Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-03-30

Lee, the leader ln the bloody Mountain
Meadow massacre, suffered the penalty OF
death, by shooting, for his part in that ter
rible crime. The execution tonk place at
the scene of the massacre, he having been
previously conveyed thither by company
OF United States Infantry. Tho shooting
was done by Eve soldiers armed with nee
die guns.
LEES CRIME.
John d. Lee was indicted, with several
others, by the Grand Jury of Beaver coun-
ty, Utah Territory, on Sept. "a, 1874, for
the crime Of murder committed by him in
the part he took at the Mountain Meadow
massacre in Washington county, Utah Ter.
ritory, on Sept. 10, 1857, at which time l2O
men, women and children, known as the
Arkansas emigrant train, passing through
the Territory on their way TO California,
were, afier several days fighting, decoyed
from their Notifications and butchered in
cold blood by Mormons and Indians All
of the emigrants who were old enough to
disclose anything Of the butchery were
| killed on the spot. Seventeen small chill
dren were spared from the massacre, the
train was plundered, and the most Of the
property turned over TO the Mormon church
at Cedar City. The bloody clothing, strip
ped from the mutilated bodies, was sold at
auction by order Of the church authorities
at Cedar City, Utah. Lee was first tried at
Beaver City, Utah, in the Territorial Dis
trict Court, in July, 1875, Judge Boreman
presiding. At this trial the jnry disagreed.
Nine were for acquittal and three for con-
viclion. \ second trial was had on the
same indictment in September, 1S7G, in the
same Court and before the same Judge, re-
sulling in a verdict Of guilty. Lee was
| then sentenced 10 be shot on January 25,
1877. he choosing that mode OF execution,
the laws Of Utah permitting party capit-
ally convicted TO choose the mode of his
death. On an appeal to the Supreme Court
OF the Territ ory, the judgment Of the low
| er Court was confirmed at the January
term in 1877, aud the sentence Of the lower
Court was ordered TO be enforced at the
March term in 1877. Judge Boreman set
Friday, March %, 1877, as the day OF exc
cution. Afler sentence OF death had been
passed upon Lee in September, 1876, he
made full confession in writing of his
PARTICIPATION in the Mountain Meadow
massacre, which document he delivered to
Mr.. w. w. Bishop, one of his counsel, and
directed him 10 have the same published
after his execution. The following is the
confession made by Lee-
HIS Confession.
~ was born at Kaskaskia, Illinois, in
1872; was raised as a Catholic; married in
1893 became wealthy; on Ruck Creek, in
S36, became acquainted with Mormon
preachers. / bought, read and believed
the book of Mormon. Sold my property
in Illinois aud moved TO the far West in
NJ issouii in 1887, where / joined the Nor
mon church aud became intimately ac
quainted with Joseph Smith, Brigham
Young and other leaders of the Church OF
Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints; was
subsequently initiated into the order of
Danites at its first formation. This order
was solenInly sworn TO obey all orders of
the priesthood of the Mormon Church, to
do any and all things as commanded. The
des trOying angels of the Mormon Church
were selected from this organization. l
took an active part as n Mormon soldier in
the conflicts between the people of Missouri
|
county, (Mo.) historic ground when the
Mormons were expelled from Missouri. l
was one of the first 10 settle at Nauvoo Hi
nois, where l TOOK an active part in what
was done for the church or city. l had
charge of the construction OF many public
buildings there. Was a policeman and
body guard Of Joseph Smith Of Nsuvoo.
After his death held the position 10 Brig
ham Young, who succeeded Smith as
prophet. / was recorder for the quorum Of
seventy, head clerk of the church and or
ganized the priesthood into the Order Of
Seventies. 1 took all the degrees in the
endowment house and stood high in the
. priesthood.
Immediately afer Joseph Smith receiv-
ed a revelation concerning polygamy. 1
was informed of its doctrines by said Jo-
, seph Smith AMI the Apostles. l believed
in the doctrine and have been sealed to
eighteen women, three of whom were sis
ters and one was the mother of three of my
wives. / was sealed to this old woman for
her souls salvation. l was an honored
man in the church, flaltered and regarded
by Brigham Young and the Apostles until
1868, when was cut off from the church
and selected as a scape-goat TO suffer for
. and bear the sins of my people.
As a duty to myself and mankind l now
confess all that know and all that did al
the Mountain Meadow massacre, without
, animosity TO any one, shielding none and
giving the facts as they existed. Those
with me on that occasion were acting un-
, der orders from the Church of Jesus Christ
!, of Latter Day Saints. The horrid deeds
, then committed were done as a duty which
We believed we owed to God and our
church. We were all sworn to secresy
before and after the massacre. The penal
ty for giving information was death. AS |
am to suffer death for what then did, and
have been betrayed, both by those who
gave me orders to act, and The most active
. of my assistant, now give the true facts as
: they exist, and tell why the massacre was
committed and who were the active partic-
ipants. The Mountain Meadow massacre
= was the result of the direct teachings o
n Brigham Young. And it was done by or
,, ders of those high in authority. The i'm.
, mediate orders for the massacre were issued
q by Col. Dame, Lieut.. Col. Isaac C. Haighi
q and council at Cedar City, Utah. held nc
2 position either in the civil or military de-
A partments, or in the church at that time
About Sept. 1 went 10 Cedar City, where
,. met Isaac C. Haight, President or Gov
! ernor of the State of Zion, and also the
a Lieutenant Colonel of the Iron County
n Mormon Militia. This was Sunday. Haigh
Il was the leader there in all things civil, cler
8 ical and military. 1t was crime punisha'
g BILE by death TO disobey his orders. Haigh
o gave me a full account of the emigrant'