The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1934-01-12
x. BEIDLER

of his guest. Zachary was taken to
He'll Gate to await the Judgment OF the
committee. Conversation with this road
agent elected the fact that George
Shears, horse thief and road agent,
probably vas at Van Dornis in the Bit
ter Root valley. A party was immed-
lately dispatched to capture that mis-
creant; arriving at that destination,
Van Dorm was asked if George Shears
was in the house, and being told that
he was, and that the party might enter,
| Shears was found in his room, knife in
hand. But he surrendered quietly, and
being advised that he was about to die
he confessed his guilt, saying that he
knew he would have Ito go up some
time," but had thought he could run
another season."
The GOODNESS of this youth of 81 was
remarkable. On being taken to the
barn, where the hangman's rope a
been thrown over a beam, he was Or
dered to walk up a ladder in order that
a sufficient drop might be had; this he
| did, and being seated on the beam said,
as If it was an ordinary affair:
"Gentlemen, I am not used to this
business, never having been hung be-
fore. Shall I jump off or slide off"
He was advised to Jump off If he de-
sired a speedy death.
"All right" he said. Good bye!" and
jumped.
In the meantime a company of three,
headed by the "Old Man." probably
Clark, wa on its way to Fort Owen in
pursuit of William Graves, "Whiskey
Bill" road agent. He had frequently
threatened that he would kill any Wig
ilante on sight, but the old man got
the drop on him" and Graves surrend-
cred. He was executed upon a nearby
tree.
At He'll Gate Carter and Skinner
were first tried, found guilty, and exc
cuted. The hanging, shortly after mid
night, was a typical Vigilante execution,
the Vigilantes knew their psychology; a
great fire was built, throwing its weird
light over the scene. Two poles were
placed over a corral fence, the ends at
the ground secured, and to the other
ends the ropes were tied. The bodies
of these road agents, swinging from the
ends of the poles, gave stern warning to
other m~alefactors.
The next morning the party came in
with Zachary; and after his trial was
concluded he and Cooper, who had al
| 81 USCA 4Ou11O guilty., "CAC AAoAA6Co ~
the same poles which had served as q
gallows for Skinner and Carter.
This work done, the captain, after
dispatching q party to the Pend O'Reille
Indian reservation to get Cooper's
horses, wended his way homeward, pick
ing up Beidler, who had settled up Bum
tons affairs at Deer Lodge. Arriving
in Alder Gulch the party reported its
doings, which, being made known to the
inhabitants of the gulch, enabled all,
except certain OF the roughs, to enjoy
life with q greater feeling Of security.
It will be recalled that Bill Hunter
had escaped by crawling down a drain
| at the time Club-foot George, Boone
Helm, and Jack Gallagher, Frank
Parish, and Haze Lyon were captured.
It vas a~scertained that Hunter had
fled into the Gallatin valley, and VIII
liams at once dispatched A. B.
Davis, John s. Lott, John S. Bagg,
and Richard S. McLaren to capture and
execute the fugitive. On the way the
party, in charge Of Davis, was REIN
forced by Charles Lyendecker and COM
panion, whose name Is lost. It Is in
teresting to note that the posse spent
the first night out at SHADES place on
| Slade creek. "Old Jimmy" Boner, once
an employee under Slade OF the Over
land. was cook. Boner was for many
years a respected citizen of the Meadow
Greek settlement in Madison county.
Davis says, "They gambled all night at
SHADES and the next morning we were
told by the hostler that Mrs. Slade had
won $780,"
After a severe journey through deep
snow, Hunter was found in q cabin not
far from where Manhattan now stands
and was summarily executed on Febru-
airy 3, 1864.
Williams in the exercise of his duties
las executive officer was nov to meet
again an old acquaintance, Captain
Joseph A. Slade. This renowned char
acter arrived in Virginia City the lat
ter part Of September, 1868, bringing
with him household goods, cattle, and
horses Of Henry s. Gilbert (for q long
time one Of the best citizens Of Modison
county, who for some years had con-
during which he had known Slade well:
The knew Of no one whose reputation foE