The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-03-26
JOHN D. LEES LAST MOMENTS.
THE SCENE or THE EXECUTION or Tho
SENTENCE or mann.
Last Fridays Tragedy on the spot on witch
the Mountain Meadow Mussacre was PERI
pctrated Described by nu Eye Witness.

Fran ne H-raM
Before q o'clock the soldiers, under tho
in command OF Lieut. Paterson, had been placed
wagons and driven to tn" setylc Of the cmigrant
camp. where the criminal was to eXpiate his
crime. Some OF the soldiers were posted on tho
hulolnlng NILS To guard against surprise. The
wagons were meanwhile placed in line near the
munuinent and army blankets fastened over the
wheels Behind this screen the suuad OF men
VINO had been appointed to shoot l.ee were To be
Stationed. The purpose OF this concealment of
tle lrlnk purity was to prevent the men COM
posing It from being seen by any one. there
being ienr that some OF the numerous rela-
ilvcS OF Lee might wrcak vengeance on the
heads OF ms "Nc"utiOncrs.
Tho boards of which the coffin was TO be
formed were next unloaded from wagon and
was rough pine box. Whio u was being made
Zee sat ut some distance away with Marshal
Nelson intently watching the scene around him.
=, The civilians began to arrive Just then, and
those specially invited as Witnesses were allow
ed To- come within the military enclosure. All
OF the others were allowed to witness the pro-
ceedngs from considerable distance east Of
the ravne; Lee sat like an Indian chief near
the spot where he was to die, IA cool and coll
leeted as ever He began writing an autograph
note IN the District Attorneys mcmorandum
p,ook;. Ihen he exchanged "a few words with the
:, At 10ls o'clock the military wore drawn up In
me and closer up to the scene OF execution.
lhen the photographer made his appearances
on the scene; Soon after this the prisoner
arose. and holding the, arm, Of Mr.. Stokes and
advanced toward the litto corral Of wagons.
The coffin had boon in the meant ime placed
Lee WIS dressed In u gray cont and Light brown
overcoat. He seated himself on the coffin as
soon NJ he arrived at IT, Az soon a. he seated
himself he looked around hurricdly, though
coOuy; Few minutes were then occupied by
the photographer. who took u picture OF the
condemned man and the grouped line of spec
tators; Then the reporters were invited to app
proach, and Marshal Nelson read the death
warrant During the reading of the document
the prisoner manifested no emotion, and on its
CONCLUSION he was informed that he could thcn
speak II he desired.
Hn prDtppttu Ia 1eliVar bia -npIop,
His voice was very clear and his manner self
possess9d but he talked sometimes with re-
markable precision, and then rushed Off into a
humid style. When he spoke Of Brigham
Youngs treatment of him he exhibited feeling,
The speech ended, Lee requested the Rev.
Mt Stokes TO onnrn prayer. and both knelt be-
side the coffin The minister prayed with fer.
vcncy for the prisoner and his family, and
asked that II ne was an innocent man. M he pro-
tossed to be, his innocence might be- established
herealisr Then the reporters witrrew Lee
shook hands with Mr.. Stokes. Marshal Nelson.
District Attorney Howard and "a few others.
lhc handkerchief WAS tied over his eyes, and
rs Y was being done he asked the Marshal not
10 Tie his hands. The favor being granted, Lee
cI9sped ms hands over his heml. hruring him-
my heart
Az near the prisoner stepped aside. and Mar.
shall Nelson, at u little distance tothe southwest.
pronounced the words. trauy-iim-irrl.
ilnsi was seen. and H." fell over with dull
thud upon - coffin hs arms failing on both
sides OF the bon then there came three or four
slightly dseonnet tod reports.
Lee's pulse ccnscd to hrut probably Mt the
moment his heart wns penetrated. several Of
the 1--WE balls with which he was shot passed
entirely through his body, and cut ridges in
the ground IN the rear. Nine guns were fired
n all, four Of them containing blank cartridges.
Three OF the balls penetrated the heart, making
but one hole ON the body
few minutes after the shooting corporal
tainted in the ranks. The body was placed In
me '9iln and photographic negative was obs
famed 81 u, anu the -tntur~ were allowed TO
view it, The color had entirely left Tho face
the mouth had fallen open. The coffin was
malice up at once, To be- taken by the soldiers to
Cedar CITY. and thence to Lees wife Rachel in
Pungwtch.
Before execution Leo gave what money he
had to the Distri" Attorney to lie given 70
ll'hcl one OF his wives. He gave his coat TO
Marshal Nelson and his scarf to Howard.