Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1864-05-12


The Rocky Mountain News has the
following account OF the administration
OF Lynch law in Virginia City, Idaho, In
the case Of a notorious disturber of the
public peace: ~,
~. A. Slade, known In Denver as we'll
as here, has been terror to this c0mmu-
nifty. He has been keeping ranch on
the Madison branch of the Missouri riv-
err about ten miles from here, but spent
two-thirds of his time in town, and
while here he was always drunk, He
had with him at all times q gang of des-
peradoes, who feared nothing, and never
observed law, order, or the counsel Of
any one He frequently slappled law
ened to bore them through, If his wish,
whatever 1t might be, was not granted.
The citizens and Vigilance Committee
sent him word when he was sober that
law and order should and would be pre-
served, and if he did not abide by this
rule, which is considered imperative by
them, he would soon suffer the conse-
quences. Early this morning Slade and
company were drunk-nOt dead drunk,
but crazy drunk-and abused every one,
calling them opprobrious names, and dar-
ing any one to take 1t up. Papers were
issued for his arrest, and while he was
being arrested the warrants for himself
and Others were torn up, and vengeance
threatened against the court Before
other warrants could be drawn, he went
to the Office of the Judge and called him
a---Of A., and said some peoples
days were numbered, and thus abused
the most respectable citizen among us.
At $40 P. M. company of about 800
men all armed, marched from some place
unknown to myself, up through Jackson
street, and halted directly in front of the
place in which Slade was. ea
A guard was put around the town,
and also the building that Slade was
then in. Business was suspended; crowds
gathered, the streets were full old
muskets and rifles glistened, and still no
excitement prevailed. Gangs of men
could be seen in every direction, but
hardly word was spoken. Nine tenthS
Of the people knew nothing Of this affair
| or what the men were about to do The
question would be asked in every group
Of men, what is the fuss 2 who is dead2'
&c. At 4,30 Slade was arrested and con-
Quoted to ravine at the edge of the
street, where, 10 and behold, there stood
before him and US newly erected gal
lows, for this especial occasion The
hills and streets, house tops and every
vacant spot in sight, was covered with
men, women and children. The crowd
conducted him before the scaffold and
asked him if he had anything to say be-
| fore he would suffer death All was
quiet and still as death. Not word
could be heard from any one, except the
cravings of the prisoner to see his wife.
About an hour previous to this mes
sage had been dispatched to his ranch
for Mrs Slade, but this was not known
to the committee, and, therefore, his re-
quest was not granted. He was made
to mount the stand and given ten min
utes to say what he pleased. He cried for
Judge Davis, Lawyer Sanders and
others. Judge Davis came forward and
was asked in the most entreating Ian
guage by the prisoner to plead with the
people for an innocent man.
The prisoner said if they would allow
him to leave the country he would i'm
mediately do so, and go anywhere di-
rected. Judge Davis told him it was
not in his power to do anything to save
him. Again and again he would ask
time, for his beloved wife to arrive. He
said he had business matters to explain
to her, and asked them for Gods sake
to grant him time for her arrival. His
legs now trembled, his face was pale and
his whole frame was nervous. He was
now certain his time had come. los ayeH
H The rope was placed about his neck
and his arms bound, and again he cried,
For God Almighty's sake let me see my
beloved wife ~ Cries of 'Let him see HIS
wife" from every quarter were heard, and
arush to the gallows looked for. Ex-
citement now prevailed, and a general
fight was anticipated. In an instant
about three hundred guns were levelIed
on the crowd, and in an instant more ev-
erything was as still AZ the hush Of mid
night. The prisoner was begging for
mercy, but all to no purpose. Hang him
they would, and hang they did, while he
was still asking for a few moments long
er, and without his being blindfolded
the trap was sprung The fall was thir-
ty inches, and his boot toes touched the
ground. After hanging for thirty-one
minutes the rope was cut and the body