.
Before execution Lee gave what
money he had to the District Attorney
0 be given to Rachel, one Of his wives.
fe gave his coat to Marshal Nelson and
lis scarf to Howard.