West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1905-01-26
ANOTHER MORMON
Goes TO the Senate-Church in Utah Gave
Him Solid SuppOrt-SOn.in-Law OF
Lee the InStigatOr OF Horrible
Mountain Meadow Massacre
In 1857.

Senator Reed Smoo, has again triumphed
in Utah politics, and his man, former Con-
gresham George Switzerland, will 90 to
the United States Senate to succeed Senator
Thomas Kearns. Smoot is displeased with
Kearns, who would not bow to his dictates
So Kearns had to go, so powerful is the
Senator now on trial before the Senate with
his seat at the stake.
When Switzerland sits in the Senate the
strange spectacle will be presented Of a
statesman in the halls OF Congress whose
tatherin-law was executed by the Federal
Government for the murder Of men, women
and chldren--none other than Elder John
ID. Lee, Of the Mormon Church, leader in
the Mountain Meadow massacre of 1887.
when all the members excepting one, few
children of tender years, Of thirty families
were bulehered.
The Mormons are jubilant that their new
representative will glorify the memory Of
Lee, regarded as martyr to the cause of
the Latter Day Saints. The Smootites con-
troll the Legislature by an overwhelming
majority. They met in caucus and named
Switzerland to succeed Kearns.
Switzerland is of Mormon parentage but
insists that he is a Gentle. For many
years he was at outs with Smoot but was
finally taken up by the apostle and pushed
to the front. For time there was great
antagonism to Shoots prolege 10y the church
but Southerland was eventually able to es.
tablish himself in the favor Of all the Nor
mon leaders. He became closely identified
with the church in political affairs, and there
IS no denial of the charge that he is the
Mormon choice, which means that he is en-
dorsed by the dominant political power in
the State.
Southerland's faIherin-law, Lee, was
originally from Illinois, and was variously
mail-carrier, stage driver, farmer, soldier
and clerk, becoming Mormon in 1887. lie
was made Probate Judge Of Iron county, in
which Mountain Meadow massacre was per-
peirated, and at the time of the wholesale
slaughter was member Of the Territorial
Legislature from Iron county and Indian
Agent on a reservation near Cedar City.
Utah.
Lee and other Danites concluded TO
ayenge the death OF Mormon elder killed
IN Arkansas, where he was seeking converts,
by .slaying a party Of emigrants from Ar
kansas passing through Utah. The emf
grants were attacked by Indians, melted by
Lee, soon after leaving Cedar City, and
were besieged for four days. Lee then APP
peared before them bearing flag Of truce,
and told them he had come to protect them.
lie relieved them Of their arms on pre-
tense, and at a signal given by him, as the
party proceeded under his escort, the help
less people were set upon by local troops
and Indians and butchered
Lee took a hand personally in the butch.
cry shooting and Draining many innocent
women and children and ordering TO death
two young girls who had escaped and had
been reeaptured, on the ground that they
were old enough to tell too much. lie was
not tried for the crime until nineteen years
after the massacre. When convicted he
confessed and uHsuecessfully tried to impli-
cate Brigham Young and The church in the
affair. lie was shot 10 death on March "a,
1877. on the spot where the massacre took
place by detail of Federal soldiers.
lie was tried and convicted before Judge
Jacob S. Foreman, brother Of Governor
Foreman, and Thomas l., Kenner s., and
William l. Boreman Of Parkersburg. Judge
Jacob Boreman was appointed a Judge,
from Kansas City where he then resided,
over the territorial courts Of Utah by Presi-
dent Grant, and he presided over the court
which convicted Lee Of the massacre, and
sentenced him to death. Lee was given
his choice Of being hung or shot, and he re-
quested that he be shot, which sentence was
carried into effect by detail from the
regular army post stationed there.
Judge Foreman was threatened with
death and other kinds Of retaliation by the
Mormons for disposing Of their beloved
leader but he continued on his way fear.
iessly and was never harmed. Judge Bore
man served on the territorial bench some
twenty years all together.
HoU'g Thie