Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-03-30
NO. ID.

Is treachery on the part of the brethren
concerned. Go home and tell the brethren
thtt sustain them. Keep all secret as the
grave. Never tell any one, and write me
letter laying all the blame on tue Indians.
will then report TO the United States Gov
ernment that it was an Indian massacre"
Brigham Young was then and for many
days after fully satisfied with me and my
act. lie gave me three wives af(er that,
and appointed me Probate Judge Of WASH
ington county. Nothing but cowardice has
made him desert me now. Fifty head of
cattle were sold in Salt Lake City by the
authorities for merchandise. The emf.
grants had $50, making 500 in all. They
had only little money. When Cradle
baugh was Judge in Utah, and went TO
Mountain Meadows TO investigate the mas
sacte, Brigham Young came with him. He
then knew all about the massacre and up
held The brethren. He preached at Cedar
City aud said about the emigrants: do
you know who they were? will tell you.
They were fathers, mothers, brothers, sis
tefs, uncles, aunts, and children of men
who killed saints in Jackson county and
afterwards killed the Prophet in Carthage
Jail. Their chldleu are in the pUor-house,
their relatives refuse them because they
are children Of thieves, outlaws and mur-
derers.
~ have been told there are many breth-
rcn who are willing to inform on those
who did this thing. 1 hope there is no
truth in the rumor. l hope no such per-
son lives. If there is, tell you what
your fate will be: Unless you repent at
once, keep secret all that you know and
protect each other you will die a dogs
death. You will soon go to hell as damn
ed, lost souls. Let me hear no more of
treachery among my people," Any one
who had proved traitor there would have
met the destroying angel at once.
Afler 1 reported TO Brigham Young
went home and met Haight and gave him
full report Of Young's statement. IIaigbt
said, "Well done, faithful servant; you
shall receive a celestial reward for your
services you have deserved well of God
and the church." Lee says he then wrote
an account OF tue massacre, laying the
blame on the Indians, and says it was
years aflerward before knew that had
been made a tool Of by the leaders. only
obeyed the orders Of my superiors. then
believed was serving God and would re-
ceive a celestial reward. Now know it is
wrong, and that my reward is not to be
celestial.
1t was the first plan TO have none but In.
dians take part in the massacre, but as Will
liam C. Stewart, Joel White and Benjamin
Arthur were coming TO MountaiD Meadow
on Wednesday night they met Young
Alden and another man going from the en-
| igrants to Cedar City for help. They told
of the Indian attack and asked aid from the
settlers. The only reply was shot from
! Stewart, which killed Alden. The other
man was wounded by White and Arthur,
| but escaped and carried word that the
whites had come TO help the Indians. Af-
| ter this the authorities said there was no
safety except in killing all who could talk.
| Wm. c. Stewart was the most bloodthrsty
OF any one there. He cut throals just for
amusement. Klingensmith, Bishop OF Ce-
dar City, killed a man. Every one there
took part in killing women and cbiidisn a.
a religious duty. We were at that time in
the midst of excitement of reformation,
and were made to believe that the fullness
of time had come, that the Mormons were
TO conquer the world at once and inherit
| all The wealth of the universe, that Christ
Wa, 10 come aud rule for 1000 years, and
thai the Mormon doctrine was to be uni
Ne. sally accepted. The witnesses on my
trial have not told the whole truth. They
are all guilty Of helping TO kill the emil
grants. This is the only act of violence
that ever took part in, except when in
| lawful battle. / would not have acted on
that occasion as l did 10 have saved my
body from torlufes had l not believed l
was Ubeying orders from the heads of the
church. 1 knew l was doing according to
the teachings of the priesthood, and still
think Haight had his orders from tie heads
of the church.
My journals and private writings have
been destroyed by order of Brigham
Young. 1 have nothing left but my MEM
ory to give as my account Of the foul deeds
done in Gods name during the years when
Brigham Young was chief ruler in Utah.
1 know of many other murders, cas,rations
and robberies committed by order of the
priesthood, all of which have fully stated
in my writings delivered to my attorney,
w. w. Bishop. l have told the whole
truth, and the God ] am soon TO meet face
TO face knows that my assertions are moth
ing but truth.
(Signed) JOHN d. LEE.
PLEAsANTRIEs.