The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-03-19
LEE, THE CONDEMNED MORMON.
Awaiting Death for Participation In the
Mountain Meadow Massacre.

From ~ SIN Ffanoi~o OiH
AS we entered the Wardens Office Lee was
sitting alone in the front room wiring There
WIS no mistakng the square. sturdy form. the
firm. soldicr-likc features. the keen eycs or the
genial. good-naturcd smile that lii up the face
OF tho old man as he arose to shake hands and
offer W. chairs These two years confinement
have deepened somewhat the wrinkles on fore
head and check and rendered his face "A trifle
spare and carcworn, yet he was cheerful. polite.
courteous. and hopeful. Age has crept rapidly
over him since his arrest at Panguish. yet he
looked hale and vigorous. bearing his sixty four
years with an erect carriage. a spriehtly elastic
walk. and iirm. mil itary bearing. skip the
events OF single week In the fall ~ 1857 and
his record Is that of brave. honorable pioneer.
who ranked high As "a ilnancicr and business
manager among the early Mormon leaders.
Inc closely written manus ri pt that he folded
and lhid away on the back part of the table when
Ne party entered was the journal OF his life
IL" tells how he was CONCERTED To Mormonism I:
OF me perilous journey he made to Sante rs to
got the remittances OF coin which the soldiers
OF the Mormon battalion sent back TO their
wives who were waiting at Council Bluffs and Of
the reasons. the motives, the orders that caused
nun 10 be- present at the great massacre,
Lees eighteen wives show remarkable fdeli-
" 10 the Church. and the readiness Of Brigham
Young 20 reward that fidelity is remarkable His
confession details the history Of the subsenrient
eNents-hQw, when the massacre became known
and talked about Brigham at last cut him IN
rom the Church publicly olt privately assured
the benefit Of the Church. Cutting a man on
from the Church divorces his wives. Eight
wives chose 10 los divorced. and left him
IN one day, Three chose TO remain. and are
still faithful 10 HIM. Brigham always roco1-
nzed Lee during his southern trips. and on ut
Least one occasion rode publicly hv his side
when Lees most faithful old wife. Rachel ask
yau MN al Be@ys as rgfGr3'Rs Lee brigham
hair OF his head shall be harmed" Nearly
twenty years ago the massacre was committed
but, thank God. it is not too late for the fulfil
4 lll
stood at the head Of the pit wherein the emf
grants bones We're buried. Lce's confession
il,A renders me dn9tation pertinent: VEN
Nestled close e the bas' II the high. preclpi-
tous clin Of the Wasatch range is a building that
is destined 70 receive place in history Years
erected heard the workmen say. e II is intend-
ed by Brigham Young as "A place Ia hold the
Gentilcs." | was a seven year old boy then, and
tie saying w,is doubtless a Jest but when ap-
preached II ON the late OCCASION referred to
mud structure. how widely those worsncn
missed the mark. The day had already come
Young, and the Gentiles were his jailers
The prison il about six miles southwark
from salt LAX CITY. on the brow Of IA low blun
waters Of the Great Salt Lake sullenly beat the
shore.
When interviewed Lee seventeen prisoners
Were in the penltcntiary two Of whom were
under sentence Of death The Mormon authori-
ties ALLOW the United States marshals no other
prison than this, hence the most noted criminals
are often placed here to await the day of their
execution.
John ID. Lee has most Of the time been con-
fined at the penitentiary. Confined ia n wrong
term. for he is simply u captive guest in the
house OF the warden which Is built in front and
outside Of the enclosure. He was moi irnuei. moi
incarcerated and not specially guarded. When
captured he said to Marshal Stokes, II you 10
not iron me | give YOU my word and honor that
| will not attempt to escape IL has always
expressed full faith in his ability to Justify his
conduct Mt the Mountain Meadows. The Nor
mon Church has utterly lns .riod him N.rmnn