Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1937-12-25

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camps stood for conduct Of this kline
from Slade as long as they did ha,
never been explained. It was not be-
cause there we're no men there who
had no fear of him, for the Vigilantes
;. had wiped out men who we're equally
bad If not worse.
He was fast approaching the limit
however. The next morning after he
I had disrupted the theatrical perform
ance and when he was still going
strong, Sheriff j. M. Fox arrested him
and took him before the provisional
court There, by way Of arraignment,
I he began reading the warrant that had
been issued for SHADES arrest. Slade,
/ in an outburst Of drunken fury, grabbed
/ the document out of the officers hands,
/ tore it up, threw the pieces on the floor
and stamped on them Slade was ac-
companied at the time by several armed
companions, apparently ready to eS-
pouse his cause in any trouble that
might occur, so the sheriff, deeming
discretion the Wisest course, let him
get away with 1t.
VigiIantes Decided Shades Fate
The matter was reported to the Wig
lance committee, however, and that
body decided that the peace and Sc
curity Of the camp required the re-
moval of Slade. A conference was held
by leaders of the group with leading
citizens of Virginia City and of Ne
vada. The Vigilantes were told that
whatever action they took in connection
with Slade would receive the appro-
baton Of all law abiding citizens.
Capt. James Williams Of the Wig
ilantes decided that the time to act
was at once. Followed by large crowd
Of miners in full sympathy with his
purpose, Williams went in search Of
Slade.. He sighted him on the street
and followed him into the store of /
Pfouts g. Russell There he found him
with a gun in each hand, threatening
Pfouts. Sheriff Fox and a man named /
Davis.
Slade was cowed by the appearance /
of williams and his followers. He was +
disarmed without the slightest resis-
tence and taken into back room OF
the store where he began to beg piteouS-
ly for his life.
SIade Hanged
No time was lost. He was hustled
out the back door Of the store and
taken to a nearby corral with high
and heavy gate posts. Across the top Of
these posts q beam was laid and be-
meath 1t were placed dry goods boxes
to which the prisoner was made to
mount, He was hanged quickly and
without ceremony.
The men conducting the hanging
worked the more speedily, no doubt,
because they knew that SHADES friends
had sent word of what was happening
to his wife, and they expected that she
would arrive upon the scene momen-
tarily, although they did take precau-
lions to prevent her reaching the place
by placing guards to stop her.
Mrs. Slade was q handsome and pop
llar woman and devoted to her hus-
band, who also was exceedingly fond
Of her.
When told that her husband was in
the hands of the Vigilantes Mrs. Slade
the fastest horse in SHADES
stable and in the hope that she might
be able to save his life. made a ride
which won for her the admiration Of
the men who had executed her husband
their summary action. Slade, however,
was dead and his body laid out in the
Virginia hotel before she arrived. The
body was taken to Salt Lake for burial.
Ended VigiIantes Work
SHADES execution practically finished
5he work of the VigilanteS. The organ
cation was kept intact, however, but
during the next three years many un-
desirable characters managed to worm
heir way into 1t with the result that
numerous secret trials and night time
vas not convinced were 1ustifiable,
served to make 1t unpopular and gave
Use to an organized movement OF OPP
position.
This unfavorable criticism came to
head In February, 1867, when a notice
vas posted at Highland City threaten
ng reprisals Of five for one If any more
Executions were made other than pub
icly and In broad daylight. The notice
cad:
1--WE, now, as a sworn band Of law
.biding citizens do hereby solemnly
wear that the first man that is hung
" the Vigilantes Of this place, we will I
etaliate five for one unless it be done
q broad daylight so that all may know '
What it Is for. We are all well satisfied
hat In the past you did some glorious
york, but the time has come when law
hould be enforced. Old fellow mem {
,ers, the time is not like 1t was. We {
lad good men with us, but now there {
S a great change. There Is not a thief '
omes to this country but what he
rings into the present committee. We
now you all. You must not think you
an do as you please. We are American 7