The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-03-24

precisely, Lee was brought out upon the
scene Of the massacre at the Mountain
Meadows before the executing party, and
seated upon his coffin about twenty feet
from the shooters. After the order OF
the court was read to him and the COM
pany present by Marshal Nelson, he made
the following speech,
LEE's SPEECH.
II wish to speak to that man." point.
ing to Mr.. Fennimore, who was fixing his
canvas near by TO take Lees photograph.
Mr., Fennimure replied, ain moment,
Mr.. lee" and waiting till the artist as.
serted his readiness Lee said "I want TO
ask YOU Il favor; | want you to furnish
my three wives each copy OF the photo
graph (meaning the one being taken)-
a copy OF the same to Rachael A., Sarah
G. and Emma B." Mr.. Howard respond.
ed for the artist, "He SAYS he will do 30,
Mr.. Lee" Lee repeated the names over
again carefully, saying "Please forward
them" " He then arose and said
81 have but little 10 say this morning.
OF course l ieel that am upon the brink
OF eternity, and the solemnlty OF eternity
should rest on my mind at present. ]
have made out, or endeavored to do so,
u manuscript-an abridged history qimy
life. This will he published. Sir, have
given my views and feelings with re.
gard to all these things / feel resigned
to my fate. feel As calm us summer
morning. have done nothing advIsedly
wrong. My conscience is clear before
God and mar, and l am ready to meet my
Redeemer. This it is that places me on
this field. am not an inhdel. have
not denied God or His mercy. am Il
strong believer in those things. Iregret
the parting with my family, many Of
them are unprotected and left father.
less; when | speak OF those little ones
they touch tender chord within me.
Here Lees voice faltered perceptibly. !
| have done nothing in this affair. l
used my utmost endeavor to save this
people. would have given worlds were
it at command 10 have avoided that Gala.
nifty, but ! could not. Lam sacrificed to
to satisy feelings and am used to crafty
parties. nut nm ready to die. don't
fear death. Not particle OF mercy have
asked. don't fear death shall
never go to "A worse place than am now
in. have said il to my family
and will say it to-day that
the Government oi the U. S. sacrifices
their best friend, and that ia saying a
greal deal, hut it ia true. am n true
believer in the Gospel OF Jesus Christ. /
don't believe everything that is now
practiced and taught by Brigham Young.
don't agree with him. believe he has
led my people astray, but l do believe in
the Gospel as taught in its purity by Jos.
Smith, in former days. l have my reason
for saying this. | used to make this
mans will my pleasure, and did
so for thirty years. See Howard
what have come to this day
have been sacrificed in Cowardly, das.
tardly manner. There are thousands oi
people in the church, honorable and good
hearted, that cherish in my heart.
regret TO leave my family. They are
near and dear to me. These are thing.
to rouse my sympathy, l declare did
nothing deSignediy wrong in this unior.
tunate affair, did everything in my
power to save all the emigrants, but fee
resigned. Ssk the Lord, my God, t.
extend His mercy to me and receive M,
spirit, My labors here are done.
Alter the speech Panou Stokes,
Methodist, made prayer, commendinI
the soul OF the condemned man to God
Immediately after this a handkerchie
was placed over Lees eyes. lie raisei
his hands and placed them on the ton o
his head, sitting iirm. Nelson gave tn,
word 10 fire exactly at II O'Clock. nm,
five guns fired, penetrating the body il
the region OF the heart. Lee feel sauar,
back upon his coffin dead. The body wa
put into the coffin, and the crowd dis
persed, There were about seventy.iiy,
persons, all told, on>the ground; not
child or relative being there. The bes
order prevailed, and all pronounced tn
execution success. Lees last words I,
Nelson were: "Aim at my heart" Tn
body now passing to be given to the rela
tives at Cedar City.
The following is correct copy OF TIM
confession Of John d. Lee, carefully com
pared With the original, penned by lie,
since his second trial and since his sen.
tence to death. 1t was written by hin
without aid or advice, ani is now givel
without alteration or erasure. Wher,
any interpretations are made it is distinct
ly marked. The document was receivet
under close seal from u. S. Distric
Attorney Howard, who had received i
IRON JohnD Lee himself, when in til,
penitentiary at Salt Lake CITY, in Febru
ary, 1917, and Is certified by Mr.. Howart
as the statement written by Lee. Mr., How
ard hitherto withheld it from publica.
tion, but now that the prisoner has moi
escaped the penalty of the law, permitI
it TO be given to the public, as Justice can
not now be defeated by its publication:
Statement Of John d. Lee, of Tie Fass Con
nee.ed irith the 1lotratnia Meado,c Massq
enc IN ths Month Of September, 1857.
This company of smigrauts, known a,
the "Arkansas Company arrived il
Parowan, Iron county, Utah, on theil
way 10 California. At ParoWan, youpr
Alden, one Of the company saw and rec
ognized one William I4aney, Il Mormon
resident Of ParOwan. Alden and hi,
father had rescued Laney from an anti
Mormon in Tennessee several wear,
before and saved his lie He l;aney'
4 at the time he was attacked by tbe moi
was Mormon Missionary in Tenpessee
lIlaney was lead to see his iriendS mn
benetactor, andinyited him to his hou,l
and gave him some garden sauce 10 taks
back to theeamp with him. The sam,
evening il was reported 10 Bishop
lby Col. Dame, that bAney had given po