Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1877-03-28
IlWILL REPAY, SAITH THE Lord

!. Ii !
The awful words stared the con
demned man in the face and told him
that there was God to fear as well
as TO love.
After the order of the court was
read TO him and the company present
by Marshal Nelson, he asked Lee il he
had anything TO say before execution.
Lee then arose and s9id
81 have but little TO say. feel that
| am on the brink OF eternity ! have
made manuscript history OF my life
| have given my views and feelings
with regard to all these things. ] feel
as scalm as a summer morning. have
done nothing pnrposcly wrong. Ny
conscience is clear before God and man
and am ready to meet my Redeemer.
| am not an infidel. have not denied
God or his mercy. regret that in
parting with my family, many OF them
are unprotected. When | speak OF
those little ones they touch tender
chord within. Here Lees voice fi.l-
tcred.) have done nothing design.
edly wrong in this affair used my
utmost endeavOrs to save these people.
! would have given worlds were they
at my command to have avoided that
calamity, but | could not. am sac.
rihced TO satisfy other parties, but |
am ready to die. | have no fear.
Death has no terrors, and no particle
Of mercy have | asked the court or
officials to spare my life do not fear
death. am true believerin the gos
pei of Jesus Christ. | do not believe
anything that is now practiccd aud
taught by Brigham Young believe
he is leading people astray hut be-
lieve in the gospel as taught in its
purity by Joseph Smith in former days.
| have my reasons for saying this. |
used to make this mans will my pleas
urc, and did so for thirty years. |
have been sacrificed in cowardly
manner. regret to leave my family /;
they are near and dear to me- | did
everything in my power to save all
emigrants; but am the one that must
suffer. Having said this feel resign
ed. ask the Lord my God TO extend
his mercy to me and receive my spirit
My labors here are done"
Parson Stokes (Methodist) then
made a prayer commencing the soul
of the condemned man TO God.
The prayer ended, Marshal Nelson
advanced and proceeded TO tic a white
handkerchief over Lees eyes. While
this was being done, the prisoner quiet
ly submitting, Lee began speaking in
a low voice. "Lct them shoot the
balls through my heart Don't let
them mangle my body" The Marshal
re assured him that the aim would be
true, and then stepped back. As he
did this he gave the requisite orders !;
Ready, aim, fire y The five men
selected us the executioners obeyed
promptly They raised their rifles to
their shoulders, took deliberate aim ut
the blindiolded man sitting on bis cot
fin about twenty feet in front of them.
As the fatal word, "l'irel" rang out
clear and strong on the morning air, a
sharp report was heard, and Lee fell
back on the coffin dead and motionless.
He must have died in a single instant,
for there was not n cry or moan nor
even trcmor OF the body.
A few minutes were then allowed to
elapse, all present standing motionless
and with uncovered heads, The Mar
sbal stepped alone, moved and walked
over to the body to examine It and ~.
certain If death had resulted. Even ut
that moment the photographer was
busy taking a view OF the scene. None
OF Lees relatives were present, which
was contrary to general anticipation,
as Rachel was often heard to declare
that she would be present ii, indeed,
her husband was executed. The change
OF programme and scene OF execution
was no doubt the reason ior this fail
urc on her part Tho utter silence
prevailing was at length broken by
Marshal Nelson exclaiming: ale is
quite dead. The law is satisfied AT
last
Then a general movement was made
by the party, and all gathered TO view
the corpse. Looking at the body il
was found that the features were quite
composed, but ghastly white. The
breast was bleeding profusely, and the
limbs were partially Strengthened out
after the involuntary movement at.
tending the death spasm Beyond
these signs there was nothing TO de
note that Lee had met any other than
peaceful death.
The body was tcnderly picked up by
the deputy Marshal and placed in the
coffin. The casket was then carried
over TO the wagon and put in, aud the
entire party began dispensing. The
execution was a very remarkable on,
and was entirely successful. The body
Is now on its way from the scene o
execution to be delivered TO relative,
at Cedar City.