UTAH.
John D. Lee Turns State's Evidence, and Implicates Brigham Young and Other Prominent Mormons.
BEAVER, Utah Territory, July 14.—The trials ol Lee and Dames for com-plicity in the terrible Mountain Meadow massacre of 1857, in which 140 emigrants from Arkansas were mercilessly butchered in cold blood by Mormons, has been set for the 19th, of the present month. Judge Boreman has expressed a determina-tion to have no unnecessary delay in the premises, since some very impor-tant witnesses, upon whose testimony it is certain a number of convictions will be made, who, it was feared, could not be found, are now in town, and have been subpoened by the prosecuting attorney to appear be-fore court and give evidence in the case.
LATER.—John D. Lee, a bishop and colonel, and leader in the mas-sacre, has turned State's evidence, and will make a full statement in re-lation thereto. The cause is said to be that he believes he was to be sac-rificed by the Mormon church to shield more guilty parties by perju-ry, if necessary. Lee's story will throw additional light upon the mas-sacre to that already received, and make it appear that the affair was really more barbarous and cruel than has heretofore been believed by the avowed enemies of the Mormons. It will also prove that the massacre was instigated by Brigham Young as a means of revenge upon the people of Arkansas, who permitted Mc-Comb and the husband to his sister to murder a saint by the name of Pratt, who had persuaded the wo-man to desert her husband and join Brigham's church, and then go free, though it was clearly establish-ed that Pratt had persuaded the wo-man to desert her husband, ostensi-bly to visit her father and mother in New Orleans, and eloped with her from the home of her parents. Wit-nesses from Southern Utah, who were concerned in the massacre, evince great animosity against Lee. There is said to be plenty of wit-nesses here to corroborate Lee's statements, which will convict Dame and many high officials of the crime of murder, and probably send them to the gallows or to the penitentiary for life. Among the witnesses are some parties who actually took ac-tive part in the massacre. It is also stated that in this case Brigham Young will not escape the penalties of the law he has so flagrantly out-raged by the shedding of innocent blood.
LATER.—John D. Lee is at work writing his statement. Several wit-nesses, too nearly connected with the massacre, have become alarmed, and left town. Everybody is anx-iously awaiting developments to be made next week.
