St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-10-15


scores of men from mere lust
of blood. For the moment there
was no law to appeal to and the mining
camps were completely terrorized. The
leader of this remarkable gang was one
Henry Plummer, who had made his APP.
pearance in California in 1852. There
he was elected marshal of the town in
which he lived, but before the expiration
OF his term murdered a man who had
surprised him in ali intrigue with his
wife, and was arrested, tried and sent
to the penitentiary. Friends finally
secured his pardon, he was enabled to
continue his lawless career, and had
half a dozen additional murders aud
several robberies 10 his credit when he
turned I'D in Montana in 1868. Plum
mer was handsome man, OF courteous
address and unquestioned bravery, and
reputed the quickest and Surest shot in
the West. Soon after his arrival in
Montana he made himself sheriff of
Bannack City. and at the same time
organized the band of highwaymen
whose long list of crimes | have lust
been reciting.
'In December, 1863" said ex-senator
Sanders, in speaking OF this stirring
and erentful period, Representatives
OF the better element of the camps as
semb!ed and organized vigilance COM
mlttee for the suppression of lawlesS-
ness and disorder. The first man
arrested by the Montana vigilantes was
one George Ives, a prominent member
of Plummer's band. He had brutally
murdered an inoffenSive German. and
was caught red-haIded. His captors
carried him to Virginia City, where
l.500 men quietly assembled to decide
The murderei'S fate. A man named
Byam was chosen judge, and l, having
removed from Bannack short time
before. agreed to prosecute the accused,
while no less than five lawyers. re-
tanned by the road agents, appeared
to defend him. The trial was conducted
in tho open air and lasted two days.
Late i'll The evening of the second day
the jury retired and half an hour later
brought in d verdict of guilty. Ives
friends were present i'll force and deter
mined 10 secure his release. l saw that
whatever was to be done must be done
quickly, and climbing upon the wagon
that had served as bench for the Judge,
moved that Ives, having been formally
declared robber and murderer. should
at once be hung by the neck until he
was dead. Tie motion was carried.
and without delay preparations were
begun for the execution. A pole was
carried into an unfinished log hut near
by and propped up so that its end pro-
jected over one of the walls. Then a
rope was fastened to the pole and a dry
goods box placed beneath it. In less
than half an hour the box was kicked
from under the feet Of Ives and the first
conviction ami execution in Montana
were accomplished facts.
''However, the road agents failed to
profit by the warning we had given
Them" continued Col. Sanders, land
threatened dire vengeance against all
who had taken part in the trial and
execution of Ives. On the other hand,
the vlgilantes quickly erected a more
thorough organization, and created an
executive committee with full power to
act in all cases. Ives had Implicated
one Alex Carter in the crime, for which
he was tried and executed, and twenty
four vigiiantes set out for Cottonwood
to arrest Carter. The latter had
been given timely warning, and
made his escape, but his pursuers cap
tured Instead one Red wager, q redoubt-
able member of Plummel's band, and
on the way back to town also picked up
u. w. Brown, another member of the
gang. wager made full confession to
his captors, giving the names of all the
members of the band and complete
details of their organization. Both he
and Brown were hung near where they
were found, and the committee rode
back to the city well satisfied with their
work. During the month of January,
1864, the vigilantes captured, SEN
two members of the band. includ-
ing Plummer himself. There were
few il any public trials, and justice was
dealt out with speed and vigor. When
a murderer or thief was captured his
fate was settled without delay. The
captain of the party of vigilantes
making the capture would say: All in
favor of hanging step to the right side
OF the road, and those opposed 90 to the
left A majority usually favored hang
ing. and within quarter of an hour
another kighwayman would be sent to
his final account.
"Plummer, the leader of the band,
was executed Oh Jan. 10, aud he met
death with his customary GOODNESS.
When taken to the place of execution
he quietly asked that as long drop as
possible be given him, and coolly SUPER
his own neck. The last of the band to
die was William Hunter. He had
escaped from Virginia City, but was
finally located at Gallatin. where he was
arrested OH Feb. 2 by four resolute
vigilantes. He left Gallatin with his
captors. but never reachedVirginiaC City
alive. When the party halted for break
fast next morning, the snow was
scraped from space at the foot of a
tree and fire built. A few feet above
strong limb projected from the tree.
After breakfast a brief consultation
was held, and Hunter was told that he
must die. He accepted his fate quietly,
shook hands with the vigilantes and
stood up. Then his arms were pinioned,
rope thrown over the limb, and an
instant later he was struggling help
lessly in the air. Thus ended the last
| member of Henry Plummer's band.
After exterminating Plummer and
his band, the better element in the COM
mGnity." said ex-senator Saunders in
| conclusion, decided that Virginia City.
which then had population of about
10000, must have more lawful form
| OF government, so one evening we held
mass meeting on the outskirts
of the town and established a peace
court. For time this court was held in
great respect by all, but when execu-
tons grew less frequent the lawless ele-
mcnt Ill the town once more became
bold and aggressive. The leader of this
element was one j. A. Slade. The lat
Ter was connected in no way with the
Plumner gang, and when sober was, in
fact, very decent sort of fellow. He
was warm.hearted and good friend to
those he liked. but when drunk a per-
feet demon. He was recognized leader
of the toughs, and always had half a
dozen followers about him. ready to do
his bidding. A favorite pastime of
Slade and his pals was to dash down the
mountain side from their cabin homes,
load up at the first saloon and then
make night of it at some house Of
pleasure. Next morning when peaceful
citizens got up they would find a pile of
logs. not one left standing, and group
OF shivering aud crying women. nssakf7a
Zone morning, soon after we had Or
ganized the peace court. to which |
acted as attorney, word was received
that Slade and his friends had passed
the night at disreputable house, and,
| as usual. DESTROYED iC in the morning