The Bessemer indicator., 1893-08-19
THE NERvIEsT OF MEN.
X. BEIDLER, ONE OF MON
TANA'S DEPUTY MARSHAlS.
HI, Great Bravery and sagncity-A Den
OF Licensed Murlerers-A W""i"-he
Marshal Hanged on His Own Gaii"ws-
The Murderer Escape.

One OF the most unique charact-
ers of modern times died recently in
Helena. Mont J. X. Beidler was
his name, but few ever thought OF al
fixing the first letter and this sturdy,
fearless man went through his peril
Gus career as X. Beidler. No one
ever knew what the X stood for, but
the name was synonym for bravery
and intrepidity in the lawless days
OF the first mining fever in Montana.
says the New York Recorder.
Beidler's chief work in the early
part of his career was the destruc-
tion in 1868 Of bad gang of men
who made Bannack, near Virginia
City, their headquarters. robbing.
pillaging, numbering in the gnise OF
peace officers. Henry Plummer,
notorious scoundrcl. was the leader,
and he induced his pals to form
combination and select him as sher-
ifT. He then appointed six OF the
worst men in Montana as his dep
uties and these despcradoes cut
wide swath of murder and riot with
out interference until Beidler heard
of the conspiracy through the mur-
der of one of the gang who had sick
ened of the career he was leading.
The victim was named Dillingham;,
a man of much better character than
those by whom he was surrounded.
He was deputy of Plummer and
after time he determined to cut
loose from his associates. Accident
ally overhearing a plot to lob and
kill miner named Dodge, who was
to leave Bannack for Virginia City
with $1,000 in nuggets and dust.
Dillingham; informed the man of the
plan, but the latter, an honest. un-
suspecting fellow, refused to believe
it.
True to their plot, four OF tho
deputies" met Dodge the next day
in lonely spot. and as he regarded
them as law officers he greeted the
cordially and told them of Dilling-
hams warning. This intelligence
showed them that it would be un-
wise for them to carry out their
plans, SO they resolved to kill Dill
| lingham instead for his "treachery."
Afew days later Dillingham; was
watching the trial of u case before IN
impromptu justice up in the noun
tains when he was accosted by three
of the deputies, Ives. Stinson and
| Lyons, who called him into the
brush. He followed them, unsus-
pecting any danger, and in a mo
ment a revolver was thrust into his
breast and fred The .mutlied sound
reached no other ears than those c4
the assassins. and poor Dillingham;
was left to die until X. Beidler
shifted murder and found his body a
few days later.
His keen intellect soon brought out
the facts and the villains were tried.
| Ives and Lyons swore to an alibi, but
IN honest miners jury would have
none of it and sentenced the trio tc
be hanged. The time of execution
was settled for four o'clock the same
afternoon.
X. Beidler. as official territorial
representative. was appointed to
carry the sentence into effect. Select.
ing good comrade, the scaffolds
were erected and the graves were
dug. 1t was bright evening in
Indian summer and the entire popu.
lation of the Clutch assembled on a
sloping hillside to witness tho first
hanging in Montana.
All was hustle, roar and confusion.
The repulsive scaffolds had beon ON
pleted. and close by were the empty
graves awaiting tenants. Tho con-
demned were marched to the gallows
in single file under a strong guard.
The crowd followed, hooting and yell
ing, among whom were goodly
number who were either downright
members of the gang to which the
prisoners belonged or else werc in
sympathy with them.