Year: 1877

SALT LAKE, Utah, March %.


This morning John d, Lee was brought
out upon the scene of the massacre at
Mountain Meadows, before the executing
party, and seated on his coffin about
twenty feet from the shooters. The
order of the court was read to him and
the company present by Marshal Nelson,
after which he asked Lee if he had any
thing to say before execution was carried
into effect. Lee said 81 wish to speak to
that man." pointing to Mr.. Fennemore,
who was fixing his canvas to take Lees
photograph preceding the shooting. Lee
calling to the artist, Fennemore replied;
"In a second, Mr.. Lee," and waiting till
the artist asserted his readiness to listen,
Lee said: "I want to ask you favor. !
want you to furnish my three wives each
copy of the photograph (meaning the
one being taken), n copy of the same to
Rachael A., Sarah G. and Emma B."
Mr.. Howard responded for the artist:
"He says he will do it, Mr. Lee" He
repeated the names over again carefully,
saying. Please forward them" He
then arose and said:


have but little to say this morning. or
course, / feel that l am on the brink of
eternity and the solemnity of eternity should
rest upon my mind at the present. | have
made out, or endeavored to do so, a manu-
script 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. feel resigned TO my fate. feel as
calm as a summer morning. have done moth
ing wrong. My conscience is clear before God
and man. am ready to meet my Redeemer.
This it is that places me upon this field.
am not an infdel. l have not denied God or
His mercy. l am q strong believer in these
things. The most that l regret Is parting
with my family; many of them are unpro-
tected and win be left fathcrless. When l
speak of those little ones they touch a ten
der chord within me. Here Lees voice fall
tered perceptibly.l l have done nothing
wrong in this affair. ! used my utmost en-
deavors to save this people. would have
given worlds, were it at my command, to
have avoided that calamity, but could not.
| am sacrificed to satisfy feelings and am
used to crafty parties, but | am ready to
die. 1 have no fear Death has no terrors,
and no particle of mercy have l asked from
the court or officials to spare my life. l do
not fear death. / shall never go TO a worse
place than the one am in. l have said
1t to my family and so will say it to you, that
the Government of the United States sacri.
fees their best friends, and that is saying a
great deal, but it is true. l am true be-
lever in the Gospel of Jesus Christ / do
not believe everything that is now practiced
and taught by Brigham Young. do not
agree with him. believe he is leading the
people astraY; but l believe in the
gospel as taught in its purity by
Joseph Smith in former days. have
my reasons for saying this. l used to
make this mans will my pleasure, and did
so for thirty years. See how and what l
have come TO this day. l have been sacri-
feed in a cowardly, dastardly manner. There
are thousands of people in the church, hon
orable, -good-hearted, that cherish in my
heart. l regret to leave my family. They
are near and dear to me. These are things
to rouse my sympathy. Ideclire did moth
ing designedy wrong in this unfortunate af-
fair. l did everything in my power to save
all the emigrants, but | am the one that
signed. l ask the Lord my God to extend
His mercy to me and receive my spirit My
labors here are done.


The Rev. Mr.. Stokes (Methodist) then
made prayer, commencing the soul of
the condemned man to God. Immedi-
ately after this handkerchief was placed
over Lees eyes. He raised his hands,
laid them on the top of his head, sitting
firm. Nelson gave the word to fire, and
exactly at eleven o'clock five guns were
fired, the 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
a coffin aud the crowd dispersed.


There were about seventy-five persons,
all told, on the ground, Not child or
relative was there. The best of order
was preserved and all pronounced the
execution a success. Lees last words to
Nelson were: Aim at my heart" The
body is to be given to relatives at Cedar
City.