The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-03-04
FROM IDAHO.
Wholesale Hanging Of Robbers
and Murderers, @
Thrilling Description of the Affair.
SKETCHES OF THE VICTIMS,
Letters from 10. G. Knox and w. r.
Bartlett.

We are indebted to Judge HoYT for the
following letters received by him yester-
day from r. G. KKox and W. F. BART
LETT, gentlemen who are well known in
this section. 1t is proper to say they were
not written with view to publication
LETTER FROM r. C. KNOX, ESQ.
VIRGINIA CRY, Jan. 9Th, 1864.
Frank Hoyt, Esq, 81. Paul, MIMI:
My DEAR SIR feel as though a few lines
from some of yo:r friends in this hard hole of
creation might be of some interest to yourself
as well as many Others about st. Paul, particu-
larly at the present time.
There has been quite wholesale slaughter
and bringing to justice of number of road
agents, murderers and highwaymen, and still
the work is progressing. l will give you the
names ofthose who have come to my ears, and
places of nativity. as near as could ascer-
tain. First on my list is George Lane, born in
Michigan; went here by the name of Club
Foot; he was from the west side here, and
bore the reputation of being bad man. Next
is BoOnehelm, of Missouri, known as having
been murderer of the worst kind killed his
own brOther-in-law. Jack Galliger, of New
York, of whom / have learned but little, but
belonged to this band and attempted to kill a
citizen of this place fewweeks since. Henry
Parrish, of Vermont, was noted for horse steal
ing and many other crimes of smaller kind
he is said by some to have been Il cousin of
Truman NJ. Smith of your city. Hays Lyons,
was born in Pittsburg, Pa. his mother is still
living, and very pious woman-a good Chris
tan, l hope; she is now in Kansas was
member of the Associate Reformed Presbvte-
rian churches in Pittsburg. Oh what a crash
upon the ears of the pious mother Ofthis young
man. knew but little about him, but having
learned that he was raised by parents of the
same Christian faith as mine, felt some inte-
rest in speaking with him before he died,
which l did on the way to the gallows, but did
not learn anything in relation to his crimes,
only he said he was innocent of being road
agent, or knowing anything about them: but
you know he was tried and convicted once be-
fore for killing Dillingham;, and was ordered
to leave the country, but did not. These five
above enumerated saw hung all upon one
beam together.
HOW THEY BEHAVED.
Lane Parish and Lyons conducted them
selves WELL and seemed to be somewhat peni-
tent. One of them called friend from the
crowd as they passed by to pray fol- him, whilst
Galliger and BOOnehelm went to the gallows
with curses and blasphemy on their lips, call
ing for some whisky. They finally obtained
it after the rope was around their necks.
Boonehelm went Off with a hurrah for JET.
Davis. q wonder if jeff would receive that
as a compliment if he knew it,
HOW IT WAS MANAGED.
The town was watched all the night pre-
vious, and put under guard about ten o'clock
next morning. 1t was done in less than twenty
minutes after the ball opened. Every house,
store, shop, and mining drift in and about
town was searched until the above culprits
were arrested. There is one other they did
not find yet. 1t is said he sccreted himself in
chimney all day. ct is a pity they did rot
fire up.)
The whole thing passed off quietly, and
we'll it might. There were about five hum
dred we'll armed and determined men in
charge. They had all the prisoners as early
as j. o'clock A. NJ, and were all dead before
+. NJ, and to wind up, in the evening Judge
Smith and one Thurman, another seceeh law
yer of the Smith style, were ordered to leave,
which they did next morning much to their
shagrin and satisfaction of the people. IA
young lawyer that came out with Judge Edger-
ton, is a trump; he puts them through in
double-quick. lie has won many warm friends
here.
The above criminals were executed on the
14th inst. There were three others that were
arrested and hung about three weeks ago
named George Ives, Red, and Brown. the for
mer was from Racine, Wis, the latter, l be-
lievc, from Minnesota, and is said to be a
nephew of our old citizen, Joseph K. Brown,
but this man Red is known nothing about. l
do not know his proper name, Red was nick
NAME
You will find enclosed list of those who
were hung over at Bannock Furnished me by
a friend) 1 will not add further than i'm the
case of Plummer and the Mexican, Plummer
was their captain and had list of some forty,
none of which have come to light except so
fast as they are caught and hung, but the
Mexican who shot Copley. They fired forty
shots through him whilst hanging, then tore
down his cabin and piled it UP, threw him on
the pile and burned the whole concern 1 be-
lieve previous to this they took out the how
itzer that Capt Fisk left at Bannock and blew
a hole through the cabin and I believe small
/ one through the Mexican's head.
There are parties out now in the direction of
Deer Lodge, Fort Benton, Bitter Root Valley
and Salt Lake in search Of them. Ihave learned
that Skinner, Moore, Reeves and Whisky Bill
are some of the band; you remember most of
those being at Bannock City last summer /
am not in possession of sufficient information
to give you any further particulars. and would
not attempt further than what know to be
correct. When this Vigilance Committee get
through there is a probability of the whole
thing being published 1t is said, however,