Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1877-03-24
Mountain Meadows Massacre
San rra.c,.co o call.

Meadows Massacre.
San FraHcisco Call.
SALT LAKE, March 6, 1877.
Will Lee make confession? Has
he made y confession? These ques-
tions have been asked hundreds Of |
times since his arrest, trial, aud con-
viction. The answer now comes from
his own lips. He has. II is no par.
tial, whitcwashing, makeup state
ment, but full. clear, comprehensive
confession Of Ill the preparations, de-
tails, and incidents Of the great
Mountain Meadows massacre. Prior
70 his conviction be never told l,v-
ine soul the truthregsrding the crime.
Even his counsel were deceived. Ee
adaits this. He had such faith in
Brigham and the church, aud they
~ done 20 much to encourage this
faith, that the verdict 'guilty came
like thunderbolt. 1t was tho very
Jury which the church had selected q
faithful, ard whose names had been
secretly marked on The jury lit. In
an instant he comprehended that he
was betrayed, deserted. He never
flinched, never moved muscle, but,
sitting ereot aud immovsble a. mas.
BILE statue, eyed the jurymen like i
hawk. He had boon made scapc-
goat for the rulers Of the church and
for his confederAtcs. At the conclu.
sion, when tho Judge gave Lee his
choice Of desths-being shot, behead
ed, or hsnged-the old man rose up
slowly, and, standing erect q : sol.
dier, answered in clear, 6rm voice,
81 would rather be shot I Remanded
to jail to swait the day Of his execu-
ton, Lee began in earnest the work
Of writing true history of The mas
sacre. His church has convicted him,
and hc feels it to be his duty to his
family to convict the church. Desert
ed, forssken, awaiting death, he can-
not longer cling to the religion which
abandons him % utterly.
Perhaps the only relic Of the past
to which be clings 10 his endowment
clothes. These are quite similar to
any ordinary suit Of underclothes, and
aro onstsaty worn 81 Mo1mons.
When change = necessary. one half
= changed st ! time, 90 that there il
90, moment when the wearer il not
clothed, or partially clothed, with tho
sacred garments. These he still wears,
but It seems u be more from habit,
or superstition, than from any fealty
or allegiance which he owes the Mor.
mon church. He has written full
confession, aad it is believed that no
man has been shielded BY itSbecause
Of bis rslationship with the church.
Tho part performed bv each. partici-
pant, from the FIRST presidency and the
bishops down to the officers and pri-
Yates Of the Nauvoo legion, is faith
fully portrayed. Brigham Young
prophet, seer and reycia,or, will not
be spared. He has not spared Lee.
He has broken his promises, bitterly
deceived the old man, and, finally, has
come forward and testified for the
prosecution. We shall learn what
transpired At the interview Lee had
with President Young soon after the
massacre, and at which ali the par,i
culars Of the blsody crime were mar
rated. Thercplies and instructions
|of the great ruler and governor OF
Utah will be published. It will ex-
plsin Brig6am's pct sys.em Of re.
wards; how, when any great or ar
duous undertaking was performed by
Lee or any other Mormon for the good
and welfare of the church, new wife
was sealed to the faithful disciple.
Lees eighteen wives showed remark
able fidelity TO the church, and the
readiness of Brigham Young to re-
ward that fidelity is remarkable. His
confession details the history OF the
subsequent events--how, When the
| massacre became known and talked
about, Brigham at last cut him off
from The church publicly, but private
ly assured him that it was only ten,
Iporary measure, for the benefit OF fhe
church, and ,ha. he would soon be
restored tos-fcllowship. Cutting a
| msn on fromSthe church divorces his
wives. Eight wives chose to be d.
lvosced and left him in one day. Three