The Anaconda standard., 1896-02-15
Butte DEPARTMENT.
JUDGE ALEX. DAVIS
An Old Pioneer of Montana Critically
Ill in st. Louis.
HIS RECORD IN EARLY DAYS
Members Of the Viglla1te Commit
tee VIII Remember Him as a
Fearless Man-An Inter
esting Story.
HIS RECORD IN EARLY DAYS

and other parts OF the state VINO VIII
be interested in the following from the
st. Louis Globe Democrat concerning
Alexander Davis. a character promin-
ent in the early days of Montana, who
is reported to be critically i'll in st.
Louis:
Judge Alexander Davis, a man with
a remarkable history, whose name fig
ures in Mark Twain's famous book.
"Roughing It," lies critically i'll at the
Missouri Baptist sanitarium on Taylor
avenue, and may live but n few hours
Forty four years ago he came TO Mis-
souri,, and during his early manhood
held several positions OF honor and
trust: but II was during his six years
residence in Montana that he became
celebrated as the peoples Judge. and
became factor in tanning the wild ele-
ments in that wild western country.
Judge Davis was born in carter
county. KY, Feb. 2S, 1892. A few years
later his father, George N. Davis.
moved to Greenup county and died
there when Alexander the youngest of
l. children, was Is years of age. Dis
sensions arose over the division Of the
estate, and Alexander, at the age of 20.
gave up all claim 10 his part, and came
TO Missouri without a cent. He stud
led law at st. Joseph with Henry Vo-
ries, who was one supreme judge of
the state. Soon after his admission to
the bar. Mr.. Davis was elected prose-
cutting attorney OF Buchanan county,
of which ST. Joseph is the county seat.
He served two terms in the lower house
of the general assembly, from 1857 to
1861, and during the same time was city
attorney OF st. Joseph.
In 1858. while in his 2Gth year, he was
married to Miss Mary Edwards, a
daughter of Or. John IL. Edwards. Of
jefferson City Mo. They had one child
James c. Davis, born in 1869, who is
now practicng law in ST. Joseph. and
is a member OF the democratic state
central committee.
When the war broke out judge pa
Wis. who had just completed his second
term in the legislature. Joined the con-
federate army, and Gov. Claib jackson
appointed him colonel I'm Brigadier
General Stems division of General
Prices army. He served at the battle
of Pea Ridge, and nearly all the bat
ties in Missouri
In 1868. he was captured by the fed
erals, but after some delay was paroled
This event proved the turning point in
his life He found Il difficult TO pros
per in this >state, and decided to go
west. Virginia city, Mont was his
objective point. one Of the first min
ing fevers that ever struck that coun-
try was then on. ard lawlcesncss
reigned supreme Not even the torri
FORMED, and the road agent fourlshed.
and was amenable to nobody. Murder
was an everyday crime and the fcs-
tive horseman whose great cp,cialty
was riding into saloons and grocery
stores and shooting everything and
everybody IN sight fun of holes had
matters all his own way
The inevitable result came. Socrat
bands OF vigilantes were formed for the
restoration OF order and the presor.ya
tion of peace. The leader of the larrpst
band invited Judge Davis TO ioin the
organization. and because ne refused 10
DO so, because its affairs were conduct
ed in secret, he was suspected of being
a road agent" himself. and there was
strong talk Of hanging him before he
had an opportunity to prove upon what
kind Of a basis he stood Finding him
10 be man Of such determined char
acter the leading men in tho communi-
" determined 10 establish "A peoples
court and make him judge. An election
was accordingly held and AIaxapdsr
Davis thereby became the first iudre
ever elected I'm Montana That WAS I'm
1864 and II was almost two years he /
lore the territorial government was or !
Eanized. During that time he had
charge Of the peoples court which han
dled matters both civil and criminal /
ana when the federal court took charge .
or affairs every decision that Judge D1- ,
Wis had rendered was ordered 10 stand !
By reason Of the right vested i'm hin,
by the voice OF the rough pcoDla win
whom he had 10 deal. as wen as by his
own great strength OF character the .
word Of Judge Davis became tha law .
ailu II ne sentenced "A man to death I
there was but one thing for the banr- /
man 10 do; and If he condemned n man
10 Punishment from the community the
objectionable party stood not upnu the
oraer OF going. but went at once. and
never returned.
one day Judge Davis most rvcitin,- F
experiences during those memorable .
times occurred In connection with char
lie Slade, the notorious outlaw ,vb,
had killed at least a dozen mon. ono
day Slade had amused himself for soy
eral hours by riding through the town
anu mo houses and shooting at every |
thlnS within range Finally the neopIa ,
tired Of his actions. and dctermin.5 ., /
put an everlasting quictus on tbam ,
forthwith. 10y lynching him Sla3o /
who knew Judge Davis persnnaIl,-' ?
sought refuge I'm his court room T6a
NlEliantes pressed upon him. and Slade
IN order 10 intimidate them. drew re-
NolNer ami pointed il n Judge Davis.
hetd' IN a manner that meant. IF Won
attempt 10 harm me. ! viii kin yo,ir
Judge first" Judge Davis induced tIa
mob 10 leave temporarily. and the, ad-
Nised Slade TO fly for his life. The lar
ter promised 70 DO SO, and started .
away, but turned back when he saw thr
mob outside, and the members charged F
upon the court room and captured him
\ few minutes later his body was u.s.
cillating at the end OF a rope This in
cident was made famous by Mark
Twain. but he gave il several touches
OF humor which were probably not an
parent at that time.
In 1867 Judge Davis visited jefferson
City. No, whore DC was married to
Miss Alice Edwards. a sister of his DO
ceased wife. In those DAYS travel In
the West was slow, and was done most
ly IN wagons. Judge Davis and his
bride were winding their tortuous
course through the mountains. IN the
company Of one other family when they
were surrounded by a large party -