The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869, 1868-08-21

zens had arrested the man and sent for
witnesses with the purpose of giving
him a fair trial, when the officers of the
law put in their appearance. Deputy
Sheriff John Pine went to the head OF
Deep eulch and demanded the prisoner
of the committee that had him In
charge. The command was not conn
piled with Proceeding therefore to
Beartown, Mr.. Pine procured what arms
he could and raised posse to go and
assist him. OF these actions of tho
Deputy Sheriff the citizens at the head of
Deep gulch were kept well informed, and
when the officer of the law arrived with
his miniature army at his proposed field
of operations he was surprised TO hnd
the enemy we'll fortified at a log house,
with two lines of pickets thrown out
and the prisoner in the inneTmost cita-
del. Ali demands for Varley were anS
swered by the statement that, If they
wanted him they must fight for him,
and thus ended the first days war be
tween the citizens and the officers. With
the next day, Friday, came Deputy
Sheriff John keene, from Cottonwood,
but success refused TO smile upon his
efforts. Proceeding TO the camp of the
enemy, he was stopped at the outer line
of pickets. Thinking there must be
some mistake which caused his progress
To be thus interrupted, he informed him
that stood in his path that he was an
officer. Yes. replied the picket, 81
know you are you are John keene, that
was locked up in the cell at Cottonwood
by the escaping murderers recently"
Keene answered in the affirmative
"Well," remarked the picket, you had
better 60 right back to Cottonwood
we have no more use for you in this sec
tion of the country
! give this brief conversation not for
the purpose of rejecting upon Mr..
Keene, who was striving TO do what he
considered his duty, but in order to show
the sentiment which so extensively pre-
walls in this vicinity. The strategy OF
war now commenced to be brought into
requisition. 1t was known that Julian
Guezala had been sent for and that his
testimony alone was needed in order to
send Varley to that bourne from which
no traveller returns. Accordingly par
ties lay in wait for him, for the purpose
of preventing his joining those who had
charge of the prisoner. He was coming,
in company with Mr. NcGhee over the
trail from the river to the head of
Deep Gulch, when he was pursued by
Deputy Sheriff John Keene and his COM
panions. Giving his horse TO Guezala,
McGhee allowed himself to fall into M
hands of the authorities, thus della, --
them and allowing time for the es ~
of the principal witness. McGhee NJ Hs
soon released and Guezala joined toe
committee. On Saturday night the r.
al took place. 1t seems that at the me
that Guezala was robbed, the hAno VeF
chief with which the foot pad had con
cealed his face fell down and he vas
recognized as Varley. Guezala had.
IL. 81. -
him before the committee, and he Wa
sentenced TO be hung on Sunday NON
10 the meantime there was much ex .it-
ment at Beartown. where there wc-rs
large number of persons who wisheG IN
see the prisoner delivered over TO ttls
authorities. While McGhee was tier.
on Saturday night he was arrested by
the officers and put under a strong
guard. 1t was thought that the com
mittee would thus be intimidated and
prevented from finishing the work which
they had commenced and it was even
threatened, although not by the officers.
that if Varley was hung McGhee should
also be executed. Nevertheless Varley
suffered the death penalty at the ap-
pointed time. Although the proof
against him was positive, and although
he was known to be bad man, he pro-
stepped upon the scaffold laughing asked
for big drink of whisLey and then
eternity. No sooner had the case of
Narley been thus disposed of, than the
men engaged in it, about one hundred
in number, and all heavily armed, start
ed for Beartown for the purpose of re-
leasing McGhee. But those who had
the latter in confinement, hearing of the
movement on foot, started with him,
under a heavy guard, for Cottonwood.
intending TO lodge him in jail To Cot
tonwood a portion of the committee
therefore followed in pursuit. Arrived
there they gave bonds for McGhee's ar
pearance whenever he should be wanr.d
and bore their friend back in trium i,l
with them. Some hostile feeling Sill
exists between the parties. which tbs
affair has so strongly prejudiced again 70
each other, but it is to be hoped that f.
may result in no serious consequence
That strong and well organized Viz
ilance committee is now in existence "a
this vicinity there is bnt little doubt. is
has been called into being by that desire
tor protection and self preservation
which is the first law of nature. Tha.
1t regrets To be compelled to visit it's re-
we're punishment upon criminals / have
no doubt, and that it would prefer that
they should receive the just and les al
reward of their crimes, ! believe b.,
when the choice is between their not -
ing punished at all and their punishme
by death, the committee as a means ~
protecting the community from robbery
or murder. prefer the latter. hope the
day will soon come when the laws WI
be so enforced by the regularly const-
tuted authorities that scenes such as }
have above described shall never be
enacted. IwITNEss
Beartown, Aug. 1G, 1868.
IT,. NJ VI ,t-.- ~,