Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1895-01-31
THE PLOT LAID BARE.
SCOTS DEATH THE WORK OF
AN OATh.BOUNO SOCIETY.
frightened Members Of the Organization
Make . Full Confesson-Soms Promi.
rent Holt County People Mixed Up In the
Affair Whole story VIII Come Out In
the Preliminary Examination.
Fifty Men Implicated.

Fifty Men Implicated.
prosecution in the Barrett Scott cas-
have made sensational discoveries dur.
ing the past few days, but have kept
them quiet until today. The fact Is es-
tablished beyond doubt that the
assassination Of Scott was the work OF
an oath bound organization known as
the Home Protective association, with
a membership Of about nifty. including.
1t Is claimed. some Of the prominent
citizens OF Holt county. Several men,
'bers Of this organization. 1t Is said,
have made q clean breast Of the whole
murderous conspiracy. and the prose-
cution claims the story will all come
out in the preliminary examination.
These facts have been studiously
concealed on the ground that to make
it public before would have given the
yigilantes an opportunity to make way
with some Of the witnesses before the
time came for them to testify in court.
The first reliable information in regard
to the details Of this evidence was OBJ
tanned this morning. 1t was from {.
source which admits OF no doubt as to
its truth and discloses a number Of
sensational facts which have long been,
suspected. but are now for the first
time absolutely known. 1t Is clearly
established that the lynching Of Bar
rett Scott and the cowardly assault OF
his innocent family was the work Of thei
vigilance committee which holds sway
throughout the entire northern half Of
Holt county. More than that. the kill
ing was not alone the work Of a dozen
men, but the result OF a gigantic con-
spiracy. In which several men Of high
standing and supposed respectability
are more or less directly implicated.
The original vigilance committee waa
organized about twelve years ago. when
Doc Middleton and Kid Wade were in
the midst OF their career. After their
bands were dispersed the organization
died down and many OF the reputable
citizens. who were in control Of the
original committee. dropped out. A
yec ago last fall a new committee was
organized. which contained some OF IL
members Of the old organization and
many others, whose character was
such that they could not gain admit
lance to the old committee. The first
hanging done by the members Of the
new committee was that Of Ralph and
John Hills las summer. No effort was
ever made to bring them to justice. and.
encouraged by their success. they be-
gan to plot for the removal Of Barrett
Scott some time ago. At that time
here was considerable opposition to
he plan, as many members OF the COM
mittee were personally on friendly
terms with the ex-treasurer, but, while
they endeavored to prevent the con-
templated assassination, they dared not
breathe a whisper of the deadly plot to
anybody not connected with the organ
lzation. They were oath bound. and
the penalty for breaking that oath was
terrible and certain death.
Decreed that Scott should Die.
The matter drifted along in this way
antil Scott was released on bail, and
hen the final plot was formulated. A
meeting was held at which only one or
Two Of SCOTS friends were present,
md there 1t was determined that he
mould die. Twelve men were selected
10 do the work. and every one Of the
men selected was a bitter enemy Of
tcott. The details OF the plan were
EFT to these twelve men. The men,
bers OF the committee who were friend
y to Scott knew that he was to be
ynched, but they were not made ac-
luainted with the time and place at
which the murderous work was to be
accomplished. How far the conspiracy
extended Is indicated by a list Of mem
pers OF the committee that Is now in the
hands OF the attorney general. This in
sludes over fifty names. n among
them are n or two ex-members Of the
legislature. The meetings Of the COM
nittee were held at the houses OF vari-
gus members known to the prosecution.
ting was held when the arrangements
we're made for Scott's death he report
er was unable to learn, as there were
wheels within wheels In the vigilance
organization. and the members who were
known to be friendly to Scott were not
fully acquainted with all the details Of
NE plot In fact, 1t was the expectation
# the iynchers that since some of
ScOtt's friends were suspected Of men,
tership in the committee 1t would be
thought that he had been abducted by
Ais friends, and It was a part Of the
plot that this story should be started
% soon as the fact Of the lynching be-
same known.
These and additional facts were dis
closed by men within the past few days
who are actually members OF the vigil
tantes and who had taken the iron clad
oath OF secrecy. These men did not
participate in the lynching. but they
knew that It was to occur within q few
days. Until the body was found they
did not dare to open their mouths, but
- Il became evident that the matter
would v rest until the murderers
were brought to Justice. they plucked
up courage and made q clean breast OF
the whole story.
All the Members Known.
Not only are the names Of most Of
the members Of the committee and Of
every OF the twelve who did the
work known to the attorney general
and two or three others. but also the
passwords and oath Of the ~organiza-
ton. The killing OF the Hills was &C.
by a different detail OF men
from those who lynched Scott, although
two or three men drew a place In each
instance. How the secrets OF such an
organization could be kept by over
nifty men can only be understood by
those who are familiar with the situa-
ton In this part OF the state. Every
member knew that It was certain death
to be even suspected Of revealing any
part OF the work Of the committee. and
in the twelve years tina. q vigilance
has existed In Holt county
this ID the first time that the slighteNe
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