Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-02-24
|MOntananS|
| Ought to Know |
VIGlLAN1ES' FIRST AND LAST
EXECUTIONS

Query: When was the first execu
ton by the Vigiiantes: And Whas
was the date Of their last execution
asked by John A, Hackshaw, Belt.
Answer: The first execution by the
Vigilantes of Montana was the hanging
of George Ives at Nevada City, near
Virginia City, December 81, 1853. Ives
came Of a highly respectable Wisconsin
family, but when quite young was sWal-
lowed in the maelstrom of wild western
life and was about q years of age when
he appeared at Virginia City. The car
riage of this renowned desperate was
sprightly and his GOODNESS was imper-
turbable. Long practice in confronting
danger had made him absolutely fear
less. He would face death with an
Indifference that had become consti-
tutional. and the spirit Of reckless BRAY
ado with which he was animated made
him the terror of the citizens.
Ives was executed for committing
two specific murders, the first of which
was that of man who had offered
to give information concerning the lden-
tity of the road agents in Virginia
City and Bannack and vicinity. Ives
met this man purposely near the town
of Virginia City and shot him in cold
blood in sight of other persons. Cold
DlOOueu aS tulS HiuTGeF was. luG VI !hit
which aroused the citizens to wrath
was the murder of Nicholas Tbalt Tor
Thibault), an inoffensive, honest young
German. who had sold some mules to
his employers and received the money
therefor. before the mules were deliy-
cred. Tbalt was on bis way with the
mules when Ives shot him, robbed him
of his money and stole his mules. The
murder was not known for 10 days.
The last execution by the Vigilantes
was that of William Hunter, which oc-
CURED February 3, 1854, in the Gala
tin valley. On the evening of January
Is, 1864, the executive committee of
the Vigilantes determined on hanging
six Of the worst men still alive in
the community, though previous to
this time they had disposed Of the
most notorious and the most danger
Gus. Two days later, when they
marched onto the rendezvous Of the six
tured. but Hunter. the sixth. got away.
A party of q men was Immediately
dispatched to catch him. He was root
ed out Of his nest about 20 miles above
the mouth Of the Gallatin river, several
days later. His captors started with
him toward Virginia City but when
they had proceeded about two miles
they halted at the foot Of tree which
seemed to have been fashioned by ma
ture for a gallows Here they had
breakfast, during which time there was
a discussion of the question whether
to take Hunter to Virginia City or ex-
ecute him there on the spot. A ma
jority voted to hang him right there.
The earnest manner of the Vigilantes
and his own sense of guilt oyerpowered
Hunter. He knew without being told
that there was no help for him. After
his crimes had been recited to him,
he made no attempt at denial. He
merely requested that his friends should
know nothing Of the manner of his
death. and stated that he had no prop
erty but he hoped they would give him
a decent burial. 1t was impossible to
keep his execution secret and, as the
ground was too hard to dig grave at
that time. his corpse was left hanging
from the limb for some time, in full
view of the travellers on the trail.
(Tomorrow-Who was "x.' Beid-
ler?)