New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-10
TM[g [EMGILE3 D[D[E.
HiNGHAN'S TREE.
"REMINISCENCES OF TIE DAYS WHEN JUS
TICE IN MONTANA WAS SWIFT.
of The Chicago Record.

Correspondence of The Chicago Record.
A. the recent laying of the cornerstone OF the
therein was PhoIogTaph OF hangmans trfe
in the early DAYS of Montana is rapidly deca yng-
IN fact. nothing repains but stump rising about
able that this evidence the tall, stately pine
1t is doubtful II more noted tree ever existed
in the West. and It's distinction was a unique
Hch nS n dSiS Sc from |" s'
npaIy met t their fate on G 1afTeoI
Helena. yet since that date no man has been eX--
Every '' person executed on this tree probably
In b ac tI nem@ f OF mob Each had publ
trial! but from which no appeal s9uid be taken
was the decision it took but few moments after
tie usual allowance Of time toT rggoqs pTePaT% "a
SITS where the tree stood.
The first @ hanF F on nS gGs So, g9 IN
cold blood In Woods-st In Tins city, and for which
the other prominent executions those OF
bratcd criminals II from these executions
That an idea Of justice as administered In the
early days OF Montana may he had. the following
given. Among the oldtimcrs the belief exists that
II WAS far better system than The one In vogue
on April % 1870 John zimmerman rode into
"1Tss Lonard raRG9er hylnE mean tn9 cn
ard. according 70 zimmerman, was riding horse
whom drew n revolver and without warning sho;
HIN In the thigh This caused Leonard TO fall from
his horse. whereupon the two men bounced upon
him and beating his head almost To- Jelly left him
Leonard was found unconScious upon the high
way the next morning 10y neighhors. who immedi,
the community. zimmerman being dispatched 10
ganized a posse to search for the desperadoes
From II description OF the men and their horses
ness suspicion directed toward two men who
s en eF Eo nss as Wso me G S sm
stating that they wished TO inspect some mining
r.eT h.
The men were quickly located in Helena and
hcation by the wounded man who recognized one
OF the horses as that ridden hy the man who had
The horse identified by Leonard being ridden ny the
10y Vt ~ I'm t' Il 90 'nr, % % nos tb ,Su
by Leonard as having been one or the two men who
At o'clock Thursday evening, April % 1870, n
poster was Girc',!atrd in the streets OF this city
Courthouse square. the object OF the meeting not
Fets ass rTo h at - W. IL az CnT~u S' th
Colonel l4wren9" OF the law firm OF Lawrence *
Fellow citizens, a cold hooded murder has been
attempted upon the life of an inorensivc and peace
money. am satisfied that the, authors Of this
doubt / favor swift and condiEn punishment.''
a motion was made that the prisoners be tried
other was made that thev be tried now
speech urging in favor Of public and fair trial
10 O'Clock Saturday. ana n motion 10 this effect
put and carried without dissent.
At the hour designate a large assemblage had
gathered IN the square; the prisoners brought
the adduced IN ordinary trial
which of such conclusive that the
prisoners announced they had nothing in rebuttal
offer beyond previous good character Qualitica-
nous vote the desPsradoes We're declared guilty
ana sentenced to immediate death. being allowed
three hours 20 make peace with their God. where
the march to ''hanCmaus tree begun.
a large crowd accompanied the prisoners. but II
bosterOus. GemonStrutiVc mob. Converse
imagine body OF men marching election
booth. Arriving at the tree two ropes found
dangling the limb. The hanEman's had
already bsen prepared The prisoners stepped
under them with firm step, the nooseS tight
ened, and with the lifting of his hat by the chair
quick jerk the other ends OF the ropes and the
two desperadoes had paid the penalty OF their
crime
The crowd dispersed quietly as It had gathered
after securing the distant ends OF the ropes
base OF the tree; the Coroner notified and tho
last public trial and execution in Helena except
through due process of law at end. Such
was justice In the early days OF Montana before
courts had esta blshed themselves In the regular
routine OF procedure.
The justification of the procedure was plainly
evidenced from Its results. Not innocent man
1t Is believed. suffered unjustly the hands OF n
public jury and judge. That IL deferred many
crimes is tndisputab lc for the ending thereof was
certain and not OF loni; drawn out nature. The
oldtimers at their recent meeting unanimous
In the statement that, compared with other early
day communities where courts and laws were ur-
daring crimes that so frequent In new mining
districts. "