The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-02-01
Retribution.

death, at Beaver, Utah, of John D. Lee. a
Mormon ex bishop, convicted as the active
leader and director of the Mountain Meadow
massacre of 1857. In the summer OF 1857
two trains of emigrants bound for Califor-
mia entered Salt Lake City. One of these
was formed OF company OF Missourians,
all men, bold and rough, en- route for the
Sierra Nevada geld mines; the other, and
much larger train, was that of number of
families from Arkansas, comparatively
wealthy people, and on their way to South
ern California, as settlers. The Missourians
at Salt Lake City having by their thought
less conduct greatly exasperated the saints
and having cause to fear their vengeanc e,
deemed it expedlcnt in leaving the city to
| join the Arkansas train.
| The Arkansas men readily accepted this
reinforcement, inasmuch as the Mornlons
|>appeared to be bitterly hostile to all Gentle
intruders in their territory, and were active
| ly preparing to repel by force of arms col
umn OF the United States army approach ng
over the plains under General Albert Sgd.
ney Johnston, escorting new Governor of
Utah to take the place Of Brigham Young,
new judges. &c. Johnsten's provision train,
| moving in advance of his troops, was burned
| by the Mormons, and thereby his entrance
| into Salt Lake City was delayed till the re-
| turn of spring.
The train Of the Missouri and Arkansas
emigrants moved on southwark through
Utah for over three hundred miles, and with
| out serious interruption until they reached
| those fatal Mountain Meadows. Here, in a
little valley in the desert, were grass and
water; and, as their horses had suffered
from short supplies, the train halted for a few
days for rest and recuperation. Here the Nor
mons, disguised as Indians. and with some
Indian allies mustered for the occasion,
made their appearance as enemies. The en-
| igrants made fertilization of their wagons,
and after successful defence for several
days John D. Lee came forward With a flag
of truce and with terms for surrender,
which were gladly accepted. The emigrants
had no alternative, for their horses were
mostly killed and their improvised fort was
then cut off from the spring which had sup
piled the garrison with water. The men
marched out and laid down their arms, the
women and children following. Then the
| signal was given by Lee and the massacre
began, and was continued until 127 men.
| women and children were butchered out of
| the train OF l40, thirteen small children, too
young to tell the tale, being saved, as it ap-
pears, by the Mormon Bishop Smith and
carried off in his wagon, The massacre took
| place on the 18th Of September, 1857. 1t
was not till 1874 that the chain of evidence
had become strong enough, and the United
States courts in Utah sufficiently fortified to
proceed to action against John d. Lee. On
November IA, 1874, however. over seventeen
years after his crime, Lee was arrested as the
leading consprator and actor in it; but it
was not till July 18th, 1876, that he was
brought to trial. The trial was before Judge
Lowe, of the U. S. District Court, at Beav-
err, in southern Utah, the county town near
est the scene of the massacre,
In the coarse OF the trial Lee confessed
his participation in the conspiracy and mas
sacre, but pleaded, in extenuation Of his
guilt, that he had acted in obedience to ord
ers from a leader in the Mormon Church.
This trial was brought to close on the Sth
Of August in the disagreement OF the jury,
several Of the Mormon jurymen not being
satisfied that Lee should be convicted upon
the evidence, including his own confession.
On the 10th OF September last, Lee was
brought before Judge Roseman, OF the U. S.
District Court, at Beaver, for new trial,
and thls time the evidence was deemed by
the jury conclusive OF the guilt of the pris-
oner, and their verdict was '.guilty Of mur-
der in the first degree
On the 10th Of October, Judge Boseman,
In passing sentence upon the prisoner said
that he was offered up as {, sacrifice to the
public indignation, but that others equally
guilty in his great crine might hereafter ex-
pect to be brought to punishment. Under
the Territorial law man convicted OF muir
der may choose death by hanging. BY shoot
ing Or by beheadingi and as Lees choice
was death by shooting, he was sentenced to
be shot to deSsh on Friday, the 26th Of Jan
ua.yY, 1877.
A Salt Lake City telegram of Friday sasys
the case Of Bishop John D, Lee, convicted OF
murder in the Mountain Meadow massacre
of 1859, was appealed to the Supreme Court
OF the Territory, which has granted stay of
execution.