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John Cradlebaugh
February 22, 1819 – February 22, 1872
Judge John Cradlebaugh Letter
to President Buchanan
Great Salt Lake City, U. T. June 3, 1859
Hon. James Buchanan, President of the United States --
Sir: I herewith enclose to you a
letter addressed to me by P. K. Dotson,
Marshal for this Territory. This letter taken in connection with the
papers already sent on to Washington, will serve to throw much light upon
the condition of affairs in this Territory. In addition, allow me to say I
have lately visited the southern settlement of this Territory,
particularly the place where 119 emigrants were massacred, at the Mountain
Meadows on the 10th of September, 1857. Eighty or more white men were
engaged in that affair. Warrants are now in the hands of the Marshal for
forty of them. The entire population within 150 miles of the Meadows does
not exceed 1,100 -- with not more than 200 of an adult male population.
About all of those engaged in committing that crime live within the limits
I have stated and are connected with the remainder by Church ties,
("endowment oaths") and as relatives. So much of a church matter was this
Mountain Meadow massacre, that much of the property was taken to the
Tithing Office, and then sold out. I have made this statement to show you
the impossibility of the Marshal serving writs with a civil posse,
and also as reflecting on the possibility of administering the laws by
jury trial. It may be said in regard to all the murders for which writs
have been issued, that the perpetrators are men holding high civil and
church offices; and the evidence shows that the crimes were comitted by
"order of council".
It is much to be regretted that there is not more coincidence of views and
harmony of action between the Judges and the Executive of Utah. Without
such concert the laws can neither be effectively nor worthily
administered. With such concert, the many atrocious crimes that have been
committed could be reached; and although the perpetrators might not be
punished, through action of the juries, yet something in the way of
establishing the supremacy of the laws for the future might thereby be
achieved. The immunity from punishment and criminals have enjoyed, and
still enjoy, here, tends to stimulate and multiply offenders.
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
(Source:
Evening Bulletin, Vol. VIII, San Francisco, CA., Friday, June 24, 1859, No.
67)
Marshal P. K. Dotson to
Judge John Cradlebaugh
Great Salt Lake City, U. T.,
June 3, 1859.
To Hon. Judge Cradlebaugh -- Sir: I have received from
you certain warrants of arrest against
many persons in your Judicial District, charged with murder, including one
against J. D. Lee, John M. Higbee, a bishop, Hoyte [Haight], his
counsellor, and thirty-six others, for the murder of one hundred and
nineteen men, women and children, at Mountain Meadows; also one against
Porter Rockwell, John A. Wolf, President of Seventies, Jacob Bigler, a
bishop, Samuel Pitchforth, President of the Seventies; Foote, Mayor of
Nephi, and five others, for the murder of the Atkin brothers, and two
others; one against Lewis Bunty, and three others, for stealing six mules,
the property of the United States. I also have in my possession warrants
against Aaron V. Johnston, a bishop; Snow, of Provo City, a President of
the Church, and certain others, for the murder of the Parrishes; also a
warrant against bishop Hancock, and others, for the murder of Jones and
mother.
I regret to inform you, that it is not in my power to execute any of these
processes. I have made repeated efforts, by the aid as well of the
military as of a civil posse, to execute the warrants last alluded to, but
without success. So great is the number of persons engaged in the
commission of these crimes, and such the feeling of the Mormon Church and
the community in their favor, that I cannot rely on a civil posse to aid
me in arresting them.
I am, sir, respectfully, your obt. sevt.,
P.K. Dotson
(Source:
Evening Bulletin, Vol. VIII, San Francisco, CA., Friday, June 24, 1859, No.
67)
Warrants of Arrest were
issued for:
Jacob (Isaac) Haight, President of the Cedar City Stake;
Bishop John M. Higbee and Bishop John D. Lee; Columbus Freeman, William
Slade, John Willis, William Riggs, _____ Ingram, Daniel McFarlan,
William Stewart, Ira Allen and son, Thomas Cartwright, E. Welean,
William Halley, Jabez Nomlen, John Mangum, James Price, John W. Adair,
_____ Tyler, Joseph Smith, Samuel Pollock, John McFarlan, Nephi Johnson,
_____ Thornton, Joel White, _____ Harrison, Charles Hopkins, Joseph
Elang, Samuel Lewis, Sims Matheney, James Mangum, Harrison Pierce,
Samuel Adair, F. C. McDulange, Wm. Bateman, Ezra Curtis, and Alexander
Loveridge.
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