Year: 1877




DEATH AT THE SCENE OF HIS CRIME


-FlvEBULLETsPiERcE HIsBEAsT.


THE SCENE OF EXECUTION.


SALT LAKE CITY, UTAa, March 23.-
John d. Lee, the principal ia the
Mountain Meadows, massacre, was shot
at Mountain Meadows, between IL and
IL o'clock to-day, In expiation of his
terrible crime. At11 Am. precisely
Lee was brought out upon the scene
of the massacre at Mountain Meadows
before the execution party and seated
ON his coffin, about twenty feet from
the shooters. After the order of the
court was road to him and the COM
pany present by Marshal Nelson, Lee
made speech; bitterly denouncing
Brigham \ oung, and calling himself
a scapegoat for the sins of others.
He hoped God would be merciful.
He denied that he was guilty of blood
shed to the last, and maintained, that
his mission to Mountain Meadows was
one OF mercy, and that he did all he
could to save the emigrants. .p,r q
. SPEECH OF THE DOOMED MAN. q Il


Tue speech Of Lee was as follows:


II have but little to say this norm
ing; of course 1 feel that l am upon
the brink of eternity, and solmenity
OF eternity should rest upon my mind
at present. have made out, or en-
deavored to do so, manuscript and
an abridged history Of my life. This
will be published. Sir, l have given
my views and feelings with regard to
all these things. 1 feel resigned to my
fate; feel as calm as a summer morn
ing; have done nothing designedly
wrong; my 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; 1
am strong believer in those things.
The most Iregret is that of parting
with my family. many of them are
unprotected and will be left fatherless.
When l speak of these little ones they
touch tender chord within me. Here
Lees voice faltered perceptibly.


II have done nothing desiSnedly
wrong in this affair. l used my ut
most endeavors to save the people. 1
would have given the world were it at
my command to have avoided that
calamity, but I could not. am sacri-
feed to satisfy feelings. and am used
TO crafty parties; but / am ready to
die. L have no fear. Death has no
terrors, and no particle of mercy have
asked Of of the court or officials to
spare my life; / do not fear death,
shall never go to worse place than
the one l am now in. Ihave said it to
my family, and will say it to-day,
that the government of the United
States sacrifices their best friend, and
that is saying great deal, but it is
true. am true believer in the Cos
pei of Jesus Christ.


II do not believe everything that is
now practiced ana taught by Brigham
Young. l do not agree with him. /
believe he is leading the people astray
but l believe in the gosple as taught
in its purity by Joseph. Smith in for
mer days. l have my reasons for say
ing this. l used to make this mans
will my pleasure, and l did so for 80
years. See how and what / have come
to this day. have been sacrificed in
cowa rdly and dastardly manner.
There are thousands of people in the
church honorable and good-hearted,
whom l cherish in my heart. Iregret
to leave my family, they are near and
dear to me. These are things to rouse
my sympathy. declare did nothing
designedly wrong in this unfortunate
affair l did everything in my power
to save all the emigrants, but am the
one that must suffer. Having said
this feel resigned. l ask the Lord
my God to extend his mercy to me
aud receive my spirit; my labors are
here DONE" n. ,-7


THE EXECUTION.


After the speech ParIson Stokes
(MethodisD made prayer commend
ing the soul of the condemned man to
God. Immediately after this hand
kerchief was placed over Lees eyes.
He raised his hands and placed them
on the top of his head, sitting firm,
Marshal Nelson giving the word '.fire!'
and five guns fired balls penetrating
the body in the region of the heart.
Lee fell square back upon his coffin
dead. Death was instantaneous. The
body was placed in the coffin and the
crowd dispersed. There were about
seventy-five persons all told on the
ground. Not child or relative was
there. The best order prevailed. Lees
last words to Marshal Nelson were
"Aim at my heart"


Tho hadx, NO. NJ.