Sierra County advocate. [volume] (Kingston, N.M.) 1884-1960, 1902-05-30
Two DoLLAKs Per YEAR

anu messenger. lhle gentleman
took an active part IN a great many
hAng'uRr. Any where . vigilance
COMMITTEES was concerned Mr.. Ex
was ons of them. He gol pretty
we'll noted, hated and despissd by
certain class, such ~ those known
as rounders. eto. But most I'll Of
tbs business men stood by Ex Besd-
Ter and kept him doing some kind
of work years after. Some tims
10 1868 or 1869, Besdler came down
from Helena 10 Benton. scoompanl-
cd by . man by the name OF VIM.
Henson. Henson had been 10 trou-
ble In Helena A ChinawomAn
had been murdered and robbed, and
Henson was tried for the murder.
but owing 10 tbs victim being .
Chinese aud Ex Bsedlar . friend 10
Henson, tho jury let him 60. bat Il
left = doubtful stain ON the prison.
or. Bsedler oams 10 Benton 10 got
Henson in on the people ~ night
watchman. Ex went around with
= paper aud got all OF the businass
mon to sign enough to pay Henson
a monthly salary Of $3.50. Time
went ON, and Henson told stories
Of hanging people mono could tis
the hansman's nooas like him.
Garroting, stealipgs and hold.ups
occurred often. A jswslry store
was robbed In Helena and they wir.
ed Henson to hold and arrest = sus-
peot ON the road 10 Benton. Hep-
son arrested HE man. placed him
In jail. but reported that be found
nothing on him. The next night
tho prisoner escaped and was never
heard from.
by June al lhs wolisrs, buffalo
hunters, hide seekers and freight
ers were In town; steamers we're
unloading, gambling was ~ its
highest point, and robbing and gar
roting occurred % often that II was
concluded to try and put . stop 70
Il. An old wolfer got on : pretend
ed spree. treated all hands, and in
vited Henson 70 drink. He had .
largo roll Of grsenbacks. which hs
xposed to all. Az the hours grew
late, the old wolfsr fell between two
houses known az the Ozark Alley"
That same alley had TWO watchers.
After few minutes Henson came
in on the drunken man aud took
his money. Tho maa started to
get up, when Henson struck him
over the head with his pistol and
then ran. Thstwo wAtohmsn could
plainly ace Henson do the job, hut
he out ran them. They kept things
very quiet. Henson did not show
up until the nsxt night. and The
boys we,e ready for him. Tk-y
had placed . tripod Of heavy scant.
ling back Of Fort Benton. and .
rope was placed through . ring
ready for ito victim. A party went
70 Henson and told him that they
hsd . man 10 hang, aud, - he vas
used TO II. thu II was best for him
TO msks the moose He said he
would buy the rops, and ran into
|. u. Bsker's store. reelsd Of thlr-
~ feet Of half.inch rope. telling
Baker he would pay him tomorrow.
A he passed old Henry. ths grave
digger, hs told him that be had .
job for him 10. morrow. Old Hen.
ry says. "All right. Henson" Hen.
son out-ran his escort 70 the hang.
;.s ls-, .s.s q. 10 sa!!ows sa:a 20
the crowd: "Whers is the man2"
A dozen hands laid hold OF him.
and q strong voice said: "Bill Hen.
son, you are the man" Ii took
bat moment 10 adjust the ready
moose around his worthless neck.
and up he went and stayed up IN.
I'LL the coronsr's jury cut him down
in the morning. A letter WAS found
on him from his slater begging him
to reform. They tore up the door
oi his room and found I'll the jew.
elry taken from The store In Helena
He had let his man 60 for the stud
$500 worth. This wss told me
by an eye witness Who csmpsd With
me On the great Northwest plsios
aud he said Bill Henson never paid