The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1920-05-21

attributed to Sheriff Plummer and
the band of cutthroats who had or
gained under his direction and act
ed under his order. The trial of Dill
lingham's murderers was no less a
crime than the murder itself, since
it convinced the sheriff that no power
in the territory was superior to that
which he and his confederates exer-
cised. Professor Dimsdale's story of
the trial follows:
AS proof of the address and tact
of Plummer, and of the terrible state
of society, it may be mentioned that
he got himself elected sheriff at Ban
mack, despite his known character,
and Immediately appointed two of his
road agents, Buck Stinson and Ned
Ray, as deputies. Nor did he remain
contented with that; but he had the
effrontery to propose to brave and
good man in Virginia City that he
should make way for him there, and
as certain death would have been the
penalty for refusal, he consented.
Thus Plummer was actually sheriff
of both places at once. This polite
move threw the unfortunate citizens
into his hands completely, and by
means of his robber deputies-whose
legal functions cloaked many crime
he ruled with a rod of iron.
The marvellous riches of the great
Alder Gulch attracted crowds from
all the west, and afterward from the
east also; among whom were many
diseased with crime to such an extent
that for their cure the only available
prescription was stout cord and a
good drop.
Plummer had appointed as his de-
puties, Jack Gallagher, Buck Stinson
and Ned Ray. The head deputy was
a man of another stripe entirely,
named Dillingham;, who had accurate
knowledge of the names of the mem
bers of the road agent band, and was
also acquainted with many of their
plans, though he himself was inno-
cent. He told man named Dodge, |
who was going to Virginia with Wash |
Stapleton and another, that Buck
Haze Lyons and Charley
Forbes intended to rob them. Dodge,
instead of keeping his counsel, fool
shly revealed the whole affair to the
who, of course, were much
struck at the news. Haze calculated
-! Is that so?" The three men
1T once concluded to murder billing
lam. At Rattlesnake, Haze Lyons
,ame to Wash Stapleton, who was on
he road between Bannack and Vir-
,inia, and asked him If he had heard
bout the intended robbery, adding s
hat he had followed Dillingham; that ]
ar. and that he had come to kill /
i'm, but he said that he feared that '
e had heard about it, and had got @
ut of the country. Wash, who says v
e has felt more comfortable, even q
then sleeping in church-at once re- Il
lied, mo; this is the first I've heard p
t it. have only 500 in green a
acks, and they may as we'll take e
lem, If they want them, and let me o
o." The other swore it was all a a
e, and they separated, the robbers CT
Ding to Virginia. Jack Gallagher
lme to x. Beidler and wanted a Il
ony for his friend Stinson to ride So
own the gulch. At first his request lo
as refused, the owner saying that fl
} wanted to ride It down the gulch e(
mself. Jack insisted, and promis- B
& that he would be back In half an ri
,ur, Beidler loaned 1t to him. He 81
as away for two hours and the pro- OF
ietor was "as hot as q WOLF when hi
} came back. The truth was that or
ey had been consulting and fixing ev
g programme for the murder which hi
- arranged for the next day, they
wing discovered that Dillingham; hi
v in the gulch In the morning, Di
lex 6tinsOn, Haze Lyons and Char tn
I Forbes were seen engaged in &C
and medicine talk" in the neigh ed
rh00d Of = brush wakiup, whore VIC
/. Steele was holding court and try Sa