Plentywood herald., 1928-02-10

nHE truth OF one tragic incident in
i Montana's history will never be
4 known. Did General Thomas Francis
Meagher, famous Irish patriot, Civil war
hero and later secretary of Montana ter
ritory, commit suicide or did he come to
death by accident?
1t was go years ago last summer that
he was drowned in the Missouri river at
Fort Benton. Only one person saw the
tragedy-a negro barber on the steam
boat &C. A. Thompson, and he claims
that the general let himself down from
the upper to the lower deck and jumped
into the river without saying anything
to anybody. This may have been sui
eide, or 1t may have been an accident
depending entirely upon which theory
one accepts as more reasonable, and both
are reasonable. 1t Is agreed by all who
have investigated the events leading up
to the incident that the general was tenn
porarily mentally deranged. In such a
condition his death could have come
either voluntarily or involuntarily. No
one but God knows for sure.
Not only is 1t more charitable to think
OF it as an accidental death. but theories
bearing out such contention are sup
ported by the most logic. General
Meashers religious affiliations were with
Z church which holds self destruction an
objectionable act. More important than
this fact. however, was his reputation for
bravery, and to have drowned himself
wilfully under the circumstances in
which he was placed at the time would
have been cowardice. No one who knew
him would ever concede that he lacked
courage-physical courage as well as
mental courage So 1t must have been
an accident. His mind was clouded-he
plunged into the water not think, ng
what he was doing.
We're Exciting Days
To get a proper slant on the tragedy.
one has to know something of the con-
ditions in Montana territory at the time.
They were certaiiiiyw exciting days. in
more ways than one, and General
Meagher was In the thickest Of the ex-
citement. frequently the cause Of 1T. He
nad been appointed secretary Of the ter
ritory in 1865, and soon after his arrival
the governor, Sidney Edgerton, returned
east leaving the general in the position
OF acting governor.
General Meagher was q democrat,
though the governor whose chair he was
temporarily filling was republican. A
majority of the people in Montana IN
those days were democrats, but most OF
the officeholders appointed by the presi-
dent Of the United States were republl-
cans. This was especially true Of the
members Of the supreme court or the
territory-Chief Justice Hezekiah l.. Hos
mer, Associate Justice l.. E. Munson and
Associate Justice l.. P. Williston The
territorial assembly. however, was made
up principally of democrats.
This assembly had held its first session
in the winter Of 1864-65 at Bannack but
adjourned without making provisions fol
O second session as required by the ter
ritorial organic act, though Virginia City
had been designated the capital. So Gen
eral Meagher, who late in the year o1
1865, found an urgent need for legisla-
tion, called a session to convene in Vir.
ginia City that winter. The supreme
court at once protested on constitutions
grounds Another session was held yeal
later, and this met with a like rejection
by the judiciary of the territory and theil
position was subsequently approved b,
congress.
In 1867, congress passed an enabling
act for the legislature by which thu
measures passed by the assembly wer'
legalized. This constitutional opposition
of Judges Hosmer and Munson mad,
them unpopular with the territorial gov
ernment, and neither Of them sought re
appointment.
General Meagher Was Famous
General Meagher had achieved fam'
before he ever saw Montana. He wa
born at Waterford, Ireland. Aug 8, 1928
was educated at Jesuit college Of Clon
gowes Wood. county Of Kildare. and a
Strongburst college In Lancashire, Eng
land At the outbreak OF the Frencl
revolution in 1848, he was sent to Pari
by the Irish confederation to congratu
late the republican leaders. On his re
turn he was arrested on charge OF Sc
dition by the British government ant
was later tried for high treason. fount
guilty and sentenced to death, but tn
judgment was later changed to Danish
ment to Tasmania. He escaped from
exile in 1852 and went to New Yorl
where he practiced law and was edito
Of the Irish News.
At the outbreak Of the Civil wal
Meagher organized a company Of Zou
aves in 1851 and with 1t Joined the 69tl
NJ r. volunteers. He was acting ma1O
at the first battle Of Bull Run, served II
the second battle, resigned and organ
ized the Irish brigade. and was commits
stoned brigadier general February
1852 He was in many Of the big battle
and was wounded seriously at Fredericks
burg while leading charge. Afte
Charlottesville he resigned and was re
commissioned in 1864. He was appointe
secretary Of Montana territory the mex
year, coming out here Immediately.
Defled Supreme Court
His row with the territorial suprem
court was only one Of many displays Q
his fiery temperament, but this particu
lar row will probably stand out NOR
prominently in hitsory than any other
Declaring his authority to convene tn
assembly, though the supreme court sal
he could not. he issued a proclamation
summoning the members of the counci
elected October "a, 1884, and the mem
bers of the house Of representatives elect
ed Sept. 4, 1865, to meet in extraordinar
session at Virginia City on March s. 1856
"for the transaction of business as wei
as to give legislative sanction and valid
ity to the constitutional convention
which was about to assemble.
This session of the territorial assembl