The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-03-24
BISHOP LEE.
Shot at Mountain Meadow
Yesterday.
Another Statement of
the Massacre.
BISHOP LEE.
Another Statement OF

SALT LAKE, March 23.-John d. Lee was
shot at Mountain Meadow at IL O'Clock TODAY.
At II a. m. precisely, Lee was brought out
upon the scene of the massacre at Mountain
Meadows before the executing party and
seated on his coffin about twenty feet from the
shooters. After the order of the Court was
shall Nelson, Lee made speech of about 500
words, bitterly denouncing Brigham Young,
and calling himself scapegoat for the sins of
others. He hoped that God would be merciful.
He denied that he was guilty of bloodshed to
the last, and maintained that his mission to the
Meadows was one of mercy. After his speech
Parson Stokes (MethodisD made prayer COM
mending the soul of the condemned man to
God. Immediately after a handkerchief was
placed over Lees eyes, He raised his hands
and placed them on thektop of his head, sitting
firm. Nelson gave the word fire, and exactly
at II o'clock five guns were fired, penetrating
his body in the region of the heart. Lee fell
square back upon the coffin dead. Death was
instantaneous. The body was placed in the
coffin. and the crowd dapersed. There were
about seventy-five persons all told on the
ground, but not child or relative there. The
best of order prevailed, and all pronounced the
execution success. Lees last words to Nelson
"aim my heart. The US now passing to
After Marshal Nebon had concluded the
reading of the order of the court, at 1885 a. m.
he asked Lee if he bad anything to say before
the execution was carried into effect Lee
requested the photographer, who was preparing
to make pictures of the execution, to send
photograph to each of his three wives. He
then made a brief speech, and, abiding to
Brigham Young, said 81 used to make this
mans will my pleasure and did SO for thirty
years. See how and what have come to this
I1- 10,
dastardly manner. There are thousands OF
people in the church, honorable and good
hearted, that cherish in my heart. L regret
to leave my family. They are near and dear to
me. These are things to rouse my sympathy.
I declare that did nothing deslgnedy wrong
in this unfortunate affair. did everything in
my power to save all the emigrants, but l am
one that must suffer- Having said this, I feel
resigned ask the Lord my God to extend his
mercy to me and receive my spirit. My labors
are here done.'
Important Document from Lee,
New YORK, March 23-A document of sew
eral columns certified to by U S. District At
torney Howard as having been written by
John d. Lee is furnished tonight. The main
points different from that published yesterday,
are that Lee did everything in his power to
tain Meadow, mourning thereby the displeasure
of the heads of the Mormon church at the sol
emn council which ordered the slaughter
After agreeing in council to lure the emigrants
from their train by flag of truce and pretend
to be friendly to them, to save them from the
Indians who had twice previously attacked
them. The programme was carried out. He
says that he and McMurdy were in charge of
the wagons in which were seventeen children
and five wounded men. Samuel McMurdy,
councillor to Bishop p X. Smith (Klnglin
Smith, drove out on the lead. His wagon had
the seventeen children, clothing and arms.
Samuel Knight drove the other team with the
five wounded men and one boy about Is years
old. 1 walked behind the front wagon to d.
the slaughter. But this 1 Kept to myself.
When we got fairly turned to the east mo-
toned to McMurdy to steer north across the
valley. L at the same time told the women
who were next to the wagon to follow the road
up to the troops which they did. Instead of
saying to McMurdys not to drive SO fast as he
swore on my trial, 1 said to the contrary to
drive on as my aim was to get out of sight be-
fore the firing commenced, which we did. We
were about one-half mile ahead of the compa-
ny when we heard the first firing. We had to
drive over ridge of rolling ground and on a
low fat.
The firing was simultaneous along tina whole
line The moment the firing commenced
McMurdy halted and tied his lines across the
rod of his wagon box, stepped down coolly
with double 9barrelled shot gun and walked
back to Knights wagon, who had the wounded
men, and was about twenty feet in the rear
As he raised his piece he said, 'Lord my God
for it is for the Kingdom of Heaven sake that
we do this" fred, and killed two men. Samuel
Knight had muzzle loading rifle, and he shot
and killed three men, and then struck the
the wounded boy OF the head who fell dead.
In the meantime drew a five shooter from
my belt which accidentally went off cutting
across McMsr3g's buckskin pants in front, be-
low the crotch McMurdy said: brother Lee
you are excited Take things COOL You was
near killing me. Look where the ball cut.
pointing to the place in his pants. At this
moment heard the scream of child. L
looked up and saw an Indian have a little boy
by the hair of his head dragging him out of
the wagon, with knife in his hand, getting
ready to cut his throat. sprang for the In
dian with my revolver in hand. and shouted at
sooet, stop You fool The child was terror or
stricken. His chin was bleeding and l sup
posed it was the cut of knife, but afterwards
learned it was done on the wagon box as the
Indian yanked the boy down by the hair of the
head. had no sooner rescued this child than
another Indian seized another little girl by the
hair. l rescued her. As soon as 1 could speak
told the Indians they must not hurt the
children. That would die before they should
be hurt. That we would buy the children. Be-
fore this time the Indians had. rushed up
around the wagons in quest of blood and had
dispatched the two runaway wounded men. l
would say that if my shooter had not prema-
turely exploded would have had a hand in
dispatching the five wounded. had lost con-
troll of myself and scarce knew what l was
about. saw an Indian pursue little girl
who was fleeing. He caught her about 100
feet from the wagon and plunged his knife
through her.
I said to McMurdy that he had better drive
the children to Hamblin's rancho and give
them some nourishment while would 60 down
and get my horse at the camp. Passing along
the road saw the dead strung distance Of
one-half mile. The women and children were
killed by the Indians. When 1 came to the
men they lay abont rod apart. Here L
came up with Bishop Smith, Higbee and the
rest of the company, as came up Higbee said
to me, "let US search these persons for
valuable and asked me to assist him. He
gave me hat to hold. Several men were
replied that l was unwel and wanted to get
upon my horse and go to the rancho and nurse
myself. My request was granted. Reaching
Hamblin's rancho, being heart sick and worn
out, lay down on my saddle and blanket and
slept, and knew but little of what passed
during the night. The next morning when all
hands returned TO the scene of slaughter to
bury the dead, the bodies were all in nude
state, the Indians through the night having
Stripped them Of every vestige OF clothing
as they carried the bodies to the ravine for
burial. They were just covered over little,
but did not long remain so, for the wolves dug
them up, and after eating the flesh from them,
the bones laid upon the ground till buried some
time after by government military officer.
The remainder, as to his interview with
Brigham Young, ETC., is the same as printed
yesterday.
Brigham Young Denies His Accusation.
ST. GEORGES, Utah, March 22--If Lee has
made statement in his confession duplicating
me, it is utterly false. My course of life is too
well known by thousands of honorable men for
them to believe for one moment such an accu-
sation. BRIGHAM Young.
IND