Beheading as Utah capital punishment

[_Maksutov]

https://mountainmeadowsmassacre.com/wp- ... ntence.pdf

In the sentencing of John D. Lee he is offered his choice of methods of execution. One of them is beheading.

IT IS PAINFUL
TO THINK THAT ANY HUMAN BEING
SHOULD SUFFER DEATH FOR ANY
REASON, BUT OUTRAGED JUSTICE
DEMANDS IT. BUT NO ONE
THAT I KNOW OF, CONNECTED
WITH THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE
LAWS, TAKES ANY PLEASURE IN
YOUR DEATH, NOR THE DEATH OF
ANY ONE. IT IS A SAD DUTY
WHICH DEVOLVES UPON THEM IN
THIS MATTER AND THEY CANNOT
AVOID. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
VERDICT OF THE JURY AND THE
LAW, IT BECOMES MY DUTY TO
PASS THE SENTENCE OF DEATH
UPON YOU, AND IN DOING THIS THE
STATUTE REQUIRES THAT YOU MAY
HAVE A CHOICE, IF YOU DESIRE, OF
THREE MODES OF
EXECUTION, TO WIT, NAMELY, BY
HANGING, BY SHOOTING OR BY
BEHEADING. IF YOU HAVE ANY
CHOICE OR DESIRE IN THIS
RESPECT, YOU CAN NOW EXPRESS
IT.”

Were beheadings ever performed on others? How would they have been performed? Is there some religious basis for this particular choice (other than a nod to the Book of Mormon)? Or was beheading a common choice out West?

Beheading was lawful from 1851-1888.

[_moksha]

This was at a time when the LDS Church was espousing blood atonement as being a requirement of God's vengeance. If you hoped to be reincarnated for other multiple mortal probations, then you needed to have your blood spilled in a dramatic fashion. That meant shooting, beheading, or being drawn and quartered. An Iron Maiden with sufficient bleed out would probably have sufficed as well.

Hope that helps.

[_Maksutov]

This was at a time when the LDS Church was espousing blood atonement as being a requirement of God's vengeance. If you hoped to be reincarnated for other multiple mortal probations, then you needed to have your blood spilled in a dramatic fashion. That meant shooting, beheading, or being drawn and quartered. An Iron Maiden with sufficient bleed out would probably have sufficed as well.

Hope that helps.

I think the Metal Molly showed up in D & C 312.