The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1924-03-14
FIND SKELETONS
OF TWO BANDITS
RECALLS TIME WHEN WESTERN
MONTANA MEN TOOK LAW
INTO OWN HANDS
When Vigilantes Were Organized at
Weeksville and Two Bad Men Who
Would Not Leave Town After a
Warning, Were Hanged.

Skeletons of two highway BAN
dts, hung by outraged citizens who
took the law into their own hands
in Montana's early days, were
brought to light at Weeksville by
the road building crew busy there
on highway project.
Forty-two years ago, in 1882, the
Northern Pacific was building its
line through western Montana, and
one of its principal camps was estab-
lished at Weeksville, at the mouth
of the canyon near Thompson Falls
Several holdups in rapid succession
caused the creation of a body of men
calling themselves the "Vigilantes'
on the style of the same law-enforce-
ment body of pioneers in Alder Gulch
a score of years before.
Many Tough Characters
This camp, as were many others
along the route of construction of
the new railroad, was infested with
bad men" of all sorts and there
were many scenes of violence and
robberies. What led to the cleaning
up of the gang YVES an attempt on
the part of an outlaw named Sweeney
to kill the owner of a saloon and
gambling house, named Campbell.
Campbell was warned and in turn
warned Sweeney to keep out of the
place. The latter entered the bar in
the evening and began bullying a
harmless old man who made no re-
ply.
Gum Duel Fatal to Outlaw
Across the room sat Campbell at
table dealing stud poker, but keep
ing wary eye on Sweeney. Sweeney
pulled his gun apparently with the
intention of using it on the old man,
but turned quickly and fired at
Campbell. The saloon man, who was
dead shot, whipped out his gun and
when the smoke lifted Sweeney lay
dead on the floor. Campbell, know
ing friends of the outlaw would "get
him." escaped on horse and surren-
dered to a justice but again escaped
when the gang came near the jail
Vigilantes Take Trail
Then the Vigilantes were organ
lied and the crooks warned to leave
the camp. Two of them, known as
"Ohio DAM and "The Barber" took
the hint and departed, but the eader,
''Dick the Diver" refused to go. He
was hanged.
Before death, it is said, he con-
fessed to numerous crimes and also
charged that "Ohio Dan" and "The
Barber" we're murderers. The Vigil
antes, after the hanging of "Dick the
Diver" pursued and overlook Dan
and The Barber and strung them up,
on ground known as the Cleveland
place. 1t was here that the road
crew turned up the skeletons of the
men hung AZ years ago. They had /
been buried fully dressed.
Find Pencil Used Writing Date ,
The county officers went to the
place and number of relics were !
found in the grave of the two men. {
The hats, in a good state of preser s
yation, still remained on the skulls ,
One of Ohio Dams boots was found [
/ pocket knife and several AS cart t
'idges. There was also lead pencil. ,
1t is related that when Ohio Dan t
vas about to be hung, he requested t
hat he be allowed to write note to /
lis mother. His request was grant /
ID and the pencil found in the grave L
vas undoubtedly the one used. The f
tote was mailed to the mother. A y
wenty dollar gold piece was also d
ound in the grave. %
In the grave of The Barber razor v
one was found. 1t broke when pick b
d up. c