Slslaop Lee in the Near Presence Death Makes a Few § £ art-
The Fropliet Charged with the 1 eponsibility of the Mountain Meadows Horror.
Slaving Promised His Bapes that Their Atrocities Would Be Rewarded in the Mormon Para- dise I> y a Grateful Deity.
The Massacre Planned and Ordered sn the Name of God for the Benefit of His People.
And Afterward Indorsed by the Almighty in a Revelation to the Blasphemous Young.
^ Preparations for the Riddling of Zize WQ-^& v— Whe Ssesse of Mis Hxec. ution the 33attle- C3- roim&.
A Sickening Tale of Murder and Incest from Canada— The Northampton Bank Robbers.
Miscellaneous Criminal Becord.
THE CONFESSION OF LEE.
[ New York Herald Telegram,. 1
YOUTHFUL RECOLLECTIONS. PIOCHE, Nev., March 22— In September, 1876, after sentence of death hacl been passed upon Lee, the Mormon convicted of participation in the Mountain Meadows massacre, ha made a full confes- sion in writing of his partlcip ation ID that hideous butchery, which document he delivered to W. W. Bishop, one of his counsel, and directed him to have the same published after his execution. The follow- ing is the confession male by Lee: My name is John D. Lee. I was born on Sept. 6, 1812, at K33- kaskia, Randolph county, ill. My mother belonged to the Catholic church, and I was christened in that faith. My parents died while I was still a child, and my boyhood was one of trial and hardships. I mar- ried Agathe Ann Wootaey in 1833, and moved to Fayette county, Illinois, on Ruck creek. There I be- came wealthy. In 1836 1 became acquainted with some
TRAVELING MORMON PREACHERS. I bought, read, and believed the Book of Mormon. I sold my property in [ liinoi3 and moved to the far west in Missouri in 1837, where 1 joined a Mormon church and became intimately acquainted with Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, and other leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I was subsequently initiated into the order of Danites at its first formation. This order was solemnly sworn to obey all the orders of the priesthood of the Mormon church, and to do any and all things as commanded. The destroying angels of th e Mormon church were selected from this organization. I took an active part as a Mormon" soldier in the con- flicts between the people of Missouri and the Mor- mons which made Jackson county, Missouri, historic ground. When the Mormons were
EXPELLED FROM MISSOURI I was one of the first to settle at iNauvoo, 111., where I took au active part in all that was done for the church or city. 1 had charge of the construction of many public buildings there, and was a policeman and body guard of Joseph Smith at Nauvoo. After his death Iheld the eame position to Brigham Young, who suc- ceeded Smith as prophet, prie? t, and revela'. or in church. I was recorder for the quorum or seventy head clerks of the church, ana organized the priest- hood into the order of Seventies. I took all of the degrees in the indorsement house and stood high in the priesthood. 1 traveled extensively through the United States as
A MORMON MISSIONARY, and acted as trader and financial agent for the church from the death of Joseph Smith until the settlement at Salt Lake City. I was on the locating committee tbat selected the sites for the various towns and cities in Uiah territory. 1 held many offices in the territory and was a member of the Mormon legislature, and was probate judge of Washington county, Utah. Immediately alter Joseph Smith received the revela- tion concerning polygamy I was informed of its dcc. r! n? s by said Joseph Smith and the apostles. I believe in the doctrine, and have been
SEALED TO EIGHTEEN WOMEN,
three of whom were sisters, and one was the mother of three of my wives. I was sealed to this old woman for her soul's salvation. I wa3 an honored man in the church, fiatlered and regarded by Brigham Young and the apostles until 1868, when I ws cut off from the church and selected as a scapegoat to suffer for and bear the sins of my people. As a duty to myself and mankind I now confess all that I did at
THE MOUNTAIN MEADOWS MASSACRE without animosity to anyone, shielding none, and giving the facts as they existed. Tnose with me on that occasion were acting under orders from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The hor- rid deeds then committed weie done as a duty which we believe we owed to God and our church. We were all sworn to secrecy before and after the massacre. The penalty for giving Information con- cerning the same was death. As I am to suffer death for what I then did, and have been betrayed both by those who gave the orders to act and the most active of my assistants, I now give the world the true facts as they exist, and tell why the massacre was committed and who were the active participants. The Mountain Meadows massacre was the result of the teachings of Brigham Young, and it was done by the orders of those high in authority in the Morman community. The Immediate orders for the massacre was Issued by Col. Dame. Lieut. Col. Isaac C. Halgbt and the council at Ceaar City. Utah. I had no posi- tion either in the civil or military departments, or In the church at that time.' About Sept. 7 1 went to Cedar Ciiy, where I met Isaac C. Haight, president or governor of that state of Zion, also lieutenant colonel of Ihe Iron County Mormon militia. This was Sunday. Lieut. Col. Halgbt was a leader there in all things concerning the civil church and the mil- itary. It was
A CRIME PUNISHABLE BY DEATH to disobey his orders. Lieut. Col. Haight gave me a full account of the emigrants who were coming. We slept in the iron works all that night, and arranged our plans. Lieut. Col. Haight said the emigrants were a rough set; that they were bad men, robbers and murderers, and that they had helped to kill the Missouri Drophets. I believed him. I was ordered ito raise the Indians to attack the train and run off the catile. and to have the indlans sill the emigrants. I sent Carl Shirts, my son- in- law, to raise the south- ern Indians. Nephi Johnson went to the other tribes. Mondav morning I left the iron works to obey my orders. Lieut. Col. Haight said, " We are act- ing by orders. It is all right. We will Jet the Indians bear all the blame." I said, " We are
FORBIDDEN TO SHED INNOCENT BLOOD." The reply of Haight was, " There is not a drop of innocent blood in the whole Jot. Carry out the in- structions of those in authority. If you are dutiful in tui3 your reward shall be great in the kingdom of ' God, for God will help those who obey the council and make all things fit for the people of the Lord in their days." On the way home I passed many In- dians out on the war- path. I promised to join them the next day. Tuesday morning the Indian? at- tacked the train just at daylight, and killed seven and wounded sixteen emigrants. The Indians lost some of their warriors. The emigrants then fortified their position, and the Indians surrounded them and sent for me. The whole country was aroused, both whites and Indians rushing to Mountain Meadows from all directions, 1 arrived at the camp late on Tuesday afternoon, and found the Indians in large force. They demanded that I should lead the attack. I re- fuse:! until further orders were received from Haight or Dame. I then went south ten miles and met some whites and Indians coming from the south. I camped there that night, and' Wednesday went to the Meadows and sent a man to Cedar City for further orders. On Thursday tne orders came by Maj. Higby. ' There were fifty- eight whites and about live hundred Indians tnere. Then
MAJ. HIGBY MADE A SPEECH, and said that the emigrants were ail 10 be killed who could talk, and that we must get them out of the fortifications by treachery. I was to follow a flag of truce and make a treaty with the besieged and promise pro tec ion. I was also to get the arms of the emigrants, and the sick and wounded and also the children into the wagons. Then the troops under Maj. Higby would meet the emi- grants. The Indians were to remain in ambush. The women were to go ahead. Tne Indians were then to JSiil the women, the militia were to kill ihe men, and I and the drivers of the wagons were to
KILL THE WOUNDED AND SICK that were in the wagons. Several o. her men then made speeches. Then we had a prayer- circle and then more speecnes were made, and il was agreed by all parties that it was the will of God ? cr us to do as we were ordered. Friday morning the emigrants had a white flag flying, and the Mormon brethren again assembled. Speecnes were made and all expressed themselves as willing to act.
THOSE PRESENT were: Maj. John M. Higby, Philip W. Smith, bish- op of the cnurch at Cedar ( Jity; Jno. L. White, Will- iam C. Stewart, Benjamin Arthur, Alexander Wilson, Charles Hopkins Tate, Ira Eliew, Robert Wiley, Rich- ard Harrison, Samuel Pollocs, Daniel McFariane, John Tire, George Hunter, Joseph Smith, Samuel Jukes, Nephi Joneson, Carl Shirts, Swen Jacobs, John Jacobs, E. Curtis, Thomas Cartwright, William Bateman, Anthony Stratton, A. Loveridge, Joseph Ciews, John Durfey, Columbus Freeman, ana others, maicing fifty- four or fifty- eight whites, and about four or five hundred Indians. Maj. Higby then ad- dressed the party and said: " Brethren, it is the or- ders of the president that all the emigrants must be cut out of ihe way. President Haight has counselled with Col. Dame and has received orders from him to put all of the emigrants out of the way. All of them must be killed, especially those that might talk again. " He spoke of the character of the emigrants. He said the church authorities of southern Utah were all there, and that they were acting as a church
FOR THE SAKE OK CHRIST. We were then told we were there to do a duty we owed a^ good church people, and that the orders of those in authority were that all the emigrants that could talk must die. Maj, Higby concluded as fol- lows: Our orders are from our leaders who speak with Inspired tongues, and their words are the will of good men. You have no right to question them. You must obey a3 you are commanded." A flag ot truce was then sent forward. It was carried by William Bateman. He wa3 met half way by the emigrants, and they he'd a parley with Mm. Bateman then re- turned and reported that the emigrants would sur- render their arms and do as they had been requested. The Mormon soldiers then marched out to within two hundred yards of the emi- grants. They next took the wagons and went to the camp and stated their orders. The emigrants then surrendered and put their arms, sick and wounded, and children into the wagons. While they were burying their dead men
THE EMIGRANTS BURST INTO TEARS and said they feared treachery. As soon as the wag- ons were loaded the train was started. The emi- grants marched in single file, the women and large children being ahead. Then the men came. When the wagons were half a mile off the firing com- menced. The Indians killed all the women and large children, the Mormons killed the men, and the drivers with me killed ihe sick and wounded. We saved seventeen children. The dead were stripped and mutitated, and the corpses left on the field. The next day Lieut. Col. Haight, Col. Dame, and other leaders came over. Finally they auarreled. Lieut. Col. Haight said to Col. Dame " You ordered it, and
DAMN YOU IT IS TOO LATE to go back." Dame said he did not know there was so many of them. We buried the dead and drove the cattle to Iron Springs. All the wagons and oth property we e sold in Cedar City by order of the church authorities. All of the3e orders were fully obeyed. The horrors attending the massacre or the emigrants were beyond my description. The brethren were s; vorn again to secresy. Tbls was also dona by order of the church, which was then at war with the United States government. Gs orge A. Smith, who was second in the priesthood, happened to be there giving orders. He visited the Indian camp with me. He said he came to instruct the people to let none of the emigrants through with- out a pass from President Young, Col, Dame, or Lieut. Col. Haight,; nd that they must not sell the emigrants any more good grain; in fact anything. He said the Americans were a mob of ruffians from the president down. He asked if the Indians would kill ail the bad emigrants. 1 told him the Indians and Mormons were both hostile to them, and would kill all not under tie protection of the church. This pleased him, and he laughed and said " ail right." Lieut. Col. Haight and Col. Dame told him the same thing. He taught the people that it was their auty to kill all the emigrants and massacre them jU3t as Brolber Smith and the other leaders wanted. Col. Haight then sent me to Salt Lake City for the purpose or
REPORTING TO BRIGHAM YOUNG, ana he promised me the crown celestsai as my re- ward for what I had done. I want to Salt Lake Guy and made my report to Brigham Young ten days after the massacre. I told him all, everything, who were there, who were guilty, and who were active in killing the emigrants ;* ln fact all I know. I said to him " You must sustain us, or release us from the endowment oath to avenge the death of the prophets." Brigham Young said will communicate with God." I went back next morning, when Young said. " Brother Lee, not a drop of innocent blood has been shed. I have gone to God in prayer. God has shown me it was a just act. Tne peoole did right, but were only a little hasty. I have direct evidence from God that the act was a just one, and that it was
IN ACCORD WITH GOD'S WILL. I sustain you and all your breihren m all you aid. All 1 fear is treachery on the part of the brethren con- cerned. Go home and tell the brethren I susiain thern. Keep all secret as the grave. Never tell any one, and write me a letter laying all the blame to the Indians. I will then report to the United Slates gov- ernment that it was
AN INDIAN MASSACRE." Brigham Young was taen and for many years after f uily satisfied with me and my act He gave me three wives after that and made ms probate judge of Wash- ington county. Nothing but cowardice has made him desert me now. Fifty head of catile were sold in Salt Lake City by the authorities fqr merchandise. The emigrants had four hundred and fifty, making five hundred cattle in all. They had only a little money. When Cimliebaugh was judge in Utah and went to Mountain Meadows to investigate the massa- cre Brigham Young came with him. He then knew all about the massacre and upheld the brethren. He preached at Cedar City and said about the emigrants: " Do you know who they were? I will tell you. T. iey were fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, uncles, and children of the men who killed the saints in Jackson county, and afterward
KILLED THE PROPHETS In the Carthage jail. Their children are in the poor- house. Their relatives renounce them because they are the children of thieves, outlaws, and murderers. I have been told tnere are many brethren who are willing lo inform on those who did this thing. I hope there is no truth in the rumor. I hope no such per- son lives. If there i31 tell you what your fate will be. Unless you repent at once, keep secret all that you know, and protect each other, you will die a dog's death. You will soon go to hell as damned and lost souls. Let me hear no more of treachery among my people." Any one who had proved traitor there would have met the destroying angels at once. After I renorted to Brigham Young I went home and met Lteat. Col. Haight, and gave him a full report of Young's statement. Haight said: " well done, faithful servant, you snail receive a celes- tial reward for your services. You have deserved well of God and the church." I next went to work to write up
THE ACOCUNT 01? THE MASSACRE, laying it to the Indians. I wrote a Iong lette •, the same as has been introduced in evidence against me. Brigham Young knew that It was false, and written to save the Mormon church. His report to the gov- ernment was part of the plan to save the Mormons from blame. It was years afterward before I knew that I had been made a tooi of by the leaders. I only obeyed the orders of my superiors. I then believed I was serving God, and would receive a celestial re- ward. Now I know it is wrong, and that my reward is not to be celestial. It was the first plan to have none but Indians take part in the massacre, but Wm.
C. Stewart, Joel White, and Benjamin Arthur were coming to Mountain Meadows on Wednesday night. They met young Aden and another man going from the emigrants to Cedar City for help. They told of the Indian a tack, and asked aid from the settlers. The only reply was a shot from Stewart, which killed Aden. The other « man was wounded by White and Arthur, but escaped, and carried word that the whites had come to help the Indians. After this the authori- ties said there was no sarety except in killing all who could talk. Wm. C. Stewart was
THE MOST BLOODTHIRSTY of anyone there. He cut throats jus; for amuse- ment. Klingen Smith, bishop at Cedar City, killed a man. Every one there took part In it, Killing men, women, and children as a religious duty. We were at that time in the midst of the excitement of refor- mation, and were made to believe by the teachings of our leaders that the fullness of time had come; that the Mormons were to conquer the world and at once inherit ali the wealth of the universe; that Christ was to come and rule for a thousand years, and that the Mormon doctrine was to be universally accepted. We were followers of false teachers. I have fallen a vic- tim to the arts of foolish and wicked men that I once believed were divine. I have had eighteen wives. Eleven of them have been divorced from me by Brig- ham Young. Three stiil remain true to ine, and have clung to me during my imprisonment. I am the father of sixty- four children. Ten are dead, and fifty- four are still living. Toe witnesses on my tr. al have not told
THE WHOLE TRUTH. They are all guilty of helping to kill the emigrants. This is the oniy act of violence that I ever took part in except in lawful battle. I would not have acted on that occasion as I did to have saved anybody from torture had I not believed I was obeying the orders from the heads of the church. I knew I was doing according to the teachings of the priesthood, and I still think Lieut. Col. Haight had his orders from the heads of the church. My journals and priva- e writ- ings have been destroyed by order of Brigham Young. I have nothing left but my memory to give as my ac- count of the bad deeds done In God's name during, the years when Brigham Young was chief and ruler in Utah. I know or
MANIC OTHER MURDERS, castrations, and robberies committed by order of the priesthood, all of which I have fully stated in my writings delivered to my attorney, W. W. Bishop. I have fold the whole truth, and the God I am soon to meet face to face knows that my assertions are noth- ing out truth.
Attest: Tne foregoing is a full abstract of the con- fession of John D. Lee, taken from the original manuscript now in my possession, and gives so far as sucn condensed report can do. a fuil statement of the facts disclosed in the writings 0° John D. Lee which relate to the Mountain Meadows massacre,
WM. W. BISHOP.
WEARING THE END.
A MIDNIGHT MOVEMENT. SALT LAKH, March 22.— A United States marshal left Beaver, Utah, last evening with John D. Lee. It is supposed that the execution Is to take place at Mountain Meadows, upon the scene of the mas3acre. These movements have oeea kept as quiet as possi- ble, as it is feared an attempt at rescue will be male . A company of soldiers attended the party. Mountain Meadows is about ninety mile3 from Beaver, forty- five miles from C3dar City, and about twelve miles from Pine Valley, the nearest telegraph office. A company of troops with Lee passed Cedar City at 1 0 ' clock this morning.
rNew York Herald Telegram BEAVER CITY, Utah Territory, March 21— Prepar- ations are now in progress for the execution of John
D. Lee, the chief murderer of the Mountain Mead- ows massacre. The prisoner 13 confined in the pen- itentiary at this city under the charge of United States Marshal Nelson.
TROOPS ARRIVING. As Indicated in yesterday's dispatch, some difficulty aro; e regarding troops to guard the prisoner, and doubts were expressed that a firing party could be obtained among the residents of Beaver City to ex- ecute Lee. Gen. Sherman expressed his willingness to detail troops for guard duty in and around the pris- on before and during the execution, but did not con- sider it the duty of the anny to execute a prisoner sentenced by a civii court. However, we are to have the guard in any event. Capt. McConihe's comoany of infantry arrived here this afternoon from Salt Lake City and another company is exnected soon.
LOOKING FOR EVIDENCE. A,
I am now well satisfied that my ' theor? as to me grounds on whieh John D. Lee is secluded from everybody but the few jail officials is correct, namely, that Sumner Howard, the district attorney who prose- cuted Lee, hope3 to obtain from the prisoner a sworn statement with regard to the participation of Haight, Higoe?, and Dame iu the Mountain Meadows massacre.
A BUSINESS VIEW OF IT. Marshal Nelson, who has charge of the prisoner, positively refuses to let anybody see Lee, on the ground that Lee has no statement to make. Mr. Neison makes the singular Dlea in support of his re- fusal that Lee's contract with William W. Bishop, the counsel who defended him on bis trials, to publish a book containing Lee's atatsment of the origin and development of the movement which resulted In the massacre at Mountain Meadows precludes auy oral 01 written statement by the prisoner to representatives of the press.
HIDING THE CONDEMNED. It is a positive fact that nobody outside of his im- mediate guards have laid eyes on the condemned man. That Lee is safe enough in his cell awaiting his doom there can be, of course, no doubt. But the pertinacity of Marshal Nelson in not allowing any- body unconnected with the Drison in an official capacity to see Lee is the subject of much comment here. In fact, Marshal Nelson now says that he is determined that nobody shall see the prisoner except himself and deputies until " about" the day of execution, which Is only forty- eight hours distant.
VALUE OF A LIVE MAN'S STATEMENT. It should be understood that if the condemned man was enabled to make a statement to the press before his death it would have far greater weight than than any posthumus confession. It is coufident- ly beiieved that the statement, autobiography, or con- fession— whatever it may prove to be— will definitely fix as far as he can do it— the guilt of those of his accomplices who may yet be living. Bat 110 matter how definite Lee's statement may be in taat regard It can have no value in a legal sense after his death.
SIGNS OF A RESCUE. Marshal Nelson and Dist. Atty. Sumner Howard returned to the city from Corn creek last night. They have bo: h reported that they have good reasons for believing that Rachel, the head wife of John D. Lee, has been in active communication with Indian war- riors, evidently with a view of securing their co- operation in an effort at rescue. Rachel has also been plotting with two of Lee's sons for the same purpose. Neither of these efforts seem3 to have amounted t » much. Tne officials also report in con- fident tone that the Indians are now scattered throughout the territory, and that they have no fears on that score.
DISAPPOINTMENT OF THE LAW OFFICERS. Since sending my dispatch this evening I learn that the law officers of the territory have given up all ho pas of obtaining any revelations from the con- demned man touching hi3 accomplices. They com- plain bitterly that Lee has suddenly changed his mind and appears determined to avoid making any statement that can be of use to the prosecuting offi- cers. Judging from the language used by the dis- trict attorney and his assistants, they are now satisfied that it is useless to expect any information from the prisoner, as was expected, and as he indirectly prom- ised.
LEE'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY. Lee, during the past few days, has not exhibited any signs of depression or nervous state. He keeps at work upon his book, which wa3 commenced at an early stage of his life, and has not yet brought it down to the day of the massacre. In his journal the other day he wrote something as follows: Because others have betrayed their friend3 and have gone back on their faith, I nave no reason to take such a coui\ se. What I have done is with the aporoval of my con- science, and I believe It will not be remembered against me in heaven.
He is sometimes very bitter against Brigham Young, denouncing him for betraying him ( Lee).
A FAITHFUL WIFE. Rachel, his wife, spent a short time with him to- day, and after she came out of the prison she said John D. Lee would die bravely for the Mormon peo- ple. Brigham Young, Jr. and John Vf. Young. Brig- ham's first counselor, passed through here for St. George to a conference."
A CHANGE IN THE CHURCH. It Is repor. ed that Brigham Young, Sr., will appoint Brigham Young, Jr., president of the church at this conference. This would make much squirming among the Mormons. It is likely that a schism would occur in the ranks of leading dignitaries.
A BLUEBEARD. Lee has had nine wives, of whom three, Rachel, Caroline, and Emma are the only ones wao now ad- here to him, the rest having left him mainly on ac- count of his baa private character.
LEE'S FAMILY. His children and grandchildren are scattered through southern Utah. One resides in Nevada, one married daughter lives In Beaver and has a large family and is a respectaole woman, several of his daughters have been polygamists, but most of them are now out of this relation. Several are married to Gent les. His younger daughters have been given a fair educaiion and are tne most intelligent and best looking of his children.
At one time Lee had quite a library of standard books, and was an earnest friend of the public schools.
WHAT BK1GH. 4M YOUNG, JR., THINKS. Brigham Young, Jr., toil your correspondent that he did not bei: eve that Lee would be executed, as his death would not serve the purposes of the officials who are workiug up the case, which were to fix the responsibility of the massacre on other parties. Lee would* drinK whisky ana tell stories with those men and then pretend to have im- portant revelations to maKe implicating others when be realy Knows nothing. No sensible man could be- lieve there wa3 any desire to shield Lee or other guilt- participators in the massacre irom punishment, 01 rescue him, and if he were reprieved or pardoned it would not be at the request of the Mormon people.
THE CHUKCH IDEAS. According to the church ideas, atonement could only be made by Lee for his bloody deeds by having hl3 own blood shed. He had no idea Le 3 would be shot, for with his death much evidence of importance given Dy the prosecution would cease. se. mnn. u for Brigham Young, Jr.
A QUAKREL IN THE FAMILY. There Is a quarrel between memoers of the i-. ee family here in regard to the oxecution. Rachel and one of Choline's sons had quite a dispute to- day.
