The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1934-01-19

four minutes more" said a Vigilante,
with a chuckle. Thus the person warn
ed had practically half of a business
day to put his affairs in order and
start his journey thence. It was a
standing joke in the early days that
nobody took his full time.
Another joke, current during the 7O's,
was that once upon a time a suspicious
character arrived at his tent just as a
Vigilante had finished writing on the
flap in charcoal, "3-7-77." The suspic-
ious character said: ~Huh, I've got 3
hours, z minutes and II seconds to leave
camp, have I? If you fellers'n help me
ketch my horse the IT seconds will be
plenty for me; you can have the rest of
the time!"
Five or six years ago I was told by q
gentleman who was quite positive about
it. that 3-7-77 signified the dimensions
of a graves feet wide, z feet long and
IT inches deep. I rejoined that If the
sign were Slit the grave would be
3 feet wide, II feet long and II inches
deep!
Whatever the sign meant in the mind
of the man whose invention it was, it
meant a warning and one to be obeyed
without delay.
The Montana Vigilantes did not be-
gin the use of the symbol before Cap
tain Williams and his avenging COM
pany returned from the Bitter Root,
probably not until Bill Hunter was exc
cuted. It will be remembered that the
original endeavor was to capture and
execute the m~iscreants who composed
Henry Plummer's road agent band, not
m morn fhnpn ca fhou voirhf ocoora
But as has been said, the VigilanteS
did not exact the death penalty unless
proof of guilt was clear and irrefutable.
When it became necessary to rid the
country of men who were clearly of the
criminal class, but upon whom the
committee did not desire to inflict a
penalty, the dread warning was used
with unfailing efficacy. It is said that
the Vigilantes warned the practical
jokers, who abounded in Alder Gulch,
that the symbol was not to be trifled
with and it would be no joke with any
one who sought to joke with it. No
jokes were played with that sign!
AS we leave the recital of James VIII
liams' activities with the V%igilantes-
after the main work of the organization
had been completed-it would seem
appropriate in making up our judg-
ments upon the character of the work
done by that heroic band, which, amid
so much stress and danger set forth to
establish law and order in these noun
tains, to receive testimony from a high
and unprecedented source. Honorable
HeZekiah L. HoSmer, appointed chief
justice of Montana, opened the first
court in the territory in the dining
room of the Planters hotel in Virginia
City on Dec. 5, 1864. In charging the
Grand Jury, the chief justice said:
1.-THE assemblage of a grand jury in
this new territory, affords opportunity
for a casual survey of the interests COM
mitted to its charge. The cause of
Justice, hitherto deprived of the inter-
| vention of regularly organized courts,
has been temporarily subserved by VOL
untary tribunals of the people partak-
ing more of the nature of self-defense
than the comprehensive principles of
the common law. It is not part of the
business of this court to find fault with
what has been done; but rather, in
common with all good citizens, to laud
the transactions of an organization,
| which, in the absence of law, assumed
the delicate and responsible office of
purging society of all offenders against
its peace, happiness and safety.
Such societies, originating in neces-
sity, have been communities without
law, and in which the penalties of the
laws were not proportioned to the
criminality of the offense. Their adapt
alton to the necessities Of new settle
ments, has obtained for them an ap-
probation so universal, that they are
the first measures resorted to, by we'll
tntentioned men, to free themselves of
that vile class of adventures which in
tests all unorganized communities for
= The DNrn0Nee Of fraud nOhherV AND