Omaha daily bee., 1897-12-14
HOT TINES ON THE BORDER
Recollection Of Stirring Period in the
History Of Madison County, Neb.
CAPTAIN GILES AND HIS REGULATORS
A Law Unto Themselves and n Terror
to LAW Onlccrs-Thc Shcrin's
Raid, the Capture and the
Outcome.

Outcome.
No city in Nebraska can boast OF a more !,
law-abiding and peaceful class Of citizens |
than Norfolk Like other cities OF 6OO0 |
population, relates the Norfolk News. the |
Sugar City contains undesirable people who |
obey the laws Of the commonwealth and mu-
nictpality more through fear OF punishment
then from moral point of view: yet this
class consists Of very small per cent OF
the city's population-in fact much smaller
than in many towns the size Of Norfolk.
But there was period in the history of
Norfolk and Madison county when law was
defed and the lives OF peace oficens threat
ened for doing their duty. The first case
of organized defiance to good order and good
government occurred about twenty-six yeare
ago, in the early settlement OF the country.
The seat OF the disturbance wac in the
neighhorhood where Tilden now stands, and
many Of the old settlers will remember the
occasion. In the spring of 1870 settlers
commenced coming in and taking up home
stears in the western part Of Madison and
the eastern part of Antelope counties.
The new arrivals were, for the most part.
heads of families, and proceeded at cnce to
occupy and improve their land. But among
the number were two single men, who after
filing homestead entries and erecting claim
6hanties, returned to Omaha, where laborers
were in demand. with the intention of accu-
mulating enough money to purchase teams
and necessary implements to commence
farming the following year Among the
new homesteaders was man named Giles
Captain Giles. This man welded a powerful
Influence among the settlers, and when the
young men who had gone to Omaha failed
to return after an absence of eeveral weeks,
Giles came to the conclusion that it was
about time the vacant claim shanties needed
tenants, so he induced two of his friends,
who had recently arrived in the neighbor-
hood, to occupy the houses Of the absent
owners
JUMPED THEIR CLAIMS.
Shortly after appropriating the property of
the young men the treHgssers, at the sug-
gestion OF Captain Giles, filed contests in the
government land Office on the homesteads
The young men in Omaha were cited to ap-
pear and defend their claims. The case was
bitterly contested on both sides, but finally
decided in favor of the original homestead
eTs, but Giles friends refused to vacate the
premises. Just about this time Captain Giles
decided to organize a vigilance committee for
the purpose of intlmidatng the young men
and drive them out of the country. He gath
cred about twenty-five men under his COM
mand and armed them. Every member was
a walking arseual, ready at the command OF
Giles to obey any order the caOtan might
see fit to Dromulgate. The two homesteaders
had secured the services of constable to re-
move the trespassers from their premises.
HANGED THE CONSTABLE.
One Anril morning in the spring of 1871 a
constable appeared in the neighborhood OF
the disputed claims and proceeded 10 remove
Giles friends from the houses they had ap-
proprated. One family had already been re-
moved and their household goods piled upon
the public highway, when Captain Giles, at
the head OF twenty determined looking men,
rode over the hill and up to the house, and
in less than five minutes after their arrival
the constable was standing at one corner OF
the claim shanty with rcDe around his neck.
The majority of the crowd wanted to hang
him then and there, but the leader cautioned
them not to be too hasty, but to choke the
prisoner just a little in order to let him know
that they meant business. The suggestion of
Giles was adopted without debate, and one
end of the rope, thrown over the roof and
dropping down on the other side, was grasDed
by half dozen men and the constable raised
about foot from the ground. His would-be
executioners had forgotten to bind his hands
and legs and the constable, taking advantage
of the oversight refused to hang. GRAPHING
the rope above his head he succeeded in
reaching the roof and bracing himself against
the united efforts OF the fellows on the other
side. At the command of Giles the men on
the end of the rcDe ceased pulling and the
| constable fell to the ground. He was quickly
bound for the second execution, but before
being pulled up was informed that II he would
consent to replace the furniture he had re-
| moved end agree not to molest the claim
jumpers in the future he would be allowed to
go free. But the constable was nervy, and
told Giles to go to that place 1ngersoll says
| existeth not. Pull him up!" caid Giles, and
up the priooner went, and this time he stayed
until he was back in the face and his tongue
stuck out then he was lowered to the ground
and allowed to revive. Giles again reminded
| him that he could go free by submitting to
their demands, and rather than go through
the CTocess of third execution the constable
looked uI2On the cheerful side of the affair and
| gave in. He replaced the furniture and was
allowed to depart. He fingered in the neigh
| borhood only long enough to saddle his horse
and secure his Winchester and then he came
| to Norfolk and swore out warrants for every
member of the gang.
AT THE POINT OF wINCHEsTERS.
| John O'Banion was sheriff of the county at
that time and Owen Carrabine his deputy.
Anyone acquainted with these men knows
their reputation for nerve while acting as
peace officers. Carrabine came to Madison
county in 1869 and settled on farm south
west of town. O'Banion arrived some time
previous. Both officers were well acquainted
with Giles and the acting under his
leadership. The sheriff and his deputy were
fully aware that the chances were against
their returning with the men the warrants
| called for, but they did not shirk their duty.
| They went prepared for business and by 6
o'clock in the evening Of the day they started
for Giles neighborhood seven of the regu-
lators were captured at the point of Win
chesters, and on their way to Norfolk. Giles,
however, was absent from home and the Of
| ficers failed to secure him.
TOOK A SHOT AT GILES.
| 1t was 12 o'clock that night, just as the
officers and their prisoners were nearing the
Yellow Banks, that a wagon was heard APP
preaching and the voices of the occupants
distinctly heard. The wagon contained Cap
tain Giles and a man named Mahan. OBan-
ion ordered his prisoners to halt and
| line up by the side of the road, instructng
| Carrabine to shoot the first man who made
a move to escape or warn Giles and his COM
panions. When the wagon was within fifty
feet OF the party OBanlon stepped to the
middle OF the road and ordered Giles and
Mahan to surrender, telling them that he
would fire II they made the slightest resist
! ance. The latter threw up his hands, but