New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-08-30

was evidently aimed mt the head of the Mormon
Church, "My experience in Utah has been such
that were to fine you only. am satisfied the fine
would be paid out of other funds than yours,
and thus you would go free-absolutely Tree
from all punishment; and then those men
who mislead the people would make thousands
of others believe that God had sent the money to
pay the fine; that God had prevented the Court
from sending you to prison; that by miracle you
had been rescued from the authorities of the United
States. must look to il that my judgment gives no
aid and comfort to such men," No other conviction
was ever reached, either in these cases or in the
indictments found subsequently against Young
and others for the murder of Buck at
Iron Springs. in 1857, about the time
of the conflict with Cummings, the newly-appointed
Territorial Governor. These indictments were evil
IDENTIFY brought in the hope that they might help
TO break the Mormon leaders, but they came 10
nothing. The funds OF the Court were insufficient
to defray the expenses of these trials, and Judge
Mexican and Acknowledgement Bates visited Wash
ngton and applied to Congress in December, 1871,
for an appropriation. But such slight prospect as
existed of their getting funds to carry on the war
against Young was destroyed by unanimous
decision of the United States Supreme Court, re-
versing one of Judge McKean's test cases. In TINS
he had advanced an absurd and fantashoal theory
to the effect that the Supreme Court Of the Ter
ritory of Utah was in some way part OF, or
allied to-, the Supreme Court OF the united
States The decision of the Court showed
plainlv that Judge Mexican was either ignorant Oh
the law or willing to pervert it 10 gain his object,
and the judicial crusade against Mormonsm was
over. 1t had never gained any great popular SYM
pathy, as it was evidently fight made by one fac-
ton in war upon another, rather than an honest
attempt to do away with a great evil.
THE DASITEs.
The blacklist spots in the history of the Mormon
church are the murders and crimes committed by
the 'Danites." This was the name given to an Or
aapization of cut-thrOats who committed the most
a,rocous crimes without suffering the slightest pen
atty of the law orforfetingthe favor the Mormon
leaders under whose orders it was often evident that
they were acting. 1t sworn society, the mem
beers being pledged according 10 the confession OF
John D. Lee Z" to obey all orders of the priesthood
of the Mormon Church, to do any and all things as
commanded" From this order were selected the
Destroying Angels of the Mormon Church. who
undoubtedly acted under the personal direc-
tion of Young himself Books on books
might be filed with the record OF their
brutal murders, mysterious or uncohcealed
associations, as il thought best, and wholesale
massacres. Many Of the instances already record
seen that the number aud atrocity Of these crimes
could hardly be exaggerated. One instance
thai is narrated is that of the revenge
which Hickman, the DANTE" captain. took
upon n man by the name of Drown, VINO sued HIM
upon a promissory note. 4 few days after Drown
had obtained Judgment on the note, he was III a
friends house in Salt Lake City, when Hickman
and seven or eight Of the "Danites" appeared and
called to Drown to come out. lie reius-
ing. they dism0unted, burst in the doors,
and shot the offending Drown and ms
friend, both dying of their wounds. The Dan
ties were not moeSted. At the same term Of Court,
a sergeant named Pike in the United States forces
WAS indicted for assault with intent to Kill, upon
the son of a Mormon Bishop named Spencer PIKE
was arrested and brought to salt Lake City, and,
the next day was sho. by Spencer who stepped up
behind him for that purpose. Spencer then rode eff
with the " Danites' This was all in revenge for
blow, and a leading Mormon paper commended the
young man for his bravery. The courts took no
action in either case Ann Eliza Young, Brigham
rebeOus wife, after charging upon him the crime
of organizing and directing this murderous band,
uarrates this incident illustrating their methods
" Henry Jones and ms mother lived IL house near
where | lived when girl. We were startled from
our sleep one night by loud cries and Fstoi-Shots'
No one took any notice Of them, but the morning
l
of the city. containing the dead bodies OF
tie murdered mother and son, with a placard
attached. "Apostatas Bewarew This was done
an example TO terr0rize the people Another and
more notable instance Of the same sanguinary spirit
was the Morri.ite massacre" one Morris under
took with others 10 start C1sh0Ot OF the church.
lie alleged that brigham was false prophet ana he
the only true one lie went, with his followers,
about thirty miles to the north OF Salt Lake
City, and encampcd there III tents Brigham
Young quickly dispatched the Mormon militia To
root them out, Undar command Of Daniel II. Wells.
Northumberland of the NauyOO Legion another
name for Danitesl. They were all massacred.
Whether true or moi, these statements are of kind
with many that known to be true about this sc
cret society of as5assns. Whenever 1t was necessa-
rv to remove an ambitious Mormon or IN obnoxious
GENTLE TO extermiaate a whole settlement sur
prise and destroy an emgraHt train, these men
were ready for toe work. They proficient in
al varieties of murder, and the least horrible of
their deeds was su ient to prove the existence Of
that reign of terror which it their business to
sustain aud on which YouHg's authority SO much
depended.
CHARACTER AND APPEARANCE.
Brigham Young grew immensely rich. He owned
.arms mines and factories, and had large deposits
in the Bank of England. Probably his fortune
amounted 10 several millions, bat how much be
chose TO regard belonging TO himself, and now
much IL tbe Church, IS n0t yet known. la person
he was tail and stOutly built, and during the last
ten wears rather c0rpuent. lie had a large head,
broad iord cOunteaance, reddish hair. ana fringe
of beard of the same color, aud pair Of
small. keen. blue eyes, His habitnal express
sion was bland and oily. At seventy lac was
active and vigorous, and looked no older
than many men OF fifty. Bayard Taylor who Wis