Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1941-01-31

mittee apprized of the capture. Dia-
mond City was a flourishing new
mining camp in Confederate gulcn,
one of the largest and richest placer
diggings in Montana. 1t is located
about 40 miles east of Helena, not far
from the Missouri river.
Gave Vigilantes Information
The charges against Seachriest were
those Of robbery, and obtaining goods
under false pretenSeS. The committee
made 1t known that they had suffi-
Gent evidence that Seachriest was a
bad character to warrant holding him
for further investigation.
Seachriest pleaded that he was an
honest, hard working miner; that he
had come to the country by way of
Salt Lake City, and that, under the
influence Of liquor he had fallen III
with band Of robbers at Virginia
City. He gave the names of about
dozen members of the gang and
told their signs of recognition, pass
words and signals.
On receipt of this intelligence, a
captain of the Vigilantes with squad
Of four men were detailed TO bring
the desperate from Diamond City to
Helena. A party rode out and met the
guard in charge of the prisoner and
escorted him back to Helena. Sea-
chriest was placed in a heavily guard
ed cabin while the committee inves-
tigated the evidence and the record
of their prisoner as far as available.
They concluded the facts known were
hardly sufficient to warrant an I'M
continue the case until further in
formation could be got from Sea-
chriest's own lips. The prisoner was
removed to cabin more remote
where various members of the COM
mittee could have access to him from
time to time with view of eliciting
more details Of his past.
SeachrieSt stuck with adamantine
determination to his first story, bu-
to fear from the Vigilantes. denied
it, saying that every word of his
statement was false, and that he fell
in with no such band of thugs at
Virginia City. On cross-eXamination
he again returned to his first con-
fession, but qualified it by saying tha-
he had come to Virginia City along
southern route well known to the
Vigilantes. This statement was fatal
linked the piece of information up
with the details of the murder related
above in this story.
At a subsequent meeting Of the
committee it was decided that the
prisoner was road agent Of the
deepest dye and should meet the fate
Of his kind. The verdict was eXecu-
ton by hanging from the Murderer's
tree in Dry gulch at an hour after
midnight.
When informed of his sentence,
but regarded it as a ruse by which
to obtain a confession from him. Still
he received minister. feigned much
repentance and accepted the spiritual
solace.
Seachriest was led by one member
Of the committee to the place Of exc
cution. The remaining members were
not in sight. but later gathered at
the appointed spot from various di-
rections.
: On realizing that he was played
out" and must die. Seachriest began
his confession. He told of his life
Of crime covering IL years and wound
up by relating the gruesome particu-
lars of his last murder on Snake river.
He consumed several minutes in the
confession and finally the patience Of
the Vigilantes gave out.
Seeing that his time had come, Sea-
chriest said: Boys. cut me down be-
fore two or three days, won't you?"
and a few seconds later the body Of
Seachriest swung between the star
shot Montana sky and the surface Of
the Rockies.
The Vigilantes stood in silence until
life was thought to be extinct. Then.
after the custom Of the organization,
two men were detailed to stand fac
ing each other. while between them
every man present passed in single
file and whispered the password o.
the Vigilantes.
The committee gradually dispersed,
not with long-drawn cOuntenanceS as
if regretting the commission OF an
evil deed, but with smiles and quips
of satisfaction at having riddei Mon
tara of another undesirable