Montana oil and mining journal., 1937-07-03


lore i'm Montana during the last 20
years as to the probability that some
of the men who were hanged by the
Vigilantes when that group started out
TO rid the territory of bandits and gem
eraI all round desperadOes and bad
men, were the victims of a miscarriage
Of justice-that some men were exc
cuted who should not have been
In one instance, however, there seems
to be no argument in the matter.
In the winter Of 1865 Reece Anderson
of Deer Lodge had a steer that was
grazing about the camp. That is ne had
it one day, and the next he didn't.
During the night it had mysterlously
disappeared. Search for the critter was
made far and wide. Reece rode the
mountains and valleys looking for ms
steer and asked his friends in outlying
neighborhoods and gulches to keep
their eye peeled for the animal, but
Except for an occasional killing or
stage holdup and frequent saloon
brawls, subjects Of conversation were
limited in the mountain mining camps
of that day, and what had happened
to Reece AndersOns' steer came in Tor
a large amount Of speculation upon
the part of the residents OF the place.
Circumstantial Evidence
Suspicion finally came to rest upon
a man named Johnson. His general
reputation was none too good. He was
known to be a petty thief and many
rood citizens became convinced that
johnson. emboldened by the success OF
his pilfering and the fact that no steps
had been taken to curb his operations,
had decided to embark in larger enter
priSes. ,5
with stealing the steer. The fact that
he was disposed to take property that
did not belong to him, was the strong
est bit of evidence against him. Ihere
was actually none connecting him with
the theft of the steer. There was no
iail and guards cost $40 a day each,
so no time was lost in bringing tne case
to trial. Keeping prisoners was an ex-
Densiye luxury. In spite Of JohnsonS
pitiful protestations OF Innocence ne
was hailed before a court and jury.
vigiIante Panacea
The Jury summed up the case in this
manner: The steer was gone, therefore
it had been stolen. Johnson was known
10 be a thief therefore he had stolen
it. It appeared to the jury to be con-
elusive evidence and the prisoner was
promptly found guilty and sentenced
to be hanged. He was swung lnIo eIeI-
nitv from q branch of the nearest con-
NCAA4CAAb tASGt
In the spring, the steer came back,
but johnson was held down by seVeral
| feet of Deer Lodge soil. His execut1oners
were repentant but consoled themselves
! with the belief that johnson eventu-
! allv would have been hanged anyhow
and went on about their business.
To Alder Gulch in 1864, came mar
named Brady, from Iowa, and opened
a saloon. He was young, genial, open
handed and generous save Wnen u@Iloel @
the influence of liquor. AS time wore
on he came to be in that cono1tloI
most of the time He had an assistan
named Kelly who had contracted th'
same evil habit.
One evening a miner named Lynct
entered Brady's saloon when Kelly wa.
there alone. The two quarreled. Iyncf
left the saloon and started down tn'
street. Kelly came running TO the coo
with a six-shooter in his hano Wtllcl
he snapped at Lynch, but tne gu
missed fire. DR.. G. B. Hardenbrook
later and for many years a prominen
resident of Anaconda, was across Tn
street and saw Kelly pointing the gui
al LYNCH and yelled at the latter q
put him on his guard AS Lynch turned
kelly ran back into the saloon. Lynci
picked up rock, ran back to the ss
loon and hurled the missive through
turned and walked unmolested dow
the street.
Later in the evening Lynch went Z
the saloon to explain to Brady his run
in with Kelly. Brady saw Lynch com
ing, and grabbing q rifle. slipped ou
of the back door Of the saloon ana ral
around TO the front. Lynch IN Tn
meantime had entered the place. Brad
from the front door drew a bead O
his Imsuspecting victim ana 1Iee
Lynch fell to the floor wounded, bu
it proved to be q superficial injury AM
he recovered.
The Vigilantes took the matter W
however; and Brady was arrested an
brought to trial. Sentiment was run
ming somewhat in his favor until he ad
nitted while testifying In his own De
half, that when he fired &C Lyncn .
had Intended to kin him. That change'
the situation. and the jury found nln
/ guilty and sentenced him TO be nangec
\ Preparations were made Tor Ene e1ecu
There were at that time Ia Aide