The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-05-06
FROM IDAHO.
The Execution Of S!adc----AsviUl
SceDes----Ehe Murderer I1unG-..-
Mining, Trading and Miscellaneous
Neyys---gt.n Weather, MAILS. &c.


NcW*--. GHe SSeatnef, mans. Ncs
VIRGINIA CITY, l. r.. March 10.
EpIroRs News: have been waiting some
time for something of interest to turn up, that
might give you an item of news from these
gold fields of the Northwest Since my arrival
here about two weeks ago nothing of any
particular importance has transpired to COM
mnnicate to Won. until the day before yeste--
day, the particulars Of which now send you
in full.
On the morning o. Tuesday last. the 9Th inst,
the current report around town was, that the
peace and harmony of a certain house OF prOsti-
tuition had been intruded upon. by lot of
scamps who entered the aforesaid cribs, with.
out any just cause or prOvocatiOn, and literally
dem lished and devoured the contents of its
interior. The proprietoress, who is known
here by the name of ''MOll Featherlegs, :"
thinking she could recover damages, began a
suit before his Honor Judge Davis, and q jury
of twelve was called to hear the testimony and
render their verdict accordingly. The case was
prosecuted and defended by the best talent the
country affords, and towards evening the jury
retired, intending to give in the verdict next
morning at 9 A. NJ. The decision of the court
(miners) l have not heard but suppose the
Widow Featherlegs will recover some damages
On the same evening the "chebang" of Annie
Skcggs, Lib Cunningham II Co.. was broken
into by Naylor, Thompson, Harden, Slade and
others. The contents of this resort were like
wise materially defaced. Mrs. Skeggs says
they completely bursted her up in business,
and she had nothing left.
j. A. Slade, known in Denver as well as here,
has been terror to this community. He has
been keeping a ranch on the Madison side Of
the Missouri river, about ten miles from here,
but spend twO-thirds of his time in town, and
while here he was always drunk. He had with
\ Of oil l,fS~ ,1.>o
feared nothing, and never observed law, order,
or the counsel of any one. He frequently slap
ped law-abiding citizens in the face and threat
ened to bore them through" if his wish.
whatever it might be, was not gratitied.
The citizens and Vigilance Committee sent
him word when he was sober, that law and Or
der should and would be preserved, and if he
did not abide by this rule, which is considered
imperative by them, he would soon suffer the
consequences. Early this morning Slade and
company were drunk-nOt dead drunk, but
crazy drunk-and abused every one, calling
them OpprObrious names, and daring any one
to take it up. Papers were issued for his ar
rest and while he was being arrested the war
rants for himself and others were torn up. and
vengeance threatened against the court. Be-
fore other warrants could be drawn, he went to
the office of the judge and called him a son of
b-h, and said some peoples days were mum
bered, and thus abused the most respectable
citizen among us. Ats 40 T. NJ, a company of
about 300 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
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 a
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 ?'"W Who is dead" &c. At 4.3O Slade was
arrested and conveyed to a rayine at the edge
of the street, where, 10 and behold, there stood
before him and us newly erected gallOws 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 before 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 a message
had been dispatched to his rancho for Mrs
Sladc, but this was not known to the commit
tee, and therefore his request was not granted
He was made to mount the stand, and given
ten minutes to say what he pleased. He cried
tor Judge Davis, lawyer Sanders and others.
Judge Davis came forward and was asked in
the most entreating language by theprisOne1
to plead with the people for an innocent man.
The prisoner said if they would allow him to
leave the country he would Immediately do so,
and go any where directed. Judge Davis told
him it was not in his power to do any thing 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. lie
was now certain bis time had come.
The rope was placed about his neck, and his
arms bound, and again he cried for God Al
lnighty's sake let me see my beloved Wife
Cries of 'let him see his wife" from every
quarter were heard, and q rush to the gallows
was looked for. Excitement now prevailed,
and o general fight was anticipated. In an in.
slant about three hundred guns were levelled
on the crowd, and in an instant more every.
thing was as still Is the hush of midnight.
The prisoner was still begging for mercy but
all to no purpose Hang him they would, and
hang him they did, while he was still asking
!or lew moments longer, and without bis be-
ing oilndfolded, the trap was sprung. The fall
was thirty inches, and his boot toes touched
the ground After hanging for thirty-One
minutes the rope was cut and the body convey
ed to the Virginia Hotel.
The crowd still remained In the street, but
not word was eaid except by the aforemen-
TONED Naylor Thompson, who swore ven
geance against the perpetrators Of this deed.
A dozen or more of the guards went after him
and marched him to the gallows. where they
were about to deal it out to him. but nv the in.
reference of some men, he was lei loose. Ho
will probably be banished, At six O'clock md
before the corpse was laid out, Mrs Slade ar.
rived. She is o lady who bears an excellent
character here and Is thought much Of by ali
her acquaintance. When she rode in front Of
Quoted to the room in which her dead husband