Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1892-09-10

ayes, said the Senator, retrospectively,
81 have assisted IN good many send
offs where robber or murderer was
launched into another world without the
tene6t of the clergy
"Wero you present at the execution
of the notorious Slade" asked one OF the
gentlemen.
''Yes, replied tie Montana Senator,
"snd could tell you story about that
execution. That was the one instance
where the gentleman whom we assisted
in making his exit was neither thief nor
murderer-or, at least, that was not the
crime for which he was hung"
"What was his crime7' again asked
the gentleman.
owe executed Mr.. Slade for treason
high treason against the Territory of
Montana" replied Sanders, thought.
fully, 'and thereby hangs a tale.
''As you know, was chief of the
Vigilance Committee, and we had sue
cess.ully engineered about forty or fifty
hangiugs, when We became imbued with
the idea that little more lawful form
of government would be to the better III
terests of our camp, Virginia City, then
having about 10000 population. So,
one evening, We gathered together on
the outskirts of the town in en- informal
mass meeting, and proceeded to choose
from among ourselves officers for our
local government Our organization
was the simplest thing in the world.
We would turn to one of our members
and say, You are pretty square sort of
fellow, and we know you to be as
straight as a string, so you shall be our
Judge, and to another, You are a
heavy built chap and have plenty of grit,
and you shall be Marshal. | was Dis
trict Attorney because | had smatter-
ing of law, aud it was upon my atiida-
Wits that AL warrants were issued 1t
seems strange in these days to think Of
constituting a court in such an Off
handed way aud without the slightest
vestige Of Federal authority; but VIC did
it, and our court was respected By all
the citizens of Virginia City, Montana.
That is, most of them all. For a time
all went we'll, but after a while, when
they we were not hanging so frequently
as before, the lawless element grew bold
or and more aggressive.
"The leader of this tough part of our
population was Mr.. Slade. had known
him for long time and We were the best
of friends He was warm hearted and a
powerful friend to those he liked, but u
perfect devil to those who ha ! incurred
his displeasure. have seen him come
into a saloon where perhaps fifty men
were engaged in playing billiards, cards,
etc, and insist that everything should
stop at once and that they all drink with
him. lie would line them all up to the
bar and generally had me next to him.
He would raise his glass with the rest of
them, would wait until they had finished,
when he would bring his glass on a level
with his eye, and about foot from it,
and stare, stare, stare at it with terrible
intentness for two or three minutes.
Then suddenly he would raise the glass,
dash it from him with terrific force at
the mirror, the floor, the barHeeper, or
anything that seemed to strike his fancy,
and draw his revolver and begin shoot
ing unfortunately. [ would say to
him, 'Sade, give me that pistol, and in
minute he would hand me his gun and
quiet down.
81 suppose have done that same
thing ten or dozen times. never
could understand him at such times. He
was not afterany one with deadly intent.
lie simply seemed to be seized with a
mad passion, which he could not con
troll. lie was the recognized leader of
the toIghs, and bad about a dozen satel-
lites always on hand to do his bidding.
A favorite diversion of theirs was to dash
down the mountanside from their cabin
homes, load up at the first convenient
saloon, and proceed to some house OF
pleasure, all the time getting drur ker
and drunken. In the morning, when the
peaceful citizens got up, they would sec
a pile of logs, not one left standing. and
q group of shi7erlng and crying women.
This scheme of demolishing houses was
the principal pastime of this lawless
crowd.
"One morning, after we had organ
ICED our court. news came that MI.