Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-09-27
ABOUT BLOOD ATONEMENT

When the startling news reached this
city Of the frIghtful tragedy in New
York. IN which a degenerate scion
OF an lllustrlous Mormon family
figured as an alleged murderer It
was expected that the antl-"Momon
press OF the country influenced by so
called ministers of the Gospel, would
attribute the deed to Mormon intu-
ences and ny to cast undeseryed rehec-
tons upon his ancestors. This premoni-
ton has been verified. New York CHI
cago ana other papers contain not only
lurid and sensational accounts Of tho
occurrence. but totally unJustlnabe
aspeisIons upon the "Mormons." their
creed and the character Of their dis
tinguished departed leader, President
Brigham Young,
The fact that the accused il a grand
son Of that noted pioneer and prophet
is paraded aud commented upon in
manner as absurd as II Is unjust. II
the young man now In custody were
the grandson OF a celebrated politician,
or prelato Of one Of the numerous Sec
tartan denominations. or n member Of
some orthodox church, there would not
be any special endeaVor to connect his
crime either with his parentage or with
the sect 10 which he was supposed to
belong. But any opportunity however
far-fetched, to cast slur against the
Latter-day Saints is seized with eager
ness by the pulpit and the press.
BY letter from Elder John G. Nc.
Quarrie, President of the Eastern
States mission, we learn that if robbery
was, ms stated, the motive for the crime
said TO have been committed by the
young man now IN custody, he was not
driven to It by actual necessity as ne
had been supplied repeatedly, out Of
friendship to his father. with funds to
provide for current expenses with the
understanding that his father would
refund the money, and he had place
for lodglng,so that he was not destitute
He was not recognized as associated
with the Church IN any way. lIdet
McQuarrle states further that the re-
ported interviews with Colonel Young
and his wife, as published In New York
papers are pure fabricatlons The as
sertion that Mrs. Young said the young
man was "a crank on Blood Atone
ment,' and that Colonel Young gave a
description OF his character is utterly
untrue, as each Of them refused TO be
interviewed
A Chicago Sensational paper states
that. '"The Mormon Church il alarmed
over the excitement caused by the MUIR
der" because "tne significant words
Blood Atonement were found in
Young's handwriting, In the room In
which the woman was murdered" Also
that "a meeting of Mormon Elders
has been held and President
Snow, head OF the Mormon Church had
been summoned TO salt Lake CITY,"
That this also IS what IS commonly
known as newspaper Jake will be
recognized by everybody IN Utah and
people out OF the state who know that
President Snow has been dead for near
~ year, and there has been no meet
ing OF the kind held or contemplated.
and # there were It is not very likely
that his venerated presence, however
welcome, would be expected there.
We do not intend 10 quote The numer-
Gus ridiculous statements which have
appeared In public journals, But see
Ing that the subject Of Blood Atone
ment has been made very prominent.
we think it proper to explain The Nor
mon belief concerning H. Some o.
the New York papers have been fair
enough to publish a statement from
Elder John G, McQuarrie, President OF
the Eastern States Mission, which viii.
no doubt do much toward correcting
public sentiment and refuung the false
hoods that have appeared.
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