Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1877-07-13
THE DESTROYING ANGELS
Another Link In the Chain OF
Mormon Atrocities.
New York Herald Correspondent.

AA!OiS tiC p~OSlituulOuS NllllISo
OF John ID. Lee in my possession is
the following, which relates to one of
the most cowardly Of Mormon attroci-
ties:-
About the year 1853 a man by the
name of Tobin passed through Cedar
City, Iron county, on his way to
California, and was a%ssassinated on
the Magottsey Ca small tributary of
the Santa Clara) while asleep by
three liere Lee names the
men, but the m are withheld in
the interests Of justice.) They shot
at him several times, one bah taking
effect in his face, near the nose. /
asked the person with whom ] was
talking who Tobin was and what he
had done that caused them to kill
him. The reply was that he was once a
lieutenant in Colonel Stepoo's com
mand and had married General G.. G..
Rich's daughter contrary to the will
and wish of her parents; that Gener-
al Rich afterwards took Tobin with
him on a mission to England, think
ing to improve his morals and make
a man of him. In this, however, he
failed as Tobin soon formed an ac-
quaintance with the young English
sisters and made a little to free with
them. He was tried, disfellowship-
ped, aud sent back with this record
following, or. rather, accompanying
HIM to the home Of his wife and the
City of the saints. His reception
was anything but pleasant. He felt,
nc doubt, that almost any other eli
mate would be more congenial to
him, which caused him to leave Salt
Lake, but little did he think "destroy-
ing angels" were in his pathway. ]
was told that the mail carrier came
along and took him up, found that
his wounds were not fatal, though his
assassin supposed him to be dead,
and by nursing saved his life.
AS Tobin passed through Cedar
City, he told who n of the men
was that attempted to murder him
that he recognized him by light of the
fire. He hid himself when Tobin
was in Cedar. | wish it here under
stood that have no positive knowl-
edge of this affair only through re
ports. One of the party told me the
whole story c~onfdentially while in
Beaver; that he knew the whole party
that had a hand in it.
Some few months after the attempt
ed outrage | was in Salt Lake City
with. He told me that he wan
ted to see president Young and report
to him what they had done with
Tobin. We were then in Brigham
Young's mansion, and saw him com
ing towards us. Said to--,"Now
is your time They stepped to one
side in the hall, and | kept back.
They spoke low. | heard men
ton Tobin's name, aud Brigham
Young replied, ''It's all right. Many
more will 60" or sought to go, the
way."-made no bones in saving
that he was authorized to do that
and to attend to all similar cases sc.
RISEN AS ERoM THE DEAD.
Lee believed and Brigham Young,
Brigham, Jr., and the rest of Tobin's
would be assassins may still believe
that Tobin's wounds were fatal and
that he vas well put out of the way.
lie rises, alive, to confront them in
the following letters to United States
attorney Howard, dated recently
OF Sacramento, Call
Mrs. Tobin has just read to me
your favor OF the 9th inst. and ] has
ten to answer. Accept thanks and
present the same to His Honor Judge
Schaeffer for the desire evinced by
you both 10 u%nravel a mystery and
tragedy of 50 long standing. | must
observe brevity, for TO go into details
would take up considerable time, and
you ask for an immediate reply. Il
therefore respectfully submit the fol
lowing
"ln the fall of 1856 / was a resi-.
dent Of Salt Lake City and domiciled
ip the family of Brigham Young, of
the Bee Hive Mansion, then occupied
by his legal wife. | was in daily
intercourse with Brigham Young and
we spent many evenings together.
There was much bitterness against
Gentiles. The latter were regarded
by most Mormons, especially the lea
ders, as one would regard a mad dog.
| believe that if a Mormon had shot
a Gentle down, no matter how I'M
provoked, the offence would have
been overlooked by the Church au-
thorities.
TRYING TO ESCAPE.
"There were three Americans tar
rying in Zion, named Peltro, Brown
and Wilson. | formed the acquain-
lance of the former at Townsend's
hotel. He had committed the indis-
c%!etion of being too outspoken against
Mormonism, He said that he believ.
ed his life TO be in danger and begged
me to assist him and his friends to
leave the territory. | consented to