Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-09-07

chestra and Linda Lee, vocalist.
"I have not hurt you, Jules" Slade
ing to kill you, but if you want I'll
give you time to make your will"
Playing for time, Jules arranged Ia
make his will. While messenger was
sent to the stage station for pen and
ink, for some unknown reason Slade
changed his mind. When the meSsen-
ger returned Jules was dead.
Slade returned to Fort Laramie and
surrendered to the officers, giving the
facts. A perfunctory investigation for
the sake of record was followed by
SHADES acquittal.
This, Slade always said, was the
only time he had ever killed man.
Legend has it that he cut off Jules
ears and carried them with him al
ways.
Many versions were told in later
years of the execution of Jules. High
lighting SHADES career with distorted
versions of the affair, historians found
it easy to blacken SHADES name. But
long after Slade had died those who
had known him along the Overland
route were ready for a fight at any
derogatory reference to his deeds.
A Male Carrie Nation"
The dangers, the hardships and the
esponSibilitieS of employment with
the Overland required clear minds and
cool-headed action. Liquor was taboo.
Slade became the herman predecessor
of the later famous Carrie Nation as
a saloon buster. Punishment was
SHADES edict for saloon men and liquor
peddlers who did not LAY Oft" the
Overland crowd.
When a new route through the Black
Hills was established by the Overland,
Slade was transferred to a station near
Fort Halleck. 1t may be that by this
time Slade was beginning to slip; at
any rate, he and his men took pos
session of the officers quarters at the
fort and so comported themselves that
they earned the lasting enmity of the
officers. They followed Slade to Dem
yer, placed him under arrest and re-
fused to release him until the Over
land company agreed to remove him
from the Black Hills division
Out of employment, Slade joined the
gold rush to Virginia City in 1868. A
money-maker, he prospered at
first. When a steamer was stranded by
low water at Cow island on the Mis-
souri, river and was unable to reach
Fort Benton, Slade was the only man
in the territory who could be perSuad-
ed to brave Indian dangers in an un-
charted country. With crew of team
Sters he found his way over unfamiliar
terrain and delivered the stranded car
go of goods to the mining camps at
Virginia City and Bannack This ex-
plot profited him handsomely.
Virginia City and Bannack were at
this time held in constant terror by
Plummer and his road agents. N p.
Langford states authoritatively that
Slade was a member of the Montana
Vigilantes in eliminating the Plummer
band.
After the execution of five of the
road agents at Virginia City, Jan. IA,
1864, peoples court was established
with Alexander Davis, an attorney, as
Judge, and j. M Fox as sheriff. The
court had no standing in Idaho terri (
5orial law, since Idano had not yet
extended legal jurisdiction across the
area was to become I
part of Montana territory before Idaho .
got around to looking after it. The
court was the result OF the Vigilantes'
1esire for tribunal of legal process
70 replace summary justice.
When a TeetotaIer Drinks
Slade established a wilderness ranch
1 dozen miles from Virginia City. But
he quiet life palled, and he spent most
# his time in town. Missing his usual
v active, rugged life, he turned to
liquor and to companions of like in
,linations. He became rioting bully,
hooting up saloons and business
houses. Old friends still remained loyal
% him and, in his sober moments
pleaded that he change his ways. Re-
sentence and promises were soon for
rotten in another foray. Business men,
when they learned he was IN town,
would lock their stores to avoid his
'iolence.
Slade paid fines many times in the
,eople's court, and seemed truly peni-
ent for his deeds. Each new offense
against the peace of the community
educed the degree of loyalty Of for
ner associates. When, at last, ne
launted the authority Of the peoples
curt the executive committee of the
figilanteS met to consider the stu
ton For the first time the committee
Vas split by differences of opinion.
ilade was not q wtlful criminal-mere-
Y q man who could not handle him
elf when intoxicated. The Nevada
ommittee was sent for. Informed Of
he purpose of the meeting and know
1g SHADES reputation as a rowdy, the
Tevada men came up the hill 900 ,
trong. In the face Of this showing, !
be executive committee, by majority
ote could not do other than decree
ladies execution for the peace and ]
Felfare Of the community. The major
y emphatically rejected the idea OF {
anishment.
Informed Of the proceedings, Slade !
rag at first akeptical. but when he /