A short time before the death of Eli Ashcraft, of Mapleton, Utah, the said Ashcraft told me he was in the Government employ, on an Indian Experimental farm, situated about two miles south-west of the present site of Spanish Fork, Utah County, Utah; and while there, a messenger, James H. Haslam, on his way to civil authorities at Cedar City, Utah, stopped at the farm, and was privided with a fresh animal, on which he hastened to deliver his message. While the exchange of horses was being made. Dr. Garland Hurt, then authorized Indian Agent, at said place, read in my hearing, a message from President Young, then Governor of Utah, warning depredators against the destructoin of life and property, and especially requesting that the emigrants then in question be let alone, that they might to unmolested. I also heard the messenger say President Young has intructed him to spare neither time nor horse flesh in delivering the message. In short the said Eli Ashcraft, called me to his bed a few hours before death and said, "Brigham Young is not responsible for the Mountain Meadow Massacre, for which he was once blamed."