The New York herald., 1877-03-18
LEE THE MORMON MURDERER.
HIS AUToBIoGRAPHY-rHE UTAH PxxIrZS.
TIARY-THE PRISONERS pEMxAxoB uNDEJ

Prom the san Francisco Call. March lol
As entered the wariens Office. which 10 buin
Just In front the Pcnontary Lee sitting alone
in the front room writing. There no ristakns
the square, sturdy iorm the rm. soderlxe features,
the keen eyes or the genial good-natured smile that
In up tho face OF tho old man as he 10 shake
hands and offer US chars These Two years con6ne.
mcni have deepened somewhat tho wrinkles on fore.
and cheek and rendered bis face q trifc spare
and carcworn, yet he was chcerful, polite, cous,eow
ant hopeful Age has crepi rapidly him since hii
paneuish. yet he looked hale and vigorous.
bearing hs sixty four years with erect carriage
sprighily. elastic walk and hrm. military bearing
His autobiography would abound IN Instances OF
thrilling interest. or hardship and danger
such allotted TO few lives and countless advrn-
lures encountered IN life the frontier. skip the
OF single week the fall OF 1857 and his record
tha, OF brave, honorable pioneer, who ranked high
as n Inanccr ana business manager among the csrIy
Mormon leaders While looking at the
afford pass by the events OF that week. for he IL
give 10 the offended law the tlo all he possesses--
his lifc-as atonement Tor thai week. The closely
written manuscript that he folded and LAID away on
the back part oi the table when the party entered
was the Journal OF his life
AUTOBIOGRAPHY.
He Is good writer; indeed. u we remember the
disadvantages o! his !e, he is surprisingly cloqucn,
writer. His penmanshp Is peat, legibIe aud rapid
lie said to Us that lie was writing in order TO paM
away time. and fanccd detected trcmulous, pa
theuc little quvcr IN the old mans voice that seemed
u his mind was glancns back at his long imprson.
and ahead toward his swim approaching death. Bs
is constant This journal faithful record oi
all the pas the good and the bad the prosperous and
the reverse lie docs not attempt write consccu.
lively events In OF their occurrence but
day tells how he was converted TO Mormonem: 70.
to get tho remn,ances Of coin which tho soldiers of hs
Mormon battalion sent back TO their wives who were
waiting at Council Bluns snd nex. day. peyhape, Of
the tho motives the orders that caused him
10 be present Ut the great massacre.
LHg's EIGHrggN WHY'S
chAvv VEnk In dana onAf fhn
ness OF Brigham Young 10 reward that hdclity 10 re
markable His confession details the history Of the
subsequent cvcnts-now when tho massacre became
known and talked about, Brigham at last him on
from tho Church publicly. but privately assured him
that II only temporary measure, Tor the benefit
the Church. and that he would soon be restored 10
fellowship Cutting man onrom the Church divorces
nm in ono day. three chose TO remain and src
stlI faithful to HIM. Brigham always recognized Loo
during MS southern trips and on At least one occasion
rode publicly by his side. When Lees most faithful
old wiic Rachel, asked HIM nj Beaver regarding Leo
Brigham ioung's answer was, Tell Brother Leo not
a hair OF his head sua be harmcd.' Nearly twenty
years ago the massacre was committed. but thanh
God is not too late or the fuhlment Of tho quote
placed the which stood nj tho head OF tho
pit wherein the cmgrants' bones were buried. Ices
confession now renders the quotation pertinenI:--
"Vengeance Is mine; will repay ~
UTAH rENIrESrfARY.
Nestled close TO tho base OF the high. preciptous
cG OF the wasatcn range IS a building That 10 destined
to place history. Years ago. when It's plain
adobe walls were being erected heard the workmen
say III !, s INTENDED a,. ey Brigham Young a. place
boy then, and the saying was doubtless .
jest; but when approached 4 on the late
occasion reerrcd TO could not help remarking. A.
! examined the old mud structure how widely tuose
workmcn missed the mark. rhe day had already como
when the place has been used TO hold Brigham Young
aud the Gcnliles his Jaiors. Built tho days
when Mormon sway WAS absolute 10 Utah, It's rain
washed. weather beaten adobcs have stood sanch and
until the very head o the fast crumbling Nor
Church has found himself prisoner nsido its
the host Of lesser Mormons who nave been hitheg
by Gentle courts, has done less 10 render tho building
historical than iKcy TO be done by the incarceration
OF Lee The prison Is about SIX miles southwark from
Salt Lake City, on the brow Of low blum that over
looks the Jordan. Fertile fields, then covered With
rich stubbe Or thick set with shocks OF rpcned corn,
but now beginning 10 show the coming green, stretch
away far as the eye roach up and down the val
ley. Vast sweeps OF willow and tule OF 10 the west
ward mark tue location oi the swamps and marshes
around the mouth OF tho sluggish, unromantc
Great salt Lake sullcniy beat tho shore, II angrty
protesting against their bounds. and
s,aa,y mindful OF the prehistoric days when,
innnd sea- they wore the broad, distinct shore line
that plainly visible high up ON the wasatch clia
The prison does not merit the name OF penitentary
IL consists OF four plain adobe walls ncIosing spa.
yard that 900 feet long by 450 feet wide. In
the centre is a small, two.roumcd, story frame
house that to shelter the prisoners and guard
night bad weather. During tho day time the
prisoners allowed walk around the yard, but as
night all are crowded together In one room oi the
tra building, ana the other roon separated by
iron grating is occupied by the guard ON top Of tho
walls OF The Enclosure guards arc also stationed and
the four corners are small urres, or guardhouses.
that may be occupied when occasion demands.
Tho walls are perhaps twenty-five icet nigh,
Prisoners In former days who have found
their captivity rksome have more than once scaled
these walls. One old fellow who escaped last sumner
and rccapurcd joculary told US that unless they
gave him some bcttsA CLOTHES he feared he would DO
compelled TO 90 ouv again for couple Of months IN
order to get him SUIT Four prisoners escaped
at one time and seven at another. The seven took
long plank, placed end the ground aud the
other agans, Top the WALL climbed up while the
guards were AT dinner and made their escape
when interviewed Lee seventeen prisoners were IN
ho Pc In III
UNDER sBNTENCx oR DEATH.
Tho Mormon authorities allow the United States
shuis other prison than this hence the most notcd
criminals often placed hero the day their
execution George W. Grove, Deputy Marshal is
ocer; yet he fully appreciates the utmost caro-
and OF himself and tho guards render
the old prison a secure place for condemned mur.
derers.
John d. Leo, as l have said, has most OF ths time
been confined al this Penitcntiary confined wrong
term. for hc Is simply captive guest IN the house Of
the Warden which Is built IN front and outside OF she
enclosure No was not ironcd. not ncarceratsd and
specially guarded When captured he said TO MAR
shal stokes, III you do not iron mo give you my
word OF honor that Will not attempt TO escape" The
high sense OF honor which prompted him 70 feast
and entertain his captors at Pangush and accompany
them INTERESTINGLY through u wild, Mormon country.
through daylight and darkness has all along prompted
him Keep with Tho Warden Of the Pcntcnt tiary.
he been secure there as n hemmed Ia by wallis
OF adamant for bis honor In shc prison
there Is vermin and goodness knows what a but his
room in the Wardens house was nca comfortable and
PERFECTLY Glenn. He was evidently willing captive
lie has always expressed full faith h,s ability 70 Jus
tiiy his conduct nj the Mountain Meadows Prior 10
and since the commission OF The massacre his
record Is honorable. He Is over sixty our years
OF age. anu has sixty.four children who boar hts
and must live to share the stigma and rcproach
that will rest upon that name Tho Mormon Church
has utterly deserted him, Mormon leaders decrecd hts
death Mormon witnesses up and testified against
him. and Mormon jury brought IN the verdict Of
guilty To escape he must violate hts word OF honor,
G, ade his guards and ind HIS way to southern Utan
through country thickiy settled With Mormons, any
o. whom would return him " justice Most OF eli,
escape would deprive him CT the last hope OF rcranng
tho rcspcct sympathy Of mankind. His conviction
was much surprise 10 himself as u was 10 tho
world. Now that lie has been sentenced to bo shot,
and his appeal ovcrrulcd, and hts fate finally sealed
he pcrcevcs Tor the FIRST time the necessity Of proving
himself not alone gully. OF death he has Away
talked with surprising canncss; yet he, until very
recently, has not expected die. Ere tho execution
er's bullet pcrces John u. Lees breast Is safe 10