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Show LEE'S EXECUTION. John D. Lee'B execution was consummated con-summated with the general approval of the whlo people of Utah. The effort to niako it appear that there was danger of an attempt to rescue the prisoner has never bean supported by a scrap of evidence- given to the public, and it is doubtful whether a single fact can be cited to sustain the theory. Very few members of Lee's numerous family apparently took any interest in his behalf, and the petitions sent to Governor Emery did not receive tho signatures to aoy great extent of the adult male citizens ot the few settlemevits in which they were circulated. So far as the public sentiment was ascertained, few persons per-sons could be fouud at any point be-tweeu be-tweeu this city and the Mountain Meadows who did not recognize the justico of tlio verdict rendered against Jishu 1. Leo and the necessity of carrying intoeflect the sentence of the court. So unanimous did this sentiment senti-ment apprar to be, that the unusual precautions taken at Beaver to prevent all communication with tho prisoner by the representatives of the presa wero the general subject of unfavorable comment, kadiog to many surmises r improper motives on the part of the officials having charge of Lee, which probably had no foundation m fact. The Sew York Herald in an editorial edi-torial heretofore quoted in this paper hinted at Official speculative motives in connection with Les'. coupon published under tho inspiration ofj District Attorney Howard, but we have not been able to adopt thisj theory, as it seems too preposterous; to imagine that thirl distinguished officer of the law would either specu-j late in the dying confuiaiun ef Lee, or use his official position and author- J ily to obtain- from the lips of the prisoner a statement or confession by j holding out to him hopes of a reprive or a pardon, which were never intended in-tended to be realized. Such a course would bo too monstrous to conceive, and certainly cannot be attributed to Mr. Howard, whom Lee, in his last words" to the writer, spoke of as having hav-ing been liko a father to him throughout his trial and long imprisonment. im-prisonment. It was reported, however, by some of Lee's attendants, that on tho morning of his execution he xpressed tho beliol that a pardon or reprieve would reach him before the fatal hour arrived, and persons who had pidictod that Leo would totally break down, overwhelmed by tho surrounding sur-rounding terriblo scenes of bis last moments, and the preparations for his taking ofl, when they observed his cool domoanor and bravery, fell back upon the theory that tho great culprit maintained his firmness aud courage only by virtue of a strong hopo that tho closing scene of the drama would be in keeping with tho poeti cal sentiment which dictated bU removal re-moval to the Mountain Meadows, and Lhat in approved dimo novel style a Justy courier on a broken down animal ani-mal would appear just as the order to fire was to be given, with a pardon or reprieve from the executive. If such a hopo had buoyed up tho mind of tho prisoner, ho made no mention of it, either to tho reporters who interviewed inter-viewed him, or in his last speech at his coffin; neither did his manner evince the possession of an idea of this kind. He spoke and acted like a man who saw only immediate doath before j him, and if he harbored any other thought it was Btudiously concealed from those presont. The supposition of a speculation on the part of the officials in Lee's statements state-ments or confessions has grown out of the scrupulous caro with which he was secluded from the representatives of the press .and others whom it was fitting that he should have seen, unless un-less there were some public reasons to the contrary, Bunh as real danger of his escape, a suicide, or an attempted at-tempted rescue. Why should District Attorney Howard have been so anxious anx-ious to have bis version of Lee's 'statement go through tho press to the exclusion of all others ? is now a a common question. This question has excited the interest of the public, and in connection with tho remarkable remark-able pains taken by Marshal Nelson to exclude all reporters frem Lee's presence until an hour or two befere the execution, has given rise to the unfortunate suspicions indicated above. |