The New York herald., 1877-10-01
THE AIKEN MASSACRE.
Sketch of Rockwell, the
DANTE Chief.
TIE BETRAYAL AND MURDER
The Evidence Of R0ckWelrS Guilt in the
Possession OF the Authorities.

OF the notorious Orin Porter Rockwell on tho
charge oi completely IN what Is known In Utah
'the Aiken massacre" Is movement the part OF
the federal authorities in that Territory which Will
teach the Mormons that though the decease
OF Brigham Young ends all criminal pro-
ceedings us lar as connecting him with
the Utah murders Is concerned that the OF JUS
tice by that event In changed and that those
who were the instruments in his hands n carrying out
his orders the full effect OF their deeds,
and answer Tor their guilty part In tho crimes
that have been committed In that Territory. Beyond
the lesson that Rockweli's arrest imparis 10
those who have reason to apprehend a day
OF judgment, there is IN tins arrest the
gratifying assurance those who have been
awed by system OF terrorism ior a long period OF
years that the bloody past will only be atoned Tor,
but the future OF that Territory will at distant day
become as secure for the life aud property OF au
American citizen Other part of the Union While
men OF the stamp oil Rockwell have been allowed to
roam at liberty, boasting OF their bloody work and
threatening whoever became obnoxious to them or 10
their masters, feeling of personal security could
possibly be enjoyed and there is therefore, the
double satisfaction OF seeing the guilty brought TO
punishment and the aw-abiding citizens relieved from
any apprch OF danger.
SKETCH ROCKWELL.
Next TO the name of Brigham Young, there has been
no name notorious in Utan as tha. OF orin Porter
ROCKWELL he was par excellence ''the destroying
gel" OF the Church Visitors Utah, II
only there for lew days, have all heard
of him, and those who have seen him per-
sonaily viii never forget the peculiar Impressions
that his presence leaves upon the strangers mind.
He goes about the city not in the costume Of the ta-
ian brgand, with waist belt full OF pistols and still
lettos impress his victims with his greatness ne is
a different; kind OF parsonage, and with a mako up pc
culiarly his own. Ee is not physically large enough
to be either at first attractive imposing but he has
all the sotsidncs about him OF per-
sonage accustomed to do what he to do
and to go whero II peases him. No one would
imagine, from seeing him pass that he had any
particular business TO SEQ TO in the direction in which
he WAS walking which he could not quito easily
abandon and turn about and 30 In the opposite drcc-
uon without ever disturbing his mental programme.
He is to all intcnts and purposes in waywardness
rough Western Caesar do Bazan, without that gentle
mans instincts and accomplishments, and when
under liquor noisy, yelling, quarrelsomc, insulting
braggarL
HIS DEVOTION TO THE PROPHET.
"Port," as he Is called In Utah. became Mormon
when he was very young anG he early cvnced dcvo-
ton for the personal welfare Of the founder Of Nor
monism that amounted 10 tho strongest affection
idoatry. 10 hung around him, not with fawning syc-
ophancy, but in manestng desire to bc useful and
TO anything that wnnted, and the more daring
the service required tho better "Port' liked It.
He could look alter the Prophets stable drive his
carriage, 30 with message TO plural wife,
exhort his brethren to be faithful, throat If
that work hand, and 1t was deemed necessary
for the comfort OF the Prophet that should DO DONE
Such is the b. +. Rockwell Of Mormon history.
Hts hrst cmnont service IN tho assassination busi-
ness, far as known. 1S4 or 1872 and TO that
| Incident there is great deal OF Interesting
| circum stance. Tho Mormons had been, a
body, expelled from the State OF Missouri under
the order OF Governor Lilburn w. Boggs, in 1889
There was much suffering endured by tho Eormons
great deal OF cruelty inflicted upon them in their
fight ana a natural consequence .here was an IN
hatred engcndcred against the Governor who mad
issued the order OF determination, and IN after years
the prophet Smith seemed to have WITHIN
Boggs that his people could think Of slid
have resolved on the donth OF this arch
enemy OF the common faith
THE ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION
He prophesied that Boggs should die violent death
within yepr from the utterauce oil the prcdAcIon and
US modern prophets teach that man should see that
his propnesics are fulfilled smith engaged this
devoted Rockwell TO assassinate the offending Cover
| nor, and whi.e His Exceency evening enjoy
ing the quiet oil his hone In Independence. No. some
one shot at him through the window lie was seri-
ously wounded with buckshot IN the head, Dut
cred and lived several years alter
Warrants we're immediately issued for the apprcien-
Of Smith and Rockwell, and iron, that hour tn
were the pursuit oi the Prophet He was several
tunes ON that charge but III rough the Tor
windings oi tho law Smith always managed 70 escape
Rockwell lied from Nauvoo, came TO the Eastern States
ana, under another name, concealed himself or long
time about Toms River and Barnegat. N. j., where
therc some devoted Mormons to shelter llm. He
that he made the attempt at assassination ana
able 10 prove that he wEs few miles distant from
the place ut the time that the shooting occurred; but
he had no business beng IN tha, negnborhood At pli
aud II Is pretty certain that he did re tho
Governor some one did shoot by his instruction. and
thst he only waited ut q sufficient distance from the
TO be aDe 10 prove ao and to bertcr
| for himself aud accvmplicc to make their escape.
SECOND SAMSON.
Smith had such influence over him that he told Por-
ter never again 10 shear ms locks and Ike Samson.
he would be uncomfortable so long h preserved
har unsnorn Today his long black hair is bsalded
ike ChiDamans queue ana circles round his head,
aud he believes that while his hair uncut he
charmed lie. with such AN education and
been subsequently, charged only very
possible tor him to do, but very probable. How many
! persons nc may haze put out oi the way" ono
knows, but his Efforts in that direction sah
| have been very successful and his victims very nu-
/ merous But from the region OF conjecture cHnc
direct to the crime with which no charged py
the Grand Jury and winch no was arrested sat
urdsy:-
/ Next TO the atroc.ty OF the Mountain Meadows
massacre there has nothing IN Utah made such a
profound impression upon those acquainted with the
reported iucts as the murder OF the Aiken party.
From the statements that have been made by
some who nave claimed to have gathered
| tho facts the following is about the narfa-
tive:-A company Of SIX meu lett Sacramento,
California IN the spring Of 1855, with the intention Of
meeting the United States army, then Its way 10
Utah, under the command OF Colonel Albert sidney
1 JOunsoH inc party consisted Oi Two pTOthcfs, Jouh
and william Aiken, person OF the o Buck one
| who called Colonel and two others One Of
these carpenter, another was u blacksmith. two
4 s'tradcrso and the other two were prob
ably ''sports,u VINO had been attracted touncr by
the usual opportunities OF making money where there
was large number OF soldiers Ihey had travelled
through The western portion OF Utah IN company with
Mormons who were returning 70 salt Lake from Car
son City to take part the 'Utsh war; THIS party
OF sx GentIes had trouble with the Mor7nons with
wnom they travelled; they were on tho best o terms
| with them. But as tncy were well mouutcd.an had
good pack animals, and tue Mormon tram
| travelling slow, when tncy got WITHIN hundred
miles vi salt Lake CITY, aud there appre-
hcusIou from indian attacks tho half Gentilcs
| uadc the MormoDs goodby aud rode 10 advance.
Tncy had interruption on the way from that tue
| TIL they reached a Mormon settlement twenty i've
niles north o the CITY, and as the Territory
Was then under martial law they arrested
and held ''srles. ~ The Aiken party said
TO have had IN property, stock and cy the
value OF $4,000. Nothing was proven against tlrn,
| md their nberty gwen them conditions