The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-11
Evidence Accommodating That 1t Was
CARRIED by the Law Officers in the
Interest Of Brigham Young.
SPECULATIVE OFFICIALS
The Gilman Affidavit and Lees Hopes
for Reprieve.

The position promptly assumed by tho HERALD on
the question OF the reliability Of tho version OF John
D. Lees confession gwen TO the press by tho United
statos District Attorney At Salt Lake City. proves
have been tho right one. From all quarters comes
evidence that the called con iession garbed and
intended 10 further sharp piece Of speculation tho
part OF tho law officers OF tho United states IN Utah.
Tho following letter from Salt Lake City, from reia
bic correspondent. throws much light the conspr-
acy, and shows the relationship that Is more than
suspected to exist between tho chiefs Of the Mormon
Church and the representatives of the government
SALT LAKE CITY. L. 7. March 80 1877.
To THE EDITOR HKRALD:--
You have hit the nai on the head. This second
confession was constructed speculation, but was
written by Lec under the mos, solemn pledges TO him
by the District Attorney and United States Marshal
@ here sh ooS heard .hss pd MADE
by the above officials to I.ec IL Is also
tho INT, INTENTION Of tho same parties 70 publish
It Is hoped 10 leai &c much larger amount than
obinned from the sale of this confession. Tho officials
are most certainly specializing in this matter not only
by the sale OF the aud OF the proposed book
but also in the gold OF the Mormon Church. Il Is a
fact that can be credioy suDstantiated that James
Jack, tho financial agen. OF Brigham Young has
been closcted with both tho United States Attorney
before and after Lees execution, ana a care.
full examination OF tho confession referred to tails
the massacre. With Brigham whitewashed and Leo
ouliy disposed Of u was thought that the nvcstiga
cease But the attention OF the press that censor OF
public opinion tor forty millions oi people,
called to tbs subject, and what was iondy hoped ny
end will prove but tho beginning OF disclosures fatal
alike TO Mormonsm and corrupt United states officials.
Tho name OF the writer Of the above 10 withheld
from publication for obvious reasons Tho Mormon
official ring havo no scrupcs with regard to such cor
Respondents
ANXIETY or THE OFFICIALS
or the suspected officials deny tho truth OF
all statements charging them with collision with the
Church authorities and suppressng evidence against
Brigham Young and his chief priests. Yet feeling OF
deep pcrvadcs Official circles and feverish
protests OF Innocence heard in Salt Lake City.
From the United States District Attorney the follow
| ing telegram Is addressed to the HERALD
sALK LAKE, April o, 1877
j. G. BENNETT, New YORK HERALD
II one Gilman has made a statement regarding mo-
inform you II Is false. Mormons have used and
| ccaed him.
HOWARD, U. s. District Attorney.
In the desperate effort ceal the facts the
cuscd parties believed DO capable resortng
for any knowing tho details to utter word
regarding them In Utah Territory
OF LEES GUARDS CHARGING DISTRICT At
ToRNEY HOWARD WITH SURPRISING I'M
PoRrANT PARTS OF LEES CONFESSION.
WASHINGTON, April 10, 1877.
A strange sequel to tho tragedy OF John D. Loo 3
execution at Mountain Meadows is contained In an
Official paper which was nlcd yesterday with the Do
| partment of Justice In Washington.
|
This is no less than AFFIDAVIT by Edwin Gilman, Of
OF Salt Lake City. that Lee induced q
fcsson 10 the United States District Attorney the
promise that la return for such confession he should
receive rcprievo and eventually full pardon. This
promise, Gilman alleges made to Leo by the Dts
trct Attorney in furthcrance OF plan implicatc
expose aud punish all the Mormon leaders, from Brig
| ham Young down, who believed TO concerned
| In tho Mountain Meadows massacre.
| GiLMAx's EMPLOYMENT.
Gilman alleges that no WINS specially engaged as q
gobeween by tho District Attorney to mako the
lures Lee the fcssion, and promise cven-
tual immunity TO Leo In consideration OF the disco-
sures he should make In hts capacity OF guard at tho
| Penitcntiary al Beaver, ho had lrce to the
| cell OF Lee, and occupied quito while In
Quoting the negotiations before mutual understand.
| ing was had between and tho District Attorney.
Ice was cautioned by tho latter not mako known
the substance OF his confession to anybody, not
to his wife Rachel, who, II will be remembered was
tho constant companion Of his closing hours Garth.
and attended him in his cell up 10 tho moment OF his
removal for execution.
ng RRAps Lgs's CONFESSION.
But Gilman says that the confession was read by
himself and by Rachel during odd moments when Leo
happened TO DO absent from his cell taking exercise
during which intervals their curiosity got tho
OF them and they read the oiios OF manuscript they
| lay on Lees writing desk.
SUBSTANCE or TIM DOCUMENT.
From these urtivo and detached pcrusals Of the
icssion Gilman acquired a general knowledge OF IT'S
substance which he says at variance with the con-
iession given tho public by the District Attorney
| Tns HERALD STORY.
II will DO remembered that the HERALD published in
advance OF the press tcicgraphic report from Salt
Lake City OF Lees confession In which Lee directly
and unequivocay charged Brigham Young with beng
responsible for tho order under which the dreadful
massacre ut Mountain Meadows was perpetratcd.
| II Is TIE uSGARELgD VERSION.
| Discrepancy between tho two confessions on this
| point OF Brigham Youngs alleged guilt was CON-
mentcd upon widely at the time, and Is ccountcd
for by by Gilman, who says that the charge against
| Brigham Young made by Lee In his confession to tho
District Attorney was cxpungcd, and that the On
tiro paper was garblcd in tho interest OF
tho Mormon chief after had passed OF Lec's pos
session and before II was gwen to tho public. Tho
original confession published by the HERALD was
made by Leo when no under sentence death and
before any dclusivc promise OF rcprevc and pardon
could have tocn held him according the stat
ment Gilman II Is strange, therefore, that under
tho nducemcnt Of such promised pardon, tho second
confession should be less upon Brigham Young
REQUESTED TO DISMISS LAWYERS.
Gilman also sage that taking his nrst message 70
Lee from tho District Attorney, no was Instructed TO