History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

EXECUTION OF LEE. 571
with those around him, he removed a part of his clothing,
handing his hat to the marshal, who bound a
handkerchief over his eyes, his hands being free at
his own request. Seating himself with his face to
the firing party, and with hands clasped over his
head, he exclaimed " : Let them shoot the balls through
my heart. Don't let them mangle my body." The
word of command was given; the report of rifles
rang forth on the still morning air, and without a groan
or quiver the body of the criminal fell back lifeless on
his coffin. God was more merciful to him than he
had been to his victims. 60
60 The body was afterward interred by relatives at Cedar City. Accounts
of the execution will be found in Lee's Mormonism Vwailed, 383-90; Stenhouse's
Tell It All, 627-31; Stenhouse's Western Wilds, 524-5; 8. L. City
Tribune, March 31, 1877; S. L. Herald, March 28, 1S77; S. F Bulletin,
March 24, 1877; S. F. Post, March 24, 1877; Oakland Tribune, March 24,
1877; Los Angeles Weekly Express, March 31, 1877; Los Angeles Reporter,
March 23, 24, 1877; Sonoma Democrat, March 31, 1877; Anaheim Gazette,
March 31, 1877; Mariposa Gazette, March 31, 1877; Jacksonville (Or.) Dem.
Times, March 31, 1877. Portraits of Lee will be found in the frontispiece
of Lee's Mormonism Unvailnt, and in Stenhouse's Tell It All, facing p. 632;
cuts representing the execution in Id., facing p. 630; Beadle's Western Wilds,
525; Lee's Mormonism Uncalled, facing p. 384.
John Doyle Lee was a native of Kaskaskia, 111., where he was born in
1S12. After engaging in the several occupations of mail-carrier, stage-driver,
farmer, soldier, and clerk, he joined the Mormon church at Far West in 1837.
At Nauvoo he was employed as a policeman, one of his duties being to guard
the person and residence of Jos. Smith. After the migration he was one of
those who laid out and built up the city of Parowan. He was later appointed
probate judge of Iron co., and elected a member of the territorial legislature,
holding the former position at the time of the massacre.