Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-03-24
ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE AND VIRGINIA ADVERTISER.
Shooting Of lee, the Mormon Bishop.


At / a. III. precisely, yesterday. Lee was
brought out upon the scene OF the massacre, at
Mountain Meadows, before the executing psrty,
and seated Oh his cothn about twenty feet from
the shooters After The order of the court was
read 10 him and the company present. by Mar
shall Nelson, Lee arose and made the following
speech
| have but little to say this morning. Of
course, feel that [ am upon the briuk Of
eternity, and the solcmnity Of eterGity should
rest upon my mind al the present. have
made out, or endeaVored TO do So a manuscript
and an abridged history Of my lite. This will
be published. Sir, have given my views and
feelings with regard to ell these things. | feel
resigned to my fate. feel AZ calm a. a sum
mer morning. | have done nothing Avcrso y
wrong. My conscience is clear before God and
men, and am ready 10 meet my Redeemer. L
am not an io6del. l have not denied God or
| His mercg. am a strong believer in those
| things. The most regret is the parting with
my family. Many Of them are unprotected,
and will be left fatherless When | speak Of
| those lite ones they touch tender chord with
| 10 me. Here Lees voice tatered perceptibiy. |
| have done nothing DIES gnedIy wrong 10 this
affair. | used my utmost endea7or5 to save
these people. J. would have given worlds were
it at my onamand to have avoided that calam.
| ity, but could not AN sacrificed to satisfy
feelings and AN usci to crafty parties, but |
am ready TO die; | have no fear. Death has DO
tcrrors, and no particle OF mercy have asked
of the court or officials to spare my life. do
not fear death. shall never 20 to worse
place than the one am now H. l have said
it to my family and | will say it to day that
the Government of the United States sacrifices
their best friend, and that is saying great
deal, but it is true. | am true believer in
the Gospel Of Jesus Christ. do not believe
everything that is DOW practiced aud taught By
Brigham Young, / do not agree with him. |
believe be is leading people astray, but l be-
lieve in the Gospel as taught 10 its purity by
Joseph Smith in former days. | have my
reason for saying this. | used to make this
macs will my pleasure, and did SO Tor thirty
years See how and what have come 10 this
day. have been sacrificed in a cowardy and
dastardIy manncr. There are thousands 81
people in the Church, honorable and good
hearted, whom cherish 10 my heart. | re-
grct 10 leave my family; they arc near and dear
to NC These arc things to rouse my sympa
thy. declare | did nothing dcSigncdIy wrong
| III llllS uiu SSClyt hipS Ia
my power to save all the ymigrauts, but anl
one that must suffer. uayiog said this fee
resigned | ask the Lord my God to extend
His mercy TO mo and receive my spirit. My
labors arc here done.
Parson Stokes (Mcihodst) then made a
prayer commanding tho soul OF the condemned
man to God. Immediately after this a hand
kercbicf was placed over Lees eyes lie raised
his hands aud placed them Oh top Of his head
sitting firm. Marshal Nelson giving the word
fire. Eve guns fired, the balls pcoctrat'
ing the body ia the region of the heart. Lee
fell square back on his coffin dead. Death was
instantaneous. The body was placed in the
cofio and the crowd dispersed. There were
about scvenry.fvc persons oil told 90 the
ground--D0t child or relative was there.
The best ord3r prevailed. Lees last words to
Marshal Nelson we're: Aim at my heart. u
The body is now on its way from the scene Of
the execution to be delivered to his relatives ii
| Cedar CITY,