Plutarch wrote:What else is there besides the "trial and the history of the case?"
Since the trials didn't occur until many years after the massacre, there's quite a bit (Lee wasn't executed until nearly 20 years after the massacre). A careful reading of the entire letter makes clear that Bishop simply asks Lee to give him all facts behind the incident and afterwards. For example, Bishop requests Lee to produce "the remainder of your manuscript." He also asks for Lee's personal "Journals." Bishop continues:
"I do wish you
to write up your history fully from the time you came to Salt Lake, until the trial began -- giving a
full statement of all the facts and doctrines connected with the Reformation and especially
give me all the facts that will throw light upon or that were connected with the massacre and the Leading men of Utah as connected with it ...."
Bishop closes his letter: "In Justice to yourself & to me -- as well as your family, '
tell it all.'"
I see nothing in this letter to suggest (as you seem to do on p. 213 of your article) that Bishop is asking Lee to fabricate or embellish any facts, or that Bishop himself intends to do so. Over and over, he asks Lee to give a
full history and
all facts concerning the massacre and events leading up to the time of trial. Bishop only states that he will add in "facts" relating to the trial and history of the case (which you conveniently omitted with your ellipses). Bishop's entire letter, in my opinion, does not support your conclusion that Lee's confessions cannot be trusted because Bishop made stuff up. If anything, this letter (when read in full) establishes that Bishop was asking Lee to provide the full story. Whether Lee, in fact, did is debatable, but this letter does not support your branding Bishop a liar.
At the least, I challenge Bagley and Brooks' reliance on Lee's confessions for conclusions about efforts during trial by the Church to thwart justice. Doesn't that fall within "trial and history of the case?"
In your article (p. 213), you write: "I do not see how Bagley can place
any faith in Lee's confessions, particularly those written as
Mormonism Unveiled." (bold mine for emphasis). Now, you seem to be backing off that broad statement and limiting your statement to reliance on Lee's confessions to establish the Church's efforts to thwart justice during the trial. That's a step in the right direction.