Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1877-04-04
SALT LAKE. u. T.. March %.

fore the executing party, and seated on
his coffin, about twenty feet from the
shooters. Being asked if he had anything
TO say. Lee arose and said, among other
things;
have done nothing designedly wrong in this
affair | used my utmost endeavors 10 save those
people | would have given worlds, were it at
my command. to have avoided that calamity, but
Icould not ! am sacrificed to satisfy feelings
and am used 10 crafty parties, but am ready to
die | have lear Of death. 1t has no terrors,
and no particle of mercy have | asked from the
Court nor have | asked the officials To spare my
life do not fear death. | shall never go to
worse place than the one am in.
do not believe everything that is now prac-
ticed and taught by Brigham Young. do not
agree with him. l believe he is leading people
astray, but | believe in the Gospel as taught in
It's purity by Joseph Smith in former DAYS |
have my reasons for saying this. | used to make
this mans will my pleasure, and did so for thirty
wears. See how and what l have come to this
day. l have been sacrificed in cowardly, das-
tardly manner. There arc thousands of people
in the Church honorable good hearted, that l
cherish in my heart
/ declare did nothing designedly wrong in
this nm fortunate affair. did everything in my
powerto save all the emigrants, but am the one
that must suffer. Having said this l feel re-
signed. | ask the Lord my God to extend His
mercy TO me, and receive my spirit. My labors
are done here.
After the speech, Parson Stokes tMetho-
dist made prayer, commanding the soul
of the condemned man to God
Immediately after this handkerchief
was placed over Lees eyes. He raised
his hands, placed them on top of his
head, sitting firm.
Nelson gave the word to fire, and exact
" at eleven O'CLOCK five guns were fired,
penetrating the body in the region of the
heart, and Lee fell squarely back upon his
coffin, dead. His death was instantaneous
There were about scventy-iive persons,
all told, on the ground, but not "a child or
relative OF his WAS there. The best of
order prevailed.
THE CONFESSION.
The following is the correct copy Vi the
confession of John ID. Lee, carefully com.
pared with the original, penncd by Lee
since his second trial and since his SEN
tence TO death. 1t was written by him
without aid or advice:
STATEMENT OF JOHN d. LEE OF FACTS CONNECTED
WITH TIKI MOUNTAIN MEADOWS MASSACRE.
In tho month of September, 1857, the COM
pany of emigrants known rs the Arkansas
Company" arrived in Parowan, Iron County,
Utah, on their way to California. AT Paruwan,
Young Alden, of the company, saw and rec
ognized one William Laney, Mormon resident
of Parowan. Alden md his father had rescued
Laney from anti-Mormon mob in Tennessee,
several years before and saved his life. He
tlaney), at the time he was attacked by the
mob, a Mormon missionary in Tennessee.
Laney was glad to his friend and bonefactor,
and invited him to his house, and gave him
some garden sauce to take back TO the camp
with him. The same evening it was reported to
Bishop Coli Dame that laney had given po-
tatoes and onions to the man Alden, one of the
emIEants. When the report was made to Bishop
Dame, he raised his hand and crooked his
little finger in a significant manner to
one Barney Carter, his brother in = law,
and of the Angels of Death
Carter, without another word, walked
out, went to Laneys house with a long picket in
his hand, called Ianey out, and struck him a
heavy blow on the head, fracturing his skull,
and left him on the ground for dead. c. J.
Webb and Isaac Newman, President of the High
Council, both told me they saw Danes maneu-
yers. James Mctfuftee then resident of Parowan,
but through oppression has been forced TO leave
there, and If now a merchant IN Pahranagat
Valley, near Phoebe, New, knows these facts.
About the last of August, 1857, some ten days
before the Mountain Meadows massacre a com
pany of cmigrants passed through Cedar City.
George \. Smith, then First Counselor in the
Church, and Brigham Young's rsht hand man.
came down from Salt Lake City, preaching TO
different settlements. l at that time in
Washington County, near where st. George now
stands. He sent for me. l went to him, and he
asked me to take him to Cedar City by way of
Fort Clara and Pinto settlements, rs he was
business and must visit all the settlements. We
started. On way up through the canon we
saw herds of Indians and he Geo. A. smith,
remarked Ia me that these Indians, with the ad-
vantage they had of rocks could mp n large
company of emigrauts, make it very hot for
them.
After pausing for a short time be said 10 me,
Brother Zee, what do you think the brethren
would do If company of cmigran-s should
come down through here making threa s? Don't
you think they would pitch into them b" | re-
piled that they certainly would. This seemed
20 please him, aud he again said to me- And
Won really think the brethren would pitch into
AemE 80 / certainly do" was ms reply, "anG
you LHd better instruct Col Dame and HaiCht
70 tend 70 1t that emigTanGs permitted to pass
II yuu want them 70 pass unmolested.' He con-
tiuued: Il asked Isaac (mcaning Haghtl the
same question. and be answered me just AS you
do, and / expect the boys would pitch into
them | again said 10 ham he had better say to
Gov Young that II he wants the emICrant COM
panles IN pass without moit~tatlon h. must in
strurt Col. Dame OF Maj. Haight 10 that effect,
Tor II they are not ordered otherwise they Will
as them up 10y the help of the Indians He
tod the people at Clara not To sell thes grain To
eImTrtntS nor % feed It ~ their animals, rs
they might expect big fight next spring with
tae United states. President Young did not in
tend 70 ie'A,he troops into the Territory. He
sad: " We are going 70 stand up for our rights,
and will no longer De impe-el upon BY our enc
mics, AMI want every man To- b. on hand with
as -In in good order and his powder dry" and
instructed the p+oTle 10 part with nothing that
sar.I sustain life.
I-9n the LIST to the 10Th OF September, 1857,
h.-7--uge- came to me- His name was Sam
y sl, he t1ld me that President Isaac G.
e HA.-1r wanted me u go 10 Cedar City that even
lHt without fail. This was saturday. lie told
i5' THAR 81 large company of cU.l-,rauts had gone
l.'.A. then lived at Harmony, twenty miles
d O. ... Al