The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1877-03-30
THE EGZS.
BEL AIR, FRIDAY, MAR. 80, 1877.
Oyertaken by Justice.

The execution, last Friday, of the Mormon
bishop, John d, Lee, for the part he took in
the Mountain Meadow massacre, twenty
years ago, shows that although Justice some
times travels with leaden heels, she is certain
sooner or later to overtake the guilty.
Lee was executed on the very spot where
the murder was committed. The laws of
Utah allow condemned murderers their
choice of death by hanging decapitation or
shooting. Lee expressed preference for
the latter mode. After making speech, in
which he called attention to a confession lie
had written and which he desired TO have
published for the benefit of his family, he
seated himself upon his coffin, which was
D. placed about twenty feet from the firing
marty. The word Fire. was given, five
guns were fired the balls penetrating Lees
body in the region of the heart, and the mon
ser fell over on his coffin dead.
In his confession Lee endeayors to extern
uate his guilt and fix the responsibility upon
Brigham Young. He pretends he did all in
his power to save the unfortunate emigrants
Int his statements are not corroborated by
the evidence, which was clear and positive
that he planned the deed himself and was
foremost in carrying it out.
The story of the massacre is as follows:
In September, 1857, II large train of emf
grants set out from Arkansas for California
taking their way through Utah. They num-
bered, with the women and children, 14O
persons, and had with them large quantity
of personal property, besides cattle and
horses valued at 100000
The Mormons refused to sell them grain
or fodder, and ordered them to break up their
camp at Sal Like City, where they had stop
ned to rest. Orders were also sent to the
Mormon villages not to furnish them any
thing to eat Sadly Inconvenience by
this Treatment, they moved on. When they |
reached the Mountain Meadows they halted |
again to rest and recuperate before crossing
the desert
Suddenly, at daybreak, on Monday, Sep |
TENDER 10, 1857, the camp was attacked by |
Indians, who, at their first fire killed seven
and wounded fifteen whites. The latter re-
turned the fire and quickly entrenched them
selves behind their wagons where they de-
Tended themselves bravcy. Then Lee came |
out ut the head of party of Mormons |
who joined in the attack, but were unable |
to drive the emigrants from their shell
ter. They closely surrounded them, howev-
er, and the besieged party were suffering tor
lures from thirst. Some women tried to
reach the little brook that ran near at hand,
but were shot down Then two little chill
dren made the attempt, and they too fell, rid
died by bullets. In their extremity the be-
sieged drew up petition describing their
position and praying any one this might meet
10 send them aid. Three of their members
TO |, Lot ,,,l, Al
dead of the night made their way through
the Mormon watchires and out into the
desert They were seen, Indian runners
were put on their track, and one by one they
were slain or tortured by the Indians. In
the meantime the Mormons, finding the en-
campment could not be carried by force, re-
sorted to sratagem A quasemgrant train,
guarded by a company of soldiers marching
under the Stars and Stripes, was seen COM
ing down the valley. Lee, who was a
smooth-spoken scoundrel, persuaded the en-
trenched emigrants that he had come as their
friend, that the Indians had ceased to fire
upon them, at his command, and that the
soldiers would guard them from molestat0n.
All he required was that they should lay aside
their arms then they could come out and
obtain food for their wives and little ones.
They came out, and then at the word from
Lee the massacre began. The Mormons shot
the men, leaving the Indians to massacre the
women and children. Only few children
who were too young to remember were
spared. Some children chung to their par
ents' dead bodies, and were torn from them
to have their Threats cut by Mormon leaders.
Lee is said to have shot girl who clung to
his son for protection. A young mother,
standing by the body of her murdered hus-
band, seized knife and was defending her
self and her child against Lee, when one of
his associates stabbed her to the heart and
then with the knife pinned the child to its
fathers body and stood by to enjoy its death
struggles. A little girl knelt end clasped
the knees of Mormon dignitary called
Bill Stewart" but he, taking her by the
hair, threw her ON the ground, and setting
his foot on her body, cut her throat The
bodies of the murdered emigrants were then
left where they had been slain for the wolves
to feed upon. Some time after the massacre
Lee spread the report that the Indians had
massacred train ofemigranls but suspicious
were aroused, inquiries were made by the rel
atives, and bit by bit the truth leaked out.
The cattle and other property of the
slaughtered emigrants was distributed among
the Mormons, and dresses were recognized
in the possession of Mormon women.
Lee was given his share of the plumber and |
was raised by Brigham Young to a high po-
sition among the Mormon rulers. A year
or two ago. finding that his protection of the |
murderer was about tC bring him into trou
Bile, Young abandoned Lee TO his fate, and |
he was convicted by Il jury of Mormons.
Lee was an old man, and leaves dozen
wives and fifty or sixty children. Not one
of his relatives was present at his execution,