The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-03-28

Territory the Judgment 81 the lower
Court was confirmed ut the January term
in 1877, and the sentence OF the lower
Court was ordered to be enforced at the
March term in 1877. Judge Foreman set
Friday March 23,!lS77, as the day of exc
cution. |
After sentence of death had been passed
upon Lee in September, 1876. he made a
full confession in writing of his particl-
patton in the Mountain Meadows massa-
ere, which document he delivered to MIR.
w. w. Bishop, one Of his counsel, and di-
rected him to have the same published al
ter his execution.
The following details will be interest
ing. On the night before the day APP
pointed for the execution, the Marshal Of
Utah decided to convey Lee to the-vcry
scene of the massacre. lie was imprison-
ed at Beaver City, distant from Mountain
Meadows about :3 miles. An allnight
ride brought them to the spot about ten
o'clock Il. III.
ARRIVAL on THE GROUND.
Counting the military escort, the Mar
shall and his deputies, and a few officials,
there were probably eighty persons pres
cnt. \ singular feature was the presence
Of a photographer, who came, provided
with his camera and paraphernalia, for
the purpose OF taking pictures of Lee in
his last moments, Il OF the scene Of the
execution.
There was very little ceremony obscr-
we'd, for as soon az we arrive! ut the scene
of the massacre a halt was called and
Lee was ordered to descend from the wa
gon in which he rode. Marshal Nelson
then read the order and sentence OF tho
Court.
Marshal Nelson concluded reading the
order OF the Court ut precisely twenty
five minutes to eleven \. NJ. The docu-
mcnt was simply in the usual formula,
directing the Marshal of the Territory to
conduct his prisoner from the place where
he was confined to the place of execution
and then to see that he was shot to death.
The Marshal read the order i'll a clear
tone, his words being audible to every
ing he asked Lee if he had anything to
say before the sentence of the law was
carried out.
LEE SPEAKS TO THE PHOTOGRAPHER.
Lee looked up quickly and noticing
Mr.. FcnEimore, the photographer, in the
act of fixing up his canvass PREDATORY to
taking q photograph of the prisoner,
pointed with his finger toward him and
said:-
II wish to speak to that man. Come
over here,'' at the same time beckoning
with his hand.
Lee said ~ want to ask a favor of
you, sir. 1 want you to furnish each of
nv three wives a copy OF the photograph
-one to Rachel a., Emma B.. and Sarah
G." TAT the time criminal action was
commenced against him i'll the Courts,
he had eighteen wives, but fifteen OF
them had been divorced from him Eclore
his execution. Only those mentioned re-
manned true to him to the last
MI. Howard, the District Attorney,
who was standing by the side of the in
strument, responded for the artist, whose
head at til G moment was covered by the
hood As he was adjusting his calncra.
"IIc says he will do it,
He replied -"Please forward thcm to
my wives Sarah c., Emma Il. and Ra-
chel A."
LEES LAST SPEECH.
As the pri ,oner utt cred the names OF
his wives he seemed to pose himself in
voluntarily and the picture was taken.
He thcn rose from his seat and, looking
around at his guards and the spectators,
spoke as follows -
II have but little to say this morning. OF
course, I feel that l am upon the brink OF
eternity, and the solclnnity OF eternity should
rest upon my mind ut the present moment
| nave lltluC OUT, bT ciltltiiNflcu W w ~, d
manuscript II an abridged history OF my
life. This will be published. Sir-turning tn
district Attorney Ioward-1 have given my
views and feelings with regard to all these
things. | feel resigned to my fate.
81 feel as calm as Il summer morning. !
have done nothing adversely wrong. Ny
conscience Il clear before God and man, and |
am ready to meet my Rcdecmcr. Ibis 1t is
that places me upon this field. lam not an
infidcl | have not denied God or Ills mercy,
/ am Il strong believer in these things. The
most 1 regret Is parting WIN my, family.
left mthcrlcss. When | speak OF those little
ones they touch Il tender chord within me-"
At this moment the prisoners voice hcm-
b lcl, and he pei ccptibly lallcled In Ills word!
He continued. however, as lUiiOWs:-
~ have done nothing dcsigncd.y wronSin
this affair. | used my utmost endcarors to
save those people. would have given worlds
scrc they at my command TO have avoided
that calamity, but | could not. | ain sacritic.
cd to s;,tisfy feelings and ann used 10 crafty
parties; but / am ready ~ die.
II have M fear OF death. 1t has no terrors
for me and no particle Of mercy have ]
asked for from Court or officials to spare my
life. I do not fear death. 1 shall never go to
q worse place than the one / am now IN. J
have said 1t To my family, and / Will say II
to-day, that the government Of the United
states sacrifices tne,r DG't iriemd, ana Ina
81 am II true believer in the gospel OF Jesus
Christ. ! do not believe everything that is
now practisrd and taught by liris!lam Young
i uO llDI uSTec Will I'LL. i nc 10 iSttt-
ing his people astruy. hut 1 believe in the
gospel us taught in its purity by Joseph
Smith IN former days. ! have my reasons Ior
, saying this.
~ used to make this mans will my pleas
ure evidently abiding to Brigham Young,
and did SO for thirty. years. see how and
what | have come To this day ! have been
sacrificed In Il cowaIdiy dastardly manner
There are thousands OF people in the Church
-hen0rablc, goud-hcarlcd- whom l cherish
in my heart.
II regret TO my family. They are near
, and dear to me. These are things to rouse
my sympathy. declare l did nothing de-
siSnedly wrong in this unfortunate affair. !
grants, but ! am the one that must suffer.
Having said this feel resigned. ] ask tho
: Lord, my God. to extend His mercy to Inc and
receive my spirit. My labors are here done
PREPARING FOR DEATH.
1t was now eleven o'clock, and as Lee
ceased speaking he was informed that his
hour had come. and he must prepare for
execution. The spot hosen for carrying
the sentence of death into effect was OIL
the ground where the ill-fatel emigrant
party made their LIST camp, and quite
near to the monument ere It'd to their
memory. The condemned man could
easily read tie well known words which
comprise the inscription on the huge
stone cross that stood over the glavts OF
his victims.