The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1881-09-03
HUNTING A BRIGAND.
The End of n Western High.
wayman's wild Career.


element as the capture and lynching
of Billy Leroy, the iashing highway
man and prince of road agents, at
Del Norte, few weeks ago. The
stage robber was captured and
! lynched with his brother.
The capture was effected on the
Sabbath day, shortly before the sun
was lost to sight behind the snowy
peaks of the Great Second Range
Leroy was painfully wounded in the
left leg, and on reaching the rude Jail
in Del Norte, had almost bled to
death. A physician was summoned,
the wound dressed, and at 10 o'clock
Billy was as game" as though on the
road with a band at his back. He
made no confession, rs was at first
reported, but offered to wager the
sheriff basket of Mumm that he
would bc out of the quay" as he
termed the Jail, and through Sa-
quache Pass, before the L. ). Mar
shall could arrive from Denver His
brother, on the contrary, seemed to
be in depressed spirits. Five special
deputy sheritfs were sworn in and
appointed guards to the bandit king,
and were locked up in the jail
ranged around his cell in order to
guard against any possibility of es-
cape. The sheriff retired, and few
hours past midnight scene occurred
| ~ 81 hn
The first rumors of LcRoy's cap
ture had spread through the camp
like wildfire, and the miners quickly
concluded that they would put one
desperate out of the way before the
mountain robbers could come to the
rescue. A meeting was called in the
principal saloon, and before midnight
Judge Lynch had ordered the death
of Billy Leroy. The vigilantes num-
bered over one hundred of the best
citizens and miners in the region Of
Del Norte. They went down to the
Jail in a body, overpowered the
guards and going to Lesoy's cell the
leader said:
'DlllN, YOU nc ScnJ ioT.
Leroy was lying on ono elbow in
his cell, and, with his customary bra
vado, replied:
REALLY, | feel quite proud of this
ovation, but, owing to the lateness Of
the hour, etc, / must decline"
The door was quickly unlocked,
and the captive, realizing that eli
max equally as lawless as his life
was at hand, said:
Don't be in a hurry, gentlemen,
for the more haste the less speed,
and too many cooks spoil the broth. !"
He stood up while the already pre-
pared moose WAS thrown over his
head, and looking down at the coil of
sea grass remarked that it was not
finer than silk.
While the robber chief walked out
| of his cell with tire blood gushing
afresh from his wounded limb, his
brother was so overcome by the 81 t.
uation that he was as helpless as an
infant, and members of the vigilance
committee were obliged to carry him
forth.
"You make me blush" said Billy,
in scornful manner, looking at his
brother; lyon have been called, so
why can't you quit like man?'
A wagon stood in the Jail yard and
placing the doomed men upon it, the
vigilantes dragged the wagon down
to clump of trees which stand by
the river. A half dozen lanterns
were in the crowd, and by the light
Leroy could see that several of the
self-constituted exccutioners carried
revolvers ready drawn.
"Put up your gunsr' he cried, in
his ringing voice; 81 shant harm a
hair on your heads
The wagon came to a halt under a
large projecting limb, and it was but
the work of minute to throw the
loose end of each rope over the limb
and knot it securely. Then the lead
er asked in solemn tones:
"Have either of you men anything
to say?"
Billy looked at his brother who
was too weak to speak, and then, as
if counting pistol shot, answered:
"TaIk is cheaper than town lots in
Aspen. Some men are known by the
deeds that live after them, and / am
one of that number. Ihaye held up
many a stage and have sept few
men who were too officious, prospect
ing in another land where the dig
dings are reported richer than any
thing in Colorado. Remove this
necktie, take off my handouts and
give me show" He looked about
him with defiant air for ten seconds,
and then, realizing that his death was
to be by hanging, continued by say
ing:
II have waltzed through this re-
gion long time without paying the
fiddler; SO now, gentlemen, / am
ready to meet the cashier Go on
with your cart" 40
Strong hands laid hold of the wag-
ON, it was drawn forward few feet,
and two bodies were dangling in the
air.
A few minutes later man called
at the residence Of Coroner Holland,
and summoning that official to the
window cried out,
Coroner, there are two stiffs