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TESTIMONY OF PHILIP KLINGENSMITH IN THE
FIRST TRIAL OF JOHN D. LEE
July 23-24, 1875
Witness:
At Q: How
long had you previously resided there? A: I
believe from '52 - '51 or '52. Q: Do you
know where the Mountain Meadows are located? A: Yes,
sir. Q: Describe
to the jury where the Mountain Meadows are located. A: Located
about 45 miles (between that and 50) from Q: In what
county? A: Now,
in Q: In
what territory? A: In A: I
am. Q: Were
you acquainted with him in 1857? A: At
what time? Q: In
1857. A: Yes,
sir. I was there at the massacre. Q: I want you to state to the jury what you
know in
relation to the massacre and about what time it was. A: As near as I can recollect, it was in
September. I
can't tell you the day or the date. I think it was toward the
last-probably
about the middle. Q: That year was
it? A: It was in '57.
Q: Won't you relate to the jury the
circumstances, as
you know them, in relation to the massacre of which you speak. Just
commence in
your own way and relate the circumstances. A: The first that I know of the company
coming in? Q: Yes, sir, Defense counsel:
We suggest that
a more limited question be put to the witness. Prosecution:
State what you know
about it. Defense:
[He] can't give any testimony except about John D. Lee. Prosecution:
Go on and state the details. Defense:
If he goes on and narrates in his own way, we will have no chance to
object
until the objectionable matter has gone to the jury. Prosecution:
It is the first time in the progress of the trial that the defendant
has attempted
to direct the manner of the prosecution. Judge-to the
witness: Don't
detail any hearsay matter. Prosecution:
Go on, and state what you know of that massacre, and who were engaged
ill it,
but don't state any hearsay testimony. Witness: I will as far as I know. The first
thing I
shall mention is when I heard of this company coming from Salt Lake. I
heard of
the emigrants coming down here, and learned that the people were
forbidden to
trade with them; that there was a great deal of feeling some way or
other, and
it made me feel, to tell the truth, bad about it when I heard it.
Finally the
company came on to Cedar City and I happened to be down at the little
town.
There is about a mile difference between the two towns. I didn't
at first see
but a few of them-three or four at the mill getting a grist down of
some wheat
they had bought from Mr. Jackson. I went on up home to the upper city.
This was
probably-might have been-Friday. I heard there was some disturbance
through the
emigrants swearing in town. And I heard that John M. Higbee had fined
them. Defense: We don’t
want that
hearsay. Witness: However, let that go as it will, it
don't
make much difference here nor there. This, I think, was about Friday -
if I
remember it must have been about Friday, to the nearest of my
recollection.
This company went on from there, and I still heard rumors that I shall
not say
anything about, now. On Sunday, as was the usual custom of having
meetings -
and President and Council, High Council, Bishop's Council- all the afternoon, and
talking
things and matters over. And directly when the Council met, this thing
came up. A: I was
not in any military order. I was a Bishop. Defense: We object to the statement about the
council.
That is a matter between other parties. Unless the question is put in
another
form, we object to it. Prosecution: We
will connect it. Judge: They
propose to connect
the question with it. Defense: This is not a charge of combination
[conspiracy]: John D. Lee is charged with murder, not with combining
with
a1lybody. If Mr. Lee was not there, it is incompetent. It is your duty
to
connect him with it. Unless you can show that John D. Lee was one of
that
Council, the statement of the proceeding of that Council is
incompetent. Judge: Either party can commence either at
the beginning
or middle or end of their testimony. It is a rule I have been used to
for many
years, and I think it is the best rule. They promised to connect the
defendant
with this. If they don’t, the Court will have to strike it out. Defense:
Your Honor will please note our exception to that ruling, until it
appears that
John D. Lee was a member of that Council, or was present. Prosecution: Go
on and state what
took place at that Council. Witness:
This question of those emigrants, and their destruction, came before us
at that
time; and there was ... Q: Of whom was that Council composed? A: Haight, Higbee, myself - I could not tell
all the
names of them; Morill was there, Ira Allen, and Wesley Willis I think
was
there. A: His
first name is Isaac C. Haight. Q: What occurred? A: This
thing was talked over. Judge: On the
same ground that
they have promised to connect, they may do it by some other witness. Defense:
Exception. Prosecution: Go
on and state what
happened there. Witness: This question came up and there was
some of
the brethren opposed to such a proposition - and when it came to my
turn, I
opposed it. There were others that were opposed to it, too. Haight
jumped up
and broke up the meeting, and went outdoors. Then a proposition was
made there.
The question I asked them was this: what would be the consequences
provided
such a thing should take place. Q: What did they
propose to do? A: They didn't
propose to do
anything particular when this thing was talked about. Q: What was said?
Q: What
was the substance of what was said? Q: For their destruction by whom? A: Their destruction was proposed by the
Indians. I
cannot say positively that the whites were going to do it from there.
Then the
meeting broke up, and on Monday morning, down below the old fort wall
there was
several of us met together, again. Q: Who? A: Isaac C. Haight, Higbee, myself, Joel
White, and I
don't recollect anyone else. The talk came up again about these
emigrants
coming. There they were not yet at Cedar. I got onto the same subject
again,
and opposed it, and asked questions about it, and said for my part I
would like
to see these people go through unmolested. Haight then replied, "you
may
go with Mr. White over to Pinto Creek [a small settlement close to
Mountain
Meadows] with a letter and tell the people there that these people
shall [be
allowed to] go through, and try and pacify the Indians - for that
people to go
through." That is all. Q: Did you
go over there? A: I
did. I went over there. I started in the afternoon. Q: Who
accompanied you? Q: Was that all he said at the time? A: It was all he said at that time. Now,
then, I went
out that evening and got there in the night-past these emigrant's
company at
Iron Springs, five mile outside of Pinto Creek. And the next morning as
they were
drawing out from camp, we passed back and went on our way together back
to
Cedar. Q: How
many of the emigrants were there? A: I
never counted them. There was a good many. Q: Of what
class? A: I
should suppose the train composed of twenty or thirty wagons. Q: About how many
people? A: I could not
tell you. Q: Approximate. A: It
appears as though there was a hundred or more. Q: How
was it with reference to sex and age? A: There
was old men, middle aged men, old women, young women and children. Q: After you passed them, state what
occurred. A: I came on towards home and met a man named
Ira
Allen, beyond where we met Lee about four miles. That was the day
following. We
didn't know what was up, and Ira Allen stated right out... Prosecution: We
will connect Mr.
Allen as one of the conspirators in this affair. Judge:
Go ahead, the objection is overturned. Defense:
Note our exception. Q: Go on,
state what occurred. A: He
said that the doom of the emigrants that went out there was sealed,
that the
die was cast, the doom fixed for their destruction, that John D. Lee
had orders
from headquarters at Parowan to take men - go around below and go out.
He had
orders to go to Pinto Creek and countermand what I and Mr. White had
been to
Pinto Creek and tried to do. Q: What else was
done, then? White lived in the lower town, and I went up
to my
place pretty fatigued from riding. I don't know anything more about
what was
going on. Only about rumors, until about three days afterwards. Then
Haight,
living over at the iron works in a little house, sent down McFarlane
there to
me, to come over there. I went over behind his house. He there told me
this
story. Defense:
We object to anything Mr. Haight may have told this witness. Judge:
Overruled. Defense:
Defendants take
exception. Q: Did he say who gave these orders? A: Yes, sir. I will say, by and by. He said
he came
home in the night with these orders from Co!. Dame that in order to
finish the
massacre they was to decoy them out and to spare nothing but the small
children
that could not tell the tale. That is what he told me. I went down to
the old
town then directly. He told me to go down there, and I happened to come
right
in front of Ira Allen's house. There, John M. Higbee, Ira Allen, and
Charlie
Hopkins were right in front of his dooryard. And as I stepped up, John
Higbee
says, "You are ordered out armed, and equipped as the law directs, to
go
to the Mountain Meadows." And so I went. Defense: If you’re Honor please, this is
another party
that the witness has brought in, and makes statements of John M. Higbee
that
are not connected with Mr. Lee. Judge: I
will overrule the objections on the same grounds as before. Defense:
Exception. Witness:
I went and fitted up, got my animal and gun and ammunition and
went out. Q: Who went with
you? A: Charlie
Hopkins went out with
me, and John M. Higbee, and I think possibly that John Willis went with
a wagon
and Sam McMurdy with a baggage wagon. Q: Where did you go to? A: We started-the rest I cannot remember. We
started
over there, and when we got to Hamblin's ranch in the night-sometime in
the
night-I don't exactly recollect ... Q: Jacob Hamblin's? A: Yes, sir. The ranch was about three miles
this side
of where the emigrants were camped. Well, there was Lee and some
others-not a
great many from the camp, where the general camp was, passed up
further, by a.
spring. When this party that had gone out from Cedar, they composed
quite a
little number of men. Then we began to find out that they [the
emigrants] was
not all killed, as it was represented, while there was a few more ... Defense: We
object to the
statement of individuals. Prosecution: Who do you mean by some? A: Those that I mentioned. I can mention some
names
that was there. There was John D. Lee, John M. Higbee, myself - there
was
Hopkins, Ira Allen, and there was another man, died since, Wiley. I
don't
recollect anybody else. Lee called us out to one side ... Q: Was
George Adair there? A: I don't think
he was, I cannot say. Q: Was
William C. Stewart? Defense: Objected
to as leading. Q: Go on
and explain to the jury what place you refer to. A: He
called us out, these names, a little to one side and we had a
consultation
about the instructions that carne through Higbee to him from Col. Dame
at
Parowan. A: Of the ranch. Q: You speak of a branch of the brethren? Q: Relate what he stated, as near as you can
remember. Q: What was done then? A: We went back, and the orders was to go up
to the
springs where the Indians and these southern soldiers were camped. At
the
spring, a way off, this side of the ground. Q: What do you mean by these soldiers? A: White men - southern [Utah]
soldiers-those that
carne from Washington County and around, so far as I know. Directly
after we
got up there, Lee called them into a hollow square and there talked to
them -
to the soldiers that were there; but I don't remember all that were
there. Q: How, and of whom, was that hollow square
formed? A: It was formed of white men, but I could
not give
the names of the persons, with the exception of a few. Q: About
how many in nll1nber? A: I
should judge there was fifty, so far as I recollect. Q: Was
there any Indians in that hollow square? A: There
wasn't in that hollow square. The Indians were off somewhere else. Q: Give the names of as many persons in that
square, of
that soldiers, as you can remember - composing that soldier. A: I could not remember all of their names. I
recollect some I noticed there. There was Mr. Slade. I was not in the
square. I
went off from what I was telling you, just to tell something I wanted. Q: You can go back to that. A: I noticed there Slade and I think his son;
and I
think Jim Pearce and brother, and his sons, but I would not be
positive. But
he recognized me. I'd done business with him. Q: Can
you remember any others? Q: Was
George Adair there? A: I
could not say positively that he was or was not - only by rumor. A: Mr. Stewart
was there. Q: State
as many others, if you remember others. A: There
was Swen Jacobs, was up there. Q: Was John
Willis there? A: He was down at
the Hamblin
ranch, but whether he was out there or not I could not say. Q: Was Dan McFarlane there? A: I would not be positive whether he was on
the
ground or not; it seems to run in my mind that he was, but I would not
be positive.
We stepped to one side out of the hollow square - that was myself and
old man
Slade - we stepped to one side up above the hollow square and talked
the matter
over, and the horrible thing that we were about to enter into. He had
some
feelings, and I had, that ran contrary to our natural feelings. Says I,
"What can we do, how can we help ourselves?" Says he, "We
can't." And directly, an order was given to march down, and we with the
rest went along. Q: How far from the hollow square was the
immigrants? A: Probably a mile and a quarter to a mile
and a half.
Don't think it's more than a mile and a half. There we were put into
double
file, by the orders that came. And John M. Higbee took command of that
portion.
With his other officers under him in that organization. A: It was an organization that was called the
Nauvoo
Legion that is organized from ten up to hundreds. Q: Go on and state what was done. A: There we halted, probably between a
quarter and a
half a mile this side of the encampment of these emigrants in
sight. And
someone went out with a flag of truce. Q: Did you know who? A: I could not tell you whether it was John
D. Lee, or
William Bateman; whoever it was, they came back after a
communication with
some man who came out and met them-came out from the emigrant
encampment. John
went down there, and that man and John D. Lee sat down and had a long
talk with
the man that came out of the emigrant camp to meet the flag of truce.
It was
two hundred yards, maybe a little more, from the camp in the
valley. What he
said to that man or to that people, I know not, only as I saw the plot
carried
out that came from Haight to him from Parowan - John M. Higbee to him. Q: Then what occurred? A: Lee went down with that man to the camp in
their
entrenchment. There a wagon came that was up there some time. I don't
know how
many hours before anyone came out. Prosecution:
May it please your Honor, this testimony is very important. I see that
one of
the jurors seems to be napping. Q: Go on from where you left off. A: Well, after some time, after standing in
the ranks
there some time-well, probably, in all, three or four hours Lee
was down at
their encampment and stayed there until he brought the emigrants out. Q: How long was he there? A: I have just
stated, three or four hours before he came out. After he came up, it
was
understood [according to the] command given from Higbee to us, that Lee
got, [that
was] put up in the start, in the morning, that wherever this company,
women to
be led ahead, after the first two baggage wagons, and the lame and the
children
were mostly in them. Women were led ahead. Those that had been wounded
in the
previous attacks, three days before, which I knew nothing about. Q: Tell what
occurred then. Defense: Objected
to for the same
reason as before - that a witness cannot tell what he didn't see. Judge:
Motion overruled. Defense: Exception. Witness:
Yes, sir. I heard him say that morning that they had been attacked and
could
not be routed. Q: Attacked
by whom? A: By
the Mormons who went out with the Indians. Q: Well,
go on from that point - where you were before - when Higbee was
giving the
orders. A: Well,
we were to march along a little ways with this people along side of us,
and
when the word "halt" came, we were to fire. Every man fired as far as
I know. Whether I did or not, I can't tell. A: As far as I
recollect, every
one of them. Q: Describe how
they were. State how
they were with reference to each other. A: They were
marching up ahead of
the men, behind these wagons. They went on around toward the summit,
where
there is a bend. When I heard the word "fire!" I went up there and
saw them laying along there. Q: In what condition? Q: Did you see any children there? A: I didn't see any in the body of where they
were
massacred. I saw a young girl that was probably seven or eight years
old-somebody killed her. I could not tell who killed her. I did not see
it. Q: You say
somebody killed her. Q: Do you know who it was? A: No, it was a kind of dusk, and I did not
see it. A: Behind, probably two or three hundred
yards. Q: How were they
killed? A: They were
shot. Q: By
whom? A: John
M. Higbee gave the orders. Q:
Where was Lee when this firing was done? A: With
the women on ahead, when they were slaughtered. A: I
presume he had. Q: What
is your remembrance of it? A: I
could not say at that time, because I could not hear him in action. Q: Did
you see any at all? A: He
carried his fire arms like any other man did. A: They
were armed with revolvers, United States Yaugers, and such guns as
settlers
generally have through this Territory. Some revolvers, yaugers, shot
guns and
so forth. Q:
State how many men were killed there? A: I
could not tell you positively. Q: Well,
about how many? A: I
suppose there were fifty. There might have been more, because I never
counted
them. I only know by hearsay afterwards, at different times. Q: Do
you know whether any escaped or not? A: None
got away as far as I recollect. None escaped from there. Q: Did yon see anyone of them attempting to
escape? Defense:
Objection to what the witness supposes. Prosecution
State what was done about that time. Witness: I was
told to take
charge of the children at that time. A: I
didn't see any other man. I saw Ira Allen -on the left wing on
horseback, and
that is all I remember of that. Q: You spoke of
some men being in
the wagons. What was done with them? A: When I got up to the wagons - I shall tell
you now
how I got there. I was told, after I had made a fire, to go and take
charge of
the little children-to gather them up and take charge of them. Q: Let me call your attention, again, to the
order in
which the men marc1zed out of corral. What position did the soldiers
occupy to
them as they marched out? A: They didn't occupy any till the soldiers
came up.
That is where the soldiers were stationed. Q: Describe to the jury; how the soldiers
were
stationed, and how the other men were marched up. A: I will state again, as I have, they were
marched up
there in single or double file, behind the women and the baggage
wagons, and
came up to where we was in a bend - probably a quarter of a mile
or so. I
can't tell, exactly. Q: How were you
located? A: I
was in the ranks with the balance. Q: Please
explain how that was. A: We
marched to the right side of them, while they kept to the left. Q: Describe how each soldier was situated to
some
other man. A: No, sir. Some
ran away. Q: What
was done with those that ran away? A: The
one I saw running, he was killed. Q: Did the greater portion of them fall the
first
shot? How were they killed? A: I didn't see but one man killed - and that
man was
wounded a little and was lying on the ground. And John M. Higbee went
up to him
and drew his knife and cut his throat. This man begged for his life,
and he was
lying on the ground when that was done. Q: How far from
the ranks was he
when that was done? A:
Not more than
a rod. He said,
"Higbee, I wouldn't do this to you." He knew Higbee, it appears. And
the reply was that, "You would have done the same to me, or just as
bad." At that time, I went away. I will state here one thing further in
that respect-that one large woman about that time came running down
from the
women and hollering for her husband and children, as I recollect, and
some man
on the left of me shot her in the back, and she fell dead and did not
move. Who
it was, I do not know. That was the only woman that I saw down there
that was
shot.
Q: After
the killing was ended, what was done then? A: There
I was told by Higbee to take charge of the children and the baggage
wagons. Q: By whom? A: I went
up there and took charge of them. These men, they were killed and out
of the
wagons before I got there. Q: Who killed
them? Q: Won't you designate who you mean by "these
men" - those men who were killed in the first attack in their
fortifications? A: These men that were with the baggage
wagons. Q: When
the wagon passed your ranks, who was with them? A: Lee
was with them, and ahead of the man that drove the wagon. Q: Was he
in the wagon, or on the ground? A: I do
not know-could not say whether he was in the wagon or not. Q: What occurred when you went up to take
charge of
the children? A: When I went up there, I don't recollect
seeing Lee.
They had a team there. Me, Murdy and
I
think Sam Knight, from the Clara was up with their wagons-and these
children
with some of the things was put into these wagons. And we went down to
Hamblin's house. And that is the end of my knowing or seeing anything
more
there. Q: Well, what were the soldiers doing there? A: They dispersed - going south to Cedar and
some to
Hamblin's ranch. I don't recollect of seeing anybody else from the
southern
districts except Knight. Q: Did you
see John D. Lee after you started away with these children? A: I did. Q: Where? A: I saw
him there. Q: Did you
have any conversation with him? A: I did not
have any conversation with him. Q: What
was he doing up to that time? A: I could not
tell you, because I went
immediately - went away and could not recognize any particular thing
that he
did. Q: I want you to go on from that point and
state what
was done, and how these men were dispersed. A: I don't know how they were dispersed; I
left there
as I told you, with the children and the wagons. I had my hands full.
Some of
the children were wounded and crying. Q: Some
of the children wounded? How many wounded? A: I
think one died at Hamblin's ranch. I think there was two died, but one
died
there. Q: Where
abouts were they wounded? A: I
think that it was wounded in the arm - a bad wound - and one somewhere
else. I
could not tell exactly, and I know I had to leave it. A: I don't
recollect. I could not tell you. I
don't remember. I never was near enough to them to count them. I never
saw them
going away from the slaughter - know nothing about that. Consequently,
I could
not tell you how many there was. Q: About how many wagons? State as near as
you can. A: I stated, I think, between twenty-five and
thirty,
when I passed them at Iron Springs. Q: When you passed them at Iron Springs, did
you see
the stock they had when you passed them there? A: There was a part there, and a part out.
They was
hunting some stock, and I cannot recollect only the teams; they were
hitched
up, ready to move on. Q: How many cattle had they? A: I did. A: In part, I
did; and in part I
didn't know what was done with them. Judge:
Objection overruled. Prosecution
continues: What was done with these cattle? A: As
regards what was done with them cattle, I don't know. Q: Do you
know what was done with any of them? A: I
know some. I would like to tell you a little farther, right from
Hamblin's. Q: Go on then. A: Well, the next morning I started with the
children
for Cedar City-I put them on Sam McMurdy's wagon and John Willis's
wagon, and
went on to Pinto Creek. And I think I left one little child there - one
that
was wounded; I left one or two there. Then I went home. I passed a
train from
San Bernardino. It was old Billy Matthews. I could not tell you who all
was in
from the fact that I didn't see them. We was off the road a little to
the
right, where there was water. They passed on while I was there. After
they was
gone, we went on to Cedar City. It was in the night before I got there.
I had
to stop there to get some water for the children. These men lived here
in
Beaver-most of them-these freight teams. Tanners, Matthews, and
Shepherds, I
think, and these old gentlemen, freighting at that time. I started on
at that
time, doing the best I could with the children - went on past them and
got
something to eat and drink, and went on and got to Cedar City in the
night. I
went to a place called Hopkins' Place. An old lady that was a
midwife there -
a motherly kind of woman who had midwifed around among the sisters
there - I
told her I had so many children got from that place. But I didn't tell
her any
particulars about it; though she perfectly well understood that,
because her
husband was in and out. She understood part of it, at least. There I
stopped
with these children and she rustled around and got places next day, and
I think
I took one home - I think I took one home or got it afterwards, I don't
know
which - a nice little baby girl, and my woman raised it-suckled it. And
afterwards that child was give to Birkbeck at Cedar City because they
had no
children. It was a babe at the breast. Q: Do you know what became of its mother? A: I don't recollect meeting with him after
that
occurred there - not at that place. Q: When
did you first meet him after that? A: I
met him in Salt Lake after. A: No,
sir, we didn't go to Salt Lake together. Defense:
We abject to that as hearsay, as to John D. Lee, and he is the only
party an
trial. A: At
this point arguments were made on both sides. Judge: Overruled. Defense:
Exception. Prosecution: Will you state now what
conversation,
after this massacre, you had with any of the parties. That is, you
refer to
Haight and Mr. Higbee, I believe - what conversation you had with them
in relation
to the disposition of the property belonging to that massacred train. A: I would have to give a little further
detail to
come to that point. Q: Be as brief
as you can, and amid any outside matters. A: Sometime
after that-several days-Haight told me to go over to the Iron Springs
that is
about seven miles from Cedar City on the old emigrant road - that would
be in
the early days. He told me to go over there, that they had brought in
wagons,
cattle, and other things - goods and clothing-and was at Iron Springs.
And I
should go over there and get that property and put them into the
tithing office
cellar. I accordingly, went. And I also was to brand the cattle that
was there,
which was probably fifty head. I went, and there I saw John Urie and
George
Hunter, and I think if I mistake not, other men were there who helped
to get it
there - and Ira Allen. But I would not be positive about that. However,
these
two men was there, with a number of wagons. I could not tell you now
the
number, but I presume the bigger part of them. Q: Tell
what you know. A: I
was there. Three men were engaged in it- picking it up at the
place of the
emigrant encampment. They took the wagons away, brought the cattle, and
drawed
them to that spring. I accordingly went under these order and brought
it from
there in the evening and put it in the tithing office cellar - all the
tarps
and clothing and such like that was among the company that got there
from the
place of the encampment at the Iron Springs. Hitched up some of the
cattle -
enough to draw these wagons over there. These wagons remained there
around the
tithing office and these goods remained there till afterwards, till a
different
disposition was made of them. Q: What else was
done? You stated
a different disposition was made. State what that was. A: After this
occurred, I branded
them with the Church brand. Q: What sort of
brand was that? A: With the
Church brand - a
cross. Q: State what else was done. You said there
was another
disposition made. A: I will now go back to another disposition.
I don't
recollect of but once seeing Mr. Lee, and he was up there at Cedar
City and
was in that cellar with me, and saw these good in the cellar.
Afterwards, I had
no more conversation with him that I recollect till he went to Salt
Lake. I was
told by Haight and Higbee that they held a Council, and counseled
matters over.
I was not present. Defense: We
object to witness detailing
as to matters that he did not hear. Judge: Objection
overruled. Q: Then it was
the sixth of
October following then that you were at Salt Lake City there to that
conference? Defense: Objected to on the grounds that this
matter
is not charged in the indictment. There is no conspiracy charged with
Brigham
Young. This is entirely outside of the allegations and the indictment.
It is
immaterial and irrelevant. Judge:
Objection overruled. Defense: Exception. Prosecution:
Go on. Q: What else? A: Then, probably the same day, or it might
be the day
after, but I think it was the same day, I and Mr. Lee, and Charlie
Hopkins went
to see President Young, and he went with us in his barnyard to one
place and
another and showed us his fine things, and we came back into his house,
and
there in my presence and Mr. Lee's and Mr. Hopkins', he turned around
to me, as
I had possession of that property. After doing this, says he, "Dispose
of
that property, let John D. Lee take charge of it." A: Brigham
Young said that. Defense:
We object to assertions of third parties. Judge: Objection overruled. Defense:
Exception. Witness: Next word was - he turned around to
us and
said, "What you know of this, say nothing about it: even don't talk
among
yourselves about it." Q: Did you relate to him the circumstances? A: I didn't tell him anything about it. He
turned to
Lee, as there had been this conversation, and it was the understanding-
Q: They
had a conversation, had they, before that? A: Yes,
and Lee was to carry out the understanding. Q: State,
if you know what disposition was made of that property. A: I had a conversation with Higbee and
Haight. It was
turned over to him to take charge of it; and while I was gone they had
an
auction, and it was sold. Q: Do you know what was done with the cattle?
A: I don't know; only those that went to Salt
Lake.
Haight had charge of them, and traded them to Mr. Hooper for boots and
shoes,
which went to Cedar City. Q: Who?
Which Mr. Hooper? A: That
man that was generally the Representative from Utah to Congress. Q: How
many cattle were disposed of in that way? A: I
presume forty or fifty head was sold. A: I never knew.
When I came
back, these goods were all gone. Some few good boots that I saw, I
traded wheat
for them-there was some few boots left. Q: Who did
I understand you to say, told you of tile disposition of this
property? A: Haight
and Higbee told me all about it. Q: Were there any
Indians present
at that massacre? A: Yes, sir. Q: How many? A: I could not tell you, but the hills were
pretty
full around there, and they done the massacring of the women,
generally. I
understood they were to accomplish it. I saw one man cut a little boy's
throat
with a knife just as I left the ranks to take charge of the children. I
also
saw others-a good many, but could not tell the names - but afterward I
heard of
them. Q: Did you see or hear of any remonstrances
or efforts
to restrain the Indians there? A: I did not. I
understood at the time that Carl Shirts had a kind of charge of them,
and kept
them in the brush. Defense:
We object to this as hearsay. No
ruling by the court. Prosecution:
Did you hear anything said on the subject of the Indians on the ground
here? A: I did
not. Q: Were you ever
told what part
they took in it by any who were e1lgaged in it? A: Yes, sir. A: Yes,
sir. Three wounded that I know of. Q: What
was done with them? A: Two
died afterwards, of their wounds. Q: After
the massacre, where did the Indians go to? Q: How long did
they remain
there? A: They remained
there a
considerable length of time. Q: Did
you see any property of emigrants in their possession? A: I
saw a wagon cover that they had, and that they'd put around their
wikiups. Q: Did
you see any clothes? A: That would be a hard matter to do. In
general, the
clothing were a kind of home made men's wear. Q: Was
there anything peculiar on the clothes or about them? Q: Was
there any blood stains on them? A: Yes,
there was, I believe, but I could not tell you as regards to that, of
the
Indians. Q: What
kind of clothes did John D. Lee wear when he went to Salt Lake City? A: I believe he
had a checked shirt on.
A: Yes. A: Of
course. Q: Do you know
where he got it? A: I
don't know where he got the coat? A: I
did. Q: What? Q: And
what did he do with them? A: He
said he wanted it for some clothing. That is what he said. A: I
don't, only by the stories that Mr. Allen brought to me-that Mr. Allen
brought
to me and Joel White when he met us. He said it was- Defense:
Exception. Q: Did you ever
have a conversation
with John D. Lee on that subject? A: Yes, sir. I
had a conversation
about it afterwards. Q: That was it? A: I don't recollect the conversation about
it,
because there was not much said about it at any time; there was very
little
talk at any time. But I knew the thing was done. Adjourned. Reconvened
Saturday, July 24, 1875, 9:00 A.M.
Minutes
read, statement made, etc., then Phillip Klingensmith is recalled
for the
Prosecution for further direct examination. Prosecution:
Do you know the names of any persons that were killed at the mountain
Meadows? A: I could not
say; it was an hour or two, as far as I can recollect. Q: Did you have any conversation with John D.
Lee as
to what occurred between him and the emigrants in that consultation? A: No, sir. Not that I recollect. Q: Never
talked with him about that subject? A: If
I did, it slipped my mind. Q: On
that occasion? A: Not
that I recollect of. Q: Did you ever have any conversation with
him subsequent
to the massacre, as to what occurred during his communications with the
emigrants at the time he was there - that is, after the Massacre
occurred - did
you ever have any conversation with John D. Lee as to what happened
between
them when he was in there? A: I have had a talk with him, but to
recollect what
he said about it I could not remember. Q: Who was the Commander of the Nauvoo
Legion for
southern Utah? Who was the General Commander? A: I always understood that George A. Smith
was the
General Commander. Q: Who was the Commander of the Nauvoo
forces, of
which that was a part, for Iron County? A: Dame was the Colonel of that organization
down from
there. A: Isaac C. Haight. Q: Did Higbee have any position? A: Yes, he was major. A: Not
that I recollect. I didn't see him. Q: Do you
remember before this
occurrence? Q: Do you know whether any of these orders
which led
to that massacre emanated from George A. Smith? And, if so, what
it was? A: No, sir. Not that I know about. Defense: We ask also that it 11e stricken out
- the
testimony as to wl11lt took place in the two conferences prior to the
Massacre,
when Lee was not present. [Prosecuting] counsel undertook to
connect Lee with
it, and Lee has not been connected with it.
Cross-examination [This ends Phillip Klingensmith's testimony
for the
prosecution. Wm. W. Bishop began the cross-examination of
Klingensmith for
the
defense. Portions of the cross-examination, which is long and sometimes
repetitious, are omitted.] Klingensmith:
I believe I'm going on sixty-one. I was born in '15, I understand the
third of
April. Q: Where were you
born? Q: How long did
you reside in Pennsylvania
after your birth? A: I guess I was
about
twenty-three or twenty-four years old. Q: Where did you
remove to from
Pennsylvania? Q: How long did
you remain there? A: Maybe,
four, maybe five years. A: I moved to
Michigan and from there to Nauvoo. A: In forty-four,
I believe. A: Till
about forty-six, when the Mormons left Nauvoo. Q: After
leaving Nauvoo, where did you go to? A: I went to
Garden Grove, and stopped a while in
Iowa, and I remained there about a year. Q: From there,
where did you go? A: Council
Bluffs. Q: How long did
you remain there? Q: Where
did you go from Council Bluffs? A: I came
to Salt Lake. Q: When
did you arrive in Salt Lake? A: In
forty-nine. Q: What month? A: August. Q: How long did you remain in Salt Lake? A: I remained there probably three months;
not all the
time in Salt Lake; I lived in Salt Lake, I had a lot there. A: Sanpete, in
the year
forty-nine. Q: How
long did you remain in Sanpete? A: I was there
to make two crops. Q: Where
did you go next? A: I came down
here, to Parowan. Q: How
long did you remain in Parowan? A: I
remained there one winter till next spring, and the same year. Q: Where did you
go from there? Q: What year did
you settle there
in Cedar City? Q: How long did you make that your home? A: I remained there some eight or nine years,
in all,
until a year after this affair took place, when I left there. A: Yes, sir. A: I think it
must have been
fifty-nine when I left there. A: I went to a
little town over
the mountains, Toquerville. A: Not
very long, at that time. |