The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1934-01-05
Rannack Scene of Vieilantes' Activities.

COLuuuCUee, 10 Try all CRIMINALS CIldC may
be arrested, to pass upon all accounts
that may be presented, and if just tc
order the same paid by the Treasurer
and to take d general supervision of all
criminal acts that may be committed
within this Territory or come under
their notice.
1.-THE Captains OF Companies may be
appointed by the President, or the
Executive officer, who shall hold
their offices until elected by the Com
panies themselves, every Captain shall
have power to appoint n OF more
Lieutenants. The Captains and Lieu
tenants shall have power to recruit their
companies, from men OF integrity living
in their midst, and when any one COM
pany outside of Virginia City numbers
W so men a division should be made
and two companies formed from the
same and officers elected from each.
1T shall be the duty of members to
attach themselves to some company and
whenever any criminal act shall come
to their knowledge to inform his Cap
tain or Lieutenant of the same, when
the officers s. informed shall call to-
gether the members of his company,
(unless the Company has chosen a COM
mittee for such purpose) when they
hall proceed to investigate the case, and
elicit the facts and should the said
company conclude that the person
charged with any offense, should be
punished by the committee, the Cap
tain or Lieutenant will first take steps
to arrest the criminal and then report
the same with proof to the Chief who
will thereupon call a meeting OF the
Executive committee and the judgment
of said Executive committee shall be
final.
1.-The only punishment that shall be
inflicted by this committee is DEATH.
1.-The property of any person execut-
ed by this committee shall be immed-
lately seized upon and disposed of by
the Executive Committee for the pur-
pose of paying the expenses Of the
Committee, and should the person ex-
ecuted have creditors living in the Ter
ritory, it shall be the duty of the COM
mittee to first pay the expenses of the
Committee and Executive, and funeral
expenses afterwards, pay the residue
over to some one for the benefit of said
creditors"
After the adoption OF the "Regula-
tons and Bye Laws the captains and
~leutenants elected Paris S. Pfouts
president, James Williams, executive
officer, and John S. Lott secretary and
treasurer of the Committee. While a
prosecutor was not provided for, the
captains and lieutenants, desiring to
acknowledge the valiant conduct and
inestimable services of Mr.. Sanders,
elected him prosecuting officer.
Perhaps it would be more accurate
to say that the selection of Williams
the captains and ieutenants, for the
commanding officer in the field con-
the Nevada compact. At that time no
Gus position. Williams said it was a
he would do the very best he could.
Once asked how he came to be chosen
leader, he answered,
There were a good many people
there from Colorado, and they had an
idea that I had some leather in me, I
guess"
almost instantly after the COM
mencement of the organization of the
Vigilante Committee, it was determined
that the pursuit Of the miscreants-the
comrades of Ives-should be CON-
menced and maintained with relentless
earnestness, which should know no
abatement until the last blood-stained
murderer had paid the penalty of his
crimes by death on the gallows; or had
escaped the retribution in store for him
by successful flight to other countries.
Twenty-four men were mustered,
whose equipments consisted of arms,
ammunition, and the most modest pro-
vision for the wants of the inner man
that could possibly be conceived suf-
ficient. The volunteers formed a motley
group. but there were men enough
among them Of unquestioned courage,
whom no difficulty could deter and no
danger alright. They carried, general
Iva pair Of revolvers, a rifle or shotgun,
blankets and some rope. Spirits were
forbidden to be used.
The leader Of the party was one of
those; COO, >undaunted, and hardy men,