Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1902-05-29
IN EARLY DAYS.
Story How Bill Henson, a Montana
Hangman, Was Hung,
RoeBER AND MURDERER.

"In the year of 1869, just before |
went to Fort Denton, there occurred a
hanging which is worthy of record. In
tie early days of Montana. the stages
had a man by the name of Elk Beedler
as a guard and messenger. This gen
tleman took an active part in a great
many angings. Any where a vigilance
committee was concerned Mr.. Elk was
one of them. He got pretty we'll noted.
hated and despised by a certain class,
such as those known as FOUNDERS, etc.
But most all of the business men stood
by Elk Beedler and kept him doing
some kind of work years after. Some
time in 1868 or 1869, Beedler came
down from Helena to Benton accompa-
MED by a man by the name of William
Henson. Henson had been in trouble
up at Helena. A Chinawoman had been
murdered and robbed and Henson was
tried for the murder, but owing to the
victim being a Chinese and Elk Beedler
a friend to Henson. the jury let him 60,
but it left a doubtful stain on the pris-
oner. Beedler came to Benton to get
Henson in on the people as night
Waterman. Elk went around with a
PAPER anu BOI all the DuSlltSS men "
sign enough to pay Henson a monthly
salary of $3.50. Time went on, and
Henson told stories of hanging people
none could tie the hangmans moose
like him. Garroting, stealing or hold
ups occurred often. A jewelry store
was robbed in Helena and they wired
Henson to hold and arrest a suspect on
the road to Benton. Henson arrested
hf- pInand him in ioi1 htt rnnprf-
ed that he found nothing on him. The
next night the prisoner escaped and
was never heard from.
BY June all the wolfers, buffalo hunt
ers. hide seekers and freighters were
In town: steamers were unloading,
gambling was at it's highest point, and
robbing and garroting occurred so of
ten that it was concluded to try and
put a stop to it. An old wolfer got on
a pretended spree, treated all hands.
and invited Henson to drink. He had a
large roll of bills which he exposed to
all. AS the hours grew late the DID
wolfer fell between two houses known
as the Dark Alley" That same alley
had two watchers. After a few min
utes Henson came in on the drunken
mar and took all his money. The man
started to get up. when Henson struck
him over the head with his pistol and
then ran. The two watchers could
plainly see Henson do the job but he
out ran them. They kept things very
quiet. Henson did not shOw up until
the next night and the boys were ready
for him. They had placed a tripod of
heavy scantling back of Fort Benton,
and q rope was placed through a ring
ready for its victim. A party went to
Henson and told him that they had a
maj to hang, and as he was used to it,
that it was best for him to mak the
Moose. He said he would buy the rope
and ran into |. G.. Bakers store, reeled
of thirty feet of half-inch rope, telling
Baker that he would pay tomorrow. AS
he passed old Henry, the grave digger,
he told him that he had a job for him
tomorrow. Old Henry said: "All right,
Henson" Then Henson out ran his es-
cort to the hanging bee, and at the gal
lows said to the crowd: where is the
MANI" A dozen hands laid hold of
him, and a strong voice said to him,
BILL Henson you are the man" 1t took
only a moment to adjust the moose
around his worthless neck, and up he
went, and stayed up until the coroner's
jury cut him down in the morning. A
letter was found on him from his sister
begging him to reform. They tore up
his floor and found all the jewelry
taken from the store in Helena. He
had let his man go for the stuff, $1,000
worth. This was told me by an eye
witness who camped with me on the
great northwest plains, and he said
Bill Henson never paid Baker for that
rcpe."-C. B. S., in Deming Headlight.
You never heard of any one using
Foley's Honey and Tar and not being
--A.ll o-I- DIa.0zaav