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Territory of Utah Beaver County S.S.
In the Second Judicial District Court of the Territory of Utah
The People &c vs John D. Lee Wm H. Dame Isaac C. Haight et al
Indictment for murder committed September 16th 1857.
Salt Lake County S.S.
George A. Smith, having been first duly sworn, depose and says- that he is aged fifty eight years: that he is now, and has been for several months suffering from a severe and dangerous illness of the head and lungs, and that to attend the Court at Beaver, in the present condition of his health, would in all probability end his life.
Deponent further saith that he had no military command during the year 1857. nor any other official position, except that of one of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints.
Deponent further saith that he never in the year 1857. at Parowan or elsewhere attended a council where Wm H. Dame
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as an Elder in the Church of Jesus Chirst of Latter day Saints he preached several times on his way south and also on his return and tried to impress upon the minds of the people the necessity of great care as to their grain crops as all the crops had been short for several years previous to 1857 and many of the people were reduced to actual want and were suffering for the necessaries of life.
Deponent further saith that he advised the people to furnish all emigrant companies passing through the Territory with what they might actually need for breadstuffs for the support of themselves and families while passing through the Territory, and also advised the people not to feed their grain to their own stock, nor sell it to the emigrants for that purpose.
Deponent further saith that he never heard of or knew of any attack upon said emigrant train until some time after his return to Salt Lake City and that while near Fort Bridger he heard for the first time that the Indians had massacred an emigrant company at Mountain Meadows.
Deponent further saith that he never at any time either before or after that massacre was accessory thereto; that he never directly or indirectly aided, abetted,
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or assisted in its perpetration, or had any knowledge thereof, except by hearsay; that he never knew anything of the distribution of the property taken there, except by hearsay as aforesaid.
Deponent further saith that all charges and statements as pertaining to him contrary to the foregoing are false and untrue.
(Signed) Geo. A. Smith
Subscribed and sworn to before me, this 30th day of July, A.D. 1875.
(Signed) Wm. Clayton Notary Public
Seal
Affidavit of Geo. A. Smith July 30, 1875
No 6
Filed Sept 20. 1876. James R. Wilkins. Clerk
