The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1899-06-21

ostensibly were under flag of truce
Of the Mormons, which promised them
safe conduct.
1t was a full year before the news
Of this frightful massacre reached the
ears Of the outside world. Who was re-
sponsible for it? Who ordered it =?
We're the Mormon authorities its au-
thor? These and many connected ques-
lions will never be answered. know
ingly until the day of judgment, when
the secrets of all hearts shall be re-
realed.
But. according to his own confession,
John ID. Lee, who at one time was re-
sarded as one of the most influential
men in the Mormon church in south
ern Utah, largely aided in the plan
ring and carrying out of this atrocious
massacre. The Mormon church claims
that Lee and his fellow murderers
Matched out this plot without their in
structions, knowledge or connivance.
But Lee, when tried for his share of
The murder, and afterwards in a writ
Ten confession, distinctly charges that
brigham Young and the other authori-
ues OF the Mormon hierarchy gave the
commands which led to the perpetra-
ton of the foul deed.
ms is the question at issue which
Will never be solved this side of the
Judgment day. But there are pages in
the later life of Lee which have never
before been written and which were
discovered by Mr.. w. w. Bass, one of
'he pioneer trail-makers into the Grand
canyon of the Colorado river, and my
self' from several reliable and differ
ent sources.
rieced together the story is some
what as follows: After the massacre,
lee claims to have acquainted the
church authorities with all it's
ue.alis' and received instructions from
brigham Young as to the distribution
VI the property stolen from the emf
grants For some years subsequent to
'ne ueed he was in high favor because
VI the implicit obedience he had given
N carrying out the alleged rules of the
onureh IN the matter. But when the
ueh'iie world became so aroused that
"e general government found it neces-
sais 10 endeayor to arrest the perpe-
ua'ors OF the foul crime and see that
.aey We're rightly punished, Lee claims
aat the council of the Mormon church
u.'ermIned to make him the sacrifice
p pn'eh should appease the popular fury.
sham Young. however, was much
a.ned 10 Lee, as he found him most
eseiai IN carrying out his plans in
southern Utah, where he is said to have
Aad great influence both with the Nor
mons and Indians.
accordingly Lee was secretly warned
" 'he action the church had deter
a ,.ined TO take and hidden to fee into
s;uing. When the United States sol
sie,s visited his home near Beaver he
aau ned. His last wife (No. ls) states
.aa' ne told her that three others OF
e perpetrators in the massacre ac-
e.. npahied him. Not having had sui.
nt ume to procure food they were
ol.ed TO snbsist upon what game they
.ouiu XIII and the roots and berries
Mey could find. They journeyed down
ne OF the side canyons which flow
u lom The north into the Grand canyon
ie 'hey accidentally stumbled upon
'aiuao Ole gold mine, several nuggets
I'm I'm which he subsequently, brought
- av'ne and disposed of for large sums
GO money, one fetching $40, another
~ The soldiers kept hot on their
sa aeA and Lee and his companions had
se ,s narrow escapes.
.., "nen Lee and his companions were
oh;ae that they were no longer thu
,hs his 81 pursuit they started back t.
Ls 81 newly-discoyered mine. wher
WV nssred the spot they were in |,