The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-02-07
Ter Wen Lynehed.
y,GrrAxTs IN MONTANA TRYING TO PUT AN
END 10 REIGN OF TERROR.

END 10 A REIGN OF TERROR.
A st. Paul telegram Of the 9Th says. The
Butte inter- Mountain. paper published
in Western Montana, has the following ac-
count OF the lynching Of ten men by yigi-
lants. which, although 1t must have oc-
CURED more than week ago, has not been
heard OF by telegraph. The lynching oc-
CURED at Weeksyille, a new railroad point
near Missoula:
LESS than three days ago, 1t will be
remembered, Billy the Kid well known
In Butte, was captured, shot all TO pieces,
and thrown into the river, but last Sunday
was the bloodiest rcd-lettcr day ever known
Mt the terminus. For many weeks past
spirit OF lawlessncss, robbery, and murder
has reigncd supreme at that point. Good
citizens were terrorized. and The ruies OF
the robbers were 20 potent that ~ Dccahc
unsafe for any man with doi,ar
in his pocket TO appear on tne
street even In broad daylight, wnllc
under cover OF the darkness car
niyal OF crime was conducted by the thugs
and cut-t,roats. who so greatly outnum-
bered the good citizens that any attempt 10
arrest and punish the criminals was attend
ed with almost certain death 10 those who
might otherwise have been willing TO aid
in the enforcement of law and in visiting
upon the head Of the guilty the proper PEN
aities for its infraction. Dire alarm took
nosscssion OF the business community. and
Il fn,ly became evident that unless all
GOOD men were willing to sacrifice their
nroDertv and leave, il was necessary
10 terminate the existing reign OF terror.
The courts were parllyzed and their edicts
were dciied. Urged to desperation by the
cytremities OF the situation, q vigilance
committee was organized with great secre-
Cy. and the acccsSiOns were soon suii1clently
numerous to render its members bold
enough TO announce their purpose OF sup.
pressing the high-handcd outrages almost
hourly coming 10 light. Once organized,
no time was lost in carrying out the object
OF the association. On last sunday night
four despcradoes, known as 'Ohio Dan,'
sBlondy.' Ed. Enrieht, and another man,
were arrested. The first three were hanged
without ceremony, and the fourth was con-
yerted into q lead depository.
"At the ~ another camp two miles
west OF WeekSville. similar scene was
enacted. Three men, names unknown,
being hanged on the same tree and at the
same time. When the coach left Weeks
VILE. so Il lady passenger stated TO MI.
Hart, the bodies OF two men were stu
dangling in the air from a limb OF tree,
giving the early morning scene CHASTITY
aspect. 1t was also reported TO her that the
victims at the " were similarly suspend
ed, having been thus left by the ayenging
yicilantes so that there should he no posi-
bihty Of a return to life.
"The hanging of these seven men has In
all likelihood eXcrted a salutary effect in
improving the morals OF the town, and il
the protective society hanged only those
who deserved the death penalty, the fact
that the courts were imperative will large
" Justify their conduct. On another au-
thority il Is learned that last Monday wit
messed the hanging of three more men
whose high crimes had become known, and
who were considered too wicked to be al
lowed to afllict the earth any longer with
their presence"