The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1889-08-29

Interruptlng question was asking
him.
"'That's the hangman's MOOSE l re-
piled.
'The judge seemed more interested
than ever and nothing would do but
that l should teach him how to make
the knot right there and then. Inever
for a moment thought that the Judge
had any particular reason for wanting
to become proficient in tying the hang
mans moose, and set to work to teach
him. After several lessons and trials
he was able to tie the knot to perfec-
ton and seemed much elated over his
success. The next morning found out
why the judge had been so anxious TO
learn the tying of the hangman's moose,
for when the doomed desperate, still
strong and defiant, was taken from the
flag-pole at nine o'clock and laid in the
bottom of wagon to be carried to the
place of execution-for his condition
would not admit of his ridinga bronco,
as was the custom-among the articles
that accompanied the crowd of regula-
tors and Daily's lowering friends was
the lariat on which was that moose that
had coached the judge in making.
Nobody had been hanged yet in
Helena and the judge had seen at once
the superiority of the scientific moose
over the rough knot that was usually
tied in the end of rope on occasions
OF this kind by regulators, and he had
concluded that he would give Helena's
first victim in primitive Montana law
the benefit of a proper sending off.
But, after all, Big Jim's death did not
come from the moose. That execution
was unexpectedly and intensely dra-
matte in its denouement, Its end was
an act of tragic heroism that would
have been possible nowhere except
among those lawless denizeus of the
Rocky Mountains.
"The crowd that followed the guard
of regulators that excited the con-
demned outlaw to his death was mot
ley gathering-friends and sympa-
thizers of Daily, law-abiding citizens
and strangers within their gates.
Among the former was a grim-lookinp
old man, his long gray hair flowing
from beneath his broad -brimmed hat
and his gray beard sweeping his breast.
His hat was turned up in front, adding
to the picturesqucness of his appear
ance. He rode scrawny, detected
looking bronco. Thrown across one
arm he carried arife with an unusually
long barrel. Two big Colts revolvers
showed conspicuously in his belt.
About three miles out on the trail there
was large scrub-oak tree, with a limb
extending out in such suggestive fash
ion that in passing under it no one ap-
preciating the frequent requirements
of the region could avoid noting and
commenting on the branch's splendid
possibilities.
Having arrived there the Judge
halted the procession and made short
explanatory speech to the crowd, and
with due respect for ultra-western law,
asked Jim what he had to say before
the final proceedings. Desperately
wounded, bound, and helpless as he
was, and with death staring him in the
face, there was no sign of weakening
or trace of fear on Daily's face as he
forced himself to sitting posture in
the wagon, and in gruff. strident
voice hurled the most terrible impre-
cations upon the Judge and regulators.
He ended his TRADE by exclaiming:
Ileave you fellars to be looked after
by my friends. and don't you forgit that
they'll do it well and quick. and give
you all an,invite to meet me in HI!
Go on with your show!'
''The judge stepped quickly to the
eide of the wagon, slipped the moose
over Daily's head, and gave the other
end of the line twist around the limb.
The helpless victim was lifted to his
feet and held up on each side by stall
wart regulator.
Get upr' said the Judge.
THE horses started forward and
dragged the wagon from beneath
Daily's feet. The moose frightened
about his neck, and dangling at the
end of it the desperate spun and quiv-
cred. Not word or sound had is
sued from the crowd, notwithstanding
the fact that over one hundred of the
men there present were friends of
Daily. But the rope had hardly tight
ened on the outlaws neck and swung
him from the limbs when the pictur-
esque old mountaineer. astride his de-
jected bronco, and who had stolidly
watched the proceedings from beneath
the wide brim of his hat, threw his
long rifle to his shoulder as quick as
thought and as Daily's body spun
around face toward him the loud re-
port of the weapon rang out among the
hills. The eonvulsive movements of
the strangling desperate ceased in
stantiy. The body straighteued out
and hung stiff and pulseless at the end
of the rope. The old marksman was
fully fifty yards from the tree when he
fired, but his bullet had been sent
between Daily's eyes, and end