The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1920-05-20

ing the right to a bar claim, the sub
ject OF a suit between F. Ray and d.
Jones.
Dillingham; was standing close by
the lmpromptu hall of justice, when
the three road agents came up. eve
want to see you," said Haze. Stin-
son walked a pace or two ahead OF
the others. Haze was on n side
and Forbes was behind. Bring him
along! Make him comet" said Buck
S%tinson, half turning and looking
over his shoulder. They walked on
about ten PAGES, when they all stop
ped, and the three faced towards Dill
bingham. D you'll Take back
those lies" said Haze, and instantly
fired, so closely together that eye
sight was a surer evidence of the
number of shots discharged than
hearing. There was a difference,
however. Haze fired first, his ball
taking effect in the thigh. Dilling-
ham put his hand to the spot and
groaned. Buck Stinson's bullet went
over his head; but Charley Forbes
shot passed through his breast. On
receiving the bullet in the chest, Dill
bingham fell. He was carried into
a brush wakiup and lived but a very
short time.
Gallagher Protected Murderers
Jack Gallagher, being deputy sher-
if, settled the matter very neatly
and effectively for his friends. He
rushed out as per agreement, took
their pistols, putting them together
and reloading Buck Stinson's so that
no one knew Chat would telD whose
pistols fired the fatal shots. The
men were, of course, arrested. Red
tape is an institution not yet intro
duced among miners. A captain of
the guard, elected by the people, and
a detail of miners, took charge of the
prisoners, who were lodged in a log
building. A peoples court vas or
ganized and the trial commenced.
James Brown and H. P. A. Smith
we're in favor of a trial by twelve
men, but E. R. Cutler opposed this
for he knew that the jury would have
been empaneled by a road-agent sher-
iff. A vote was taken on the question
by ''ayes' and ''noes," but this fail
ing, two wagons were drawn up with
an interval between them. Those in
favor of a trial by jury of twelve
went through first. Those who pre-
ferred a trial by the people ~traversed
the vehicular defile afterward. The
motion of a jury for the whole pre-
vailed. Judge G. G.. Bissell was APP
pointed president, by virtue of his Of
flee. He stated that it was an ire
gular proceeding, but that if the
people would appoint two reliable
men to sit with him, he would carry
it through. This was agreed to, DR..
Steele and DR.. Rutar being chosen as
associates. Three doctors were thus
appointed judges and, naturally, dir
ected the medicine talk" on the sub
ject. e. r. Cutler, a blacksmith, was
appointed public prosecutor, Jem
Brown was elected assistant; Judge
H. P. A. Smith was for the defense,
and the whole body of the people
were jurors. We may add that the
jury box was Alder Gulch and that
the throne of justice was a wagon
drawn up at the foot of what is now
Wallace street.
Attempt to Release Prisoners
The trial commenced by the indict-
ment of Buck Stinson and Haze
Lyons and continued till dark, when
the court adjourned. The prisoners
were placed under a strong guard at
night. They were going to chain
them, but they would not submit.
Charley Forbes said he would suf-
fer death first" This (of c%ourse?)
suited the guard of miners, and quick
as a flash down came six shotguns in
a line with Charley's head. The OPP
inion of this gentleman on the sub
ject'of practical confederation under
went an instantaneous CHANGE He
said mildly, "Chain me-" The fet-
ters were composed of a light logging
chain and padlocks. All was quiet
during the rest of the night; but
Haze sen for a leading citizen"
who, covered by the guns of the
guard, approached and asked him
what he wanted. why" said he, 81
want you to let these men off. I am
the nan who killed Dillingham;. Il
came over to do it and these men are
innocent. I was sent here by the
best men in Bannack to do it." Up
on being asked who they were, he
named some of the best citizens, and !
then added, "Henry Plummer told
uG W SAOOL Hill. lie IiTSI Hall Ol
the statement was an impossible
falsehood, many of the men knowing
nothing of the affair for several days
after. The last statement was exact
ly true.
Prisoners Adjudged Guilty
After breakfast the trial was re-
sumed, and continued till neal
The attorneys had by this time fin
ished their pleas, and the question
was submitted to the people. Guilty
or not guilty?" A nearly unanimous
verdict of guilty" was returned. The
question as to the punishment to be
inflicted was next submitted by the
president and a chorus of voices from
all parts of the vast assembly shout
ed Hang them!" Men were at
once appointed to build a scaffold
and dig the graves of the doomed
criminals.
In the meantime Charley Forbes
rial went on. An effort was made to
save Charley on account of his good
ooks and education, by producing a
loaded pistol, which they prov
ID Cd was his. 1t was, however,
~. 49,