The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1905-08-24

A Tale Of VigilaAte Days in
Montana

the vigilantes Of Montanay are ques-
tons which the late United States
Senator ". =. Sanders, OF Montana.
once answered In graphic manner.
Sitting In senate committee room
at Washington one afternoon In 1909
he said
I'VE executed Mr.. Slnde for trca-
son-hieh treason against the Terri
tory OF Montana. and thereby hangs
a tale
las you know | was chief Of the
vigilance committee and we had sue
cessfully engineered about 10 or 30
baneings with the Idea that little
mure lawful form Of govern ment
would be to the better interests OF
our camp. Virginia City then having
about 10000 population. So. one
evening. we gathered together on the
outskirts OF the town In an Informal
mass meeting. and proces Do to
choose FROM among ourselves ofiicefs
for our local government.
"Our organization was the simplest
thing 10 the world.
I'VE would turn TO one OF our mem.
befs and say. You are pretty square
sort OF fellow, aud We know you 10
he as straight as string, 80 you
shall be our judge, and to another /.
You are heavy built chap and have
plenty OF grit, and you shall be mar.
shall | was district attorney be-
cause ! had a smatterine OF law. and
II was upon my afiidavits that all
warrants were issued. IL seems
strange In these days to think OF con-
stitating a court In such an OF hand
way and without the slightest yestiae
OF federal authority; but we did IT.,
and our court was respected by all the
citizens OF Virginia City, Mont.
That is, most OF them.
For a time all went well, but
after a while, when they found we
were not hanging 50 frequently as
before, the lawless element grew
holder and more aggressive.
THE leader OF this tough part oil
our population was Mr.. SIade. / had
known him for long time and We
were the best OF friends. lie wa,
warm hearted, and powerful friene
to those he liked, but perfect dew
10 those who had incurred his dis
pleasure. l have seen him come int
a saloon where perhaps 80 men wer,
engaged In playing billiards, cards
etc. and insist that everyone should
, stop at once and that they all drinI
With him. He would raise his glas
. with the rest OF them. but. instead
OF drinking with them, would wal
until they had finished, when b,
would bring his glass on a level will
, his eye, and about foot from IL
, terrible intentness for two or Tire
minutes. Then suddenly lie would
raise the glass, dash IL from hin
: with terrific force at the mirror, tn
: floor, the barkeeper or anything tina
seemed TO strike his fancy ana dra'
. his revolver and begin shooting Ia
5 discriminately. would say TO him
slade, give me that pistol, and In
minute he would hand ire the gu
. and quiet down.
II suppose ! have done that sam
thing ten or a dozen times. ] neye
could understand him at such times
lie was not after anyone with deadl
intent. He simply seemed to b
seized with a mad passion, which b
I could not control lie was the recos
nized leader OF the toughs. and ha
about a dozen satellites always 0
hand TO do his bidding. A fayoFit
: diversion OF theirs was to dash dow
. the mountain side from their cabi
= homes. load up at the first conyenieu
saloon and proceeded 10 some hous
, OF pleasure, all the time gettin
L drunken. In the morning when n
peaceful citizens got up, they woul
see a pile OF logs, not one left stant
Ing, and group OF shivering an
IS crying women. This scheme Of d,
d molishing houses was the princip i
n passion Of the lawIess crowd.
= lone morning. after we had o
e CANNED our court, news came TIN
J. Mr. Slade and his chosen friends ha
d spent a night at a dlsreputab
house. and In the morning destroys
y IL as usual. We sent our marsh
with instructions to arrest Slade az
bring him To court. In due tin
they 10th appeared, slade peaceAb
u enough. and very gentiemanly. Aft
~ hearing the case, the court impos'
a fine Of s25, which was cheerful
ie paid by the defendant. and he d
I parted, inviting us all TO come al
have a drink. Not long after tn
slade WIS again before Us, charg'
ID With the same odense. This tin
~ the dne was double and paid vi
the same degree OF ziacritY whi'
han marked the previous paymen
slade did not seem 90 profit by the
- lessons, for ne was frequently beto
US, and each time fined a sum dOuh
:, that OF the preceding levy.
''On ono occasion, when the Il
bad reached the sum Of 500, "
Slade said he had not that amou
wlth him, but would bring u 81