Morning journal and courier., 1885-05-26

rived at Helena, or ssLast Chance Guleh D as it was called, name given it because it was struck late in the preceding fall. This was the liveliest town l ever saw. Five thousand people were there, streets were blockaded with merchandise and auctioneers were cry
 ing their wares.
 Nv first court opened the last Monday in
 July, 1865, and my next on the first Monday
 of December. A murder had just been com
 mitted, the murderer arrested and held for
 trial in the courts. An indictment was found
 against him and he was put upon trial. The
 court room was packed with earnest listen
 CTS during the entire trial, among them be-
 ing many vigilantes The accused was found
 guilty of manslaughter, which was satisfac-
 tory to the court and the people, and no ap-
 peal was taken. Sentence was passed and
 the man was taken to Virginia City to serve
 out his time in the territorial prison. One
 day while the Governor was absent his secre-
 tary, who was acting Governor, while on drunken spree pardoned the criminal. He
 started for Helena, swearing vengeance on the witnesses who testified against him. He
 arrived at Helena between8 8 and o'clock in
 the evening, was surrounded by the
 vigi1antes and at 10 o'clock was hung by the vigilantes with the pardon received from the acting Governor in his pocket. This trial in the courts for murder was the first ever held in Montana and it marked 8 new era in its jurisprudence. The Helena bar was com posed in the main of we'll educated, good lawyers and accomplished gentlemen some of whom had held judicial positions in the States.
 The seasons of 1866 and 1867 witnessed a large emigration of families of the better class to the territory. Fond wives had said in the language of Ruth, "Whither thou goest I will go, where thou lodgest l will lodge, thy people shall be my people and thy God my God" The presence of virtuous ladies inspired the rough miners with re- spect, and their gentle admonitions to the wayward prodigal were like merciful visita- ! tions to the doomed. Missionary work was
 commenced, churches were built, schools opened and new era began
 to dawn. Ten thousand people the land. All the throbbing arteries of a prosperous commonwealth beat in harmony for it's future glory. Agriculture, commerce, the arts and sciences began to flourish, and \ the supply of gold continued to reward ln- I dustry at the mines.
 After giving the yield of gold and silver at the mountain mines, showing it to be the ! third largest of any State or territory, the | judge concluded his very interesting address as follows:
 The country is inviting. The power and ! dread of the Indian is gone. Cattle, horses and sheep live in pastures and contentment upon her hills and valleys. Christian homes dot the landscape and industry is rewarded. Wheat, rye, oats, barley and all the cereals grow in great prOfusion and of the best qual- ity. Corn alone, owing te the coolness of ! the nights, fails of maturity. Old routes of travel are improved and sate. The Union Pacific railroad with it's branches reaches up into the territory for it's commerce with com fortable palace cars for travel. The North ern Pacific road is completed and running through Helena, the capital of the territory, ! to the Pacific ocean, so that now you can take the cars here and ride to the gold fields ! in Montana with ease and comfort, visiting | the matchless geysers in the Yellowstone Park, called Wonderland, unequalled in matchless beauty on the globe. Churches are well filled on the Sabbath, schools are provided with accomplished teachers and so- ciety is as good and life secure in Helena ! to-day as in Connecticut.
 And this is Montana. Fair in her begin l ming, vigorous in growth, athletic in her de velopment, what shall be her future? Standing as we do at the bright morning ot her existence, it is proper not to contemplate the brightness of her rising, but to anticipate the glories of her monday splen- dor: Her years to come shall be marked with a teeming population, vigorous, full development of all the agencies that shall make her happy, prosperous commonwealth, whose representatives hands shall help guide the destinies of the republic in the councils of the nation. And if the liberties of the people go down beneath the surglng waters of political anarchy and discord her noun tain homes shall preserve their charter till the storm is past end then hand it down to a ransomed people whose God is the Lord. The lecturs was listened to with deep in- terest by the large audience present and at it's close @ unanimous vote of thanks was rendered to Judge Munson for his very able and interesting paper.
 The interest in the Historical society is constantly increasing, as evidenced by the large attendance at each meeting and the in creasing membership. Noticeable, too, is
 the large number of valuable additions to the
 society of works of art, both ancient and
 modern, another room having become neces-
 sary for this class of gifts and loans. It was
 opened to the inspection of members last
 evening and was much admired.