The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-12-30
Prisoners Hung Six Comrades
STRENUOUS MEASURES OF UNION SOLDIERS IN LIBBY PUT AN
END TO LAWLESS GANG.

was the beginning OF h end. Key
organized a court martial Of thirteen
sergeants from the latest arrivals of
prisoners. that they might have no
prejudice against the raiders. The
trial was carefully conducted, with
all the formality Of legal procedure.
and six of them were found guilty of
murder. Quite n number were SEN
fenced to wear the ball and chain and
others had to run the gauntlet. Three
were killed by this mode of punish
ment. / saw one killed after he broke
they commenced building the SCAT
fold. It did not take long. for It was
roughly made and early in the after.
noon the regulators formed a hollow
square around the scaffold. All the
rebel troops We're assembled. the in
fantry in the rifle pits and the urtil-
lery men at the guns. with the lanyard
command. and all looking on to see
what the 'fanks' would do.
Soon after noon the south gate
opened and Captain Writ rode in
mounted on a white horse. Behind
him came the faithful priest, then
lcame six doomed men walking between
double ranks OF rebel guards. They
marched inside of the square and halt
ed. Wirtz then said: Prisoners. I
W S0o ICu 40 S0Ou az
II got them. You have found them
guilty: I had nothing to do with it.
1 wash my hands of everything con-
nected with them. Do with them as
you like and may God have mercy on
you and them. Guards about face!
Forward march, Then they left the
prison.
For a moment all was silent. The
condemned men were stunned and for
the first time realized that tho regu-
lators were going to hang them. UP
to this time they thought it a bluff
to scare them. One Of them said to
Key:
"'You don't mean to hang US up
there?'
"He answered:
"'That seems to be about the size
eat this point they burst out into
n passion for a minute, &hep one of
them said:
"'Let the priest talk for u.s.
"The priest closed the book, upon
which he had kept his eyes since his
entrance and facing the prisoners on
the north side, began q plea for mer-
cy. The whole prison was as still as
death after the rebels went out. Those
nearest caught what the priest was
saying and raised a shout Of NO, No!
Hang them!> Hang the rascals. the
villians!' and this was taken up by
all, all over the prison. 1t was a
fearful chorus Of $4,000 to 10000 yell
ing.
zone of the condemned. Curtis by
name. tore off his hat and exclaimed:
I will die this way and made a dash
through the guards or regulators. He
was soon caught and brought back.
This was a trying time. Writ saw
the commotion. and became panic
stricken. He thought an assault had
begun on the stockade and gave the
command to fire. which was not obey
ed by the captain in charge Of the
battery. AS I said. they brought Cur
tbs back and they were ordered upon
the scatfold, where the white cap Ito
be plain 1t was n meal bag) was
drawn over their heads and Key gave
the signal and then the support on
which they stood gave way and left
them hanging by the neck. The rope
about one of the mems neck broke;
he begged for mercy. but 1t was not
being issued that day. He swung with
the rest, and SO ended the most event.
full day of my prison life"