Daily globe., 1883-07-31
The Miles Citn Larnchtna.

The following which appeared in the
Mandan Pioneer of recent date is doubt
less reliable report of the condition of
affairs at Miles City and which brought
about the necktie party which recently oc-
Cured there. The people the city are usu-
ally orderly and reputable, but for the ex-
istence Of gang of roughs which has for
some time made that city their headquar-
ters. 1t is generally acknowledged that
his punishment was well deserved, and the
people of Miles City thoroughly regret the
necessity for self-protection which forced
them to the course pursned:
'There is q gang of about twenty roughs
in Miles City, of which gang the man Rig
ney was one. There is no sdoubt that he
went to the house of Mr.. Campbell for an
evi! purpose. Anyhow he was caught,
taken to Jail and subsequently lynched.
1t may be felt by some persons that the
punishment was too severe for what he had
done, but it must be remembered that he
was bad man and law and order citizens
approve of the hanging.
"Rigney has some friends, and they have
threatened to burn the town. 1 hear that
they attempted to burn the InteT-Ocean.
A man named Ryan, who Is leader of the
toughs, is now under arrest for firing the
Cosmopolitan. The man Rigney was hung
about three hours before the fire broke
out. There is no doubt that the fire of the
Cosmopolitan and the stores was incen-
diary-started by the confederates Of Rig
ney. just when it caught there were three
distinct reports, and instantly the building
was all afame. believe it had been laid
with kerosene cartridges. The vigilantes
have ordered out the toughest of the slug
gers, and if they don't go pretty quick
there will be some music can tell you.
"John CRinnick was shot, but he claims
that it was done by himself accidentally
when cleaning his rifle. He was the pro-
prietor of the Cosmopolitan and the origi-
nal owner of the townsite. He is lying in
dangerous condition"
"Who are these roughs?"
"They are what are called FOUNDERS
that is, men who hang around the saloons
and gambling houses, picking up money
where they can. They are bad men and a
disgrace to any town. This is the first
hanging that Miles City has had"
The Billings Herald says of the affair:
The action of certain citizens of Miles
City in taking the law into their own
hands and executing William Rigney,
was very grave stop Especially for Rig
ney). 1t appears that number of very
hard cases, of the same kidney as Rigney,
had been making their rendezvous in
Miles for some time, and growing bolder
by degrees, had gradually become terror
to the respectable portion of the scommu-
nifty. Rigney and his co-mates in .iniqui-
ty had been warned to leave the town,
but treated athe notice with contempt
Rigney, it seems, had made some horri-
BILE threats as to what he would do to
certain members of the family of a Mr..
Campbell, and when arrested was break
! ing into CampbelPs house, with the appa-
| rent intention of carrying bis threat into
execution. Under these aggravating Cir
| cusmtances, and tired of the tyranny of
g man, who was worse than a wild beast,
a number of respectable citizens conclud-
| ed to cut the Gordian knot and make an
example that should strike terror to the
| hearts of the criminal element of the
town. There is no doubt that Rigney was
none too good for the fate he met, and
| that by his determined course in vice, he
was accessory to his own death. There are
others of his class in eastern Montana
and if the hanging of Rigney be the means
of letting them know that their wicked
ways will no longer be endured in eastern
Montana, Rigney will be more i usefu
dead than he was alive. If FOUNDERS will
set themselves up in opposition to the
laws of the country, OF morality and Of
decency, and outrage the rights of re
spectacle citizens they must learn thai
society will turn on them, and then those
that live by the revolver and sand bag
must finish by the rope.