Glacier County chief., 1939-05-19

tree was to have its first visitor.
The Montana Post" of June IT, 1865,
says the place of execution was
chosen with due regard for convent
ence and economy. A large pine tree
with stout limbs standing alone in a
shallow ravine," was selected.
June 9. shortly before noon, Keene
was taken to Hangman's tree. The
Post" says many ladies were on hand
for Helena's first hanging.
A grim little note is injected into
the Posts" account of the hanging
off in a quiet and orderly manner.
The execution was conducted by Mr..
J. X. Biedler.'
Hanging No. 2
Hanging No. 2 was run off without
much attention to publicity.
found himself blinded by vigilante
mans tree had another customer.
Road Agent" That legend, pinned
i to the body swinging from hang
mans knot, was sufficient to tell a
city justice had been done.
No. 3 at Hangman's tree was a very
unimportant cog in Helena's early day
crime machine-but the Vigilantes
overlooked no one.
Monday morning, Sept. 10. 1865, Hell
ena residents saw Tommy Cooke
swinging from the Dry gulch gallows.
A placard on his back bore the igno-
minious word "Pickpocket"
Con Kirby, No. on the stout pine
limb" was given but minor mention
in Post" columns when his body was
found at a ropes end. Kirby, the
Post" said. hailed from Boise. and
was hard case"
death warrant when he robbed one
A. Slane of sl,1sO, was No. on Hang
mans tree, found on the Dry gulch
pine Nov. 81: 1865. A placard told
speculative citizenry: This man was
hanged for robbing A. Slane of s1,18o
and for other stealings"
Case of James Daniels
James Daniels, whose skull is in
the state historical library, is No. 6
IN chronological order, but No. l in
interest.
Daniels was tried by court with
out jurisdiction, sentenced by judge
who didn't have the proper authority,
reprieved by governor who rightfuliy
had no power in the matter, and fl
nally hanged by the Vigilantes-while
IN his coat pocket was the reprieve
signed by the territorys chief execu-
tive. He was hanged March 2, 1866.
John .Frenchy) Crouchet:. alias
bad list" When his body was found
at Hangman's tree it bore the placard:
No. 7. A robber, perjurer and one
who has tried to swear away the lives
/ OF innocent men" The hanging oc-
CURED on June s. 1866
| All Chow, wood gathering China
i man, brought the Hangman's tree tally
! to when he murdered John R. Bitter
Helena's last hanging, a double one,
, occurred April 30. 1870. when Arthur
L. Compton and Joseph Wilson were
! executed for shooting, and robbing
. ITPnrDn n rl nt9I, taE+
dead. was found wounded and taken
+ into town and eventually recovered.
Lenhard Identifies Them
Officers brought 10 men into the
room, among them Compton and Will
son. Lenhard studied them, then
them" he said weakly, and pointing
to Wilson, That's the other"
The men were taken to the jail.
! About 1900 gathered there and began
an orderly discussion" of the matter.
An aye. and nay vote was taken as
It Is recorded one man voted no.
Shortly afterward he left town.
About, 1000 men marched down
Breckenridge" with Wilson and Comp
ton" the Montana Post" records. On
the way Wilson, who remained tact
quaking Compton, told the men to
wait moment. Going to a fence he
dug up the money the two had taken
from Lenhard. There's the old mans
money" he said. The march contin-
ued.
The double hanging apparently was
the turning point in the city's history.
Swashbuckling "badmen" who had
heretofore robbed at will saw the
ominous handwriting of the Vigilantes
and decided Helena was too hot.
and the grim-eyed men who welded
Montana had won again.
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