Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1942-10-10


tence in Montana at Virginia City in
the fan of 1853, the purpose Of the
organization being to enforce respect
for the law and to protect the lives
and property of decent. law-abiding
people from the outrages which were
constantly being perpetrated by the
road agents, the chief Of whom was
Henry Plummer, then sheriff of Madi-
son county. He and the other mem
bers Of his gang were all later hanged
by the Vigilantes during the winter
Of 1853 and 1854. To those unacquaint-
ed with the early day history of Mon
tana, it would appear from the ac-
counts Of the Vigilantes written by
Langsford and Dimsdale that that
celebrated organization flInctioned
only for a brief interval during the
winter of 1868 and 1854, commencing
its work with the summary trial and
execution Of George Ives ON December
q, 1868, and ending with the hanging
of Captain John A. Slade, March 10,
1884. However, they continued vigor-
ously and effectually In their opera
tons In and about Helena as late as
1885.
On the bank of Dry Gulch Davis
street In Helena) there stood a grim
and solitary tree with a long limb
projecting almost horizontally from its
trunk a distance of about 12-feet from
the ground The tree was dead, yet
quite regularly the community was
amazed to see a peculiar fruit pro-
duced thereon in the form of human
beings lifelessly dangling by the neck.
From the year 1870 to 1885 it was
frequently to be observed that during
the night this tree had borne fruit,
and sometimes as many as three men
were to be seen at one time hanging
from the limb, evincing the fact that
summary Justice had again been adj
ministered by the Vigilantes 1t was
known throughout the country as
"Hangman's Tree" During those days
it was not uncommon in Helena to
see quite numerously and conspicu-
ously posted the grim emblem Of the
Vigilantes, namely, a placard on which
was portrayed skull and cross bones,
under which appeared the figures
"3-7-7" and the word Beware" When
crimes were committed within the
this was the notice OF the
Vigilantes to the culprtts to move on
or suffer the consequences, and the
tree and its fruits stood
forth at all times as a warning TO |
and law violators.
The Last Of the Hangings
The last person to be executed by
the Vigilantes In the Territory OF |
Montana was a notorious character py
the name Of Con Murphy, and this
article pertains more especially TO him.
His hanging near Helena In January
1885. was the last work performed by
that historic and celebrated organi- !
IN the winter Of 1884 and 1885, the
two Edmonson brothers were held IN
he county jail at Helena awaiting
rial or transfer to the penitentiary
following conviction. They we're the
eaders of the famous crowd OF des-
,eradoes and road agents known
throughout the territory as the Ed
nonson gang" They were IN Montana
what the Jesse James gang was 70
Missouri. During that time almost
,verv night large fires Of mcendiary
,rioiy occurred and the people OF
7elena were greatly incensed IN con-
enuence. From day to day the vigil
ante signs were prominently ana
,unnerously In evidence, yet the TRES
1t was felt quite generally
Not these fires were started by con-
sdarates of the Edmonson boys 10
Iistract attention from the county
All and thus better enable them W
fleet an escape.
ION Murphy
CON Murphy was member OF the
ono and being then at large, many
items entertained belief that ne was
,,1ovIno factor behind the many con-
aa~ations. He was a fugitive from
',rfice and his record was slcn as
: inct,lI bitterness Of feeling towards
i'm. more especially because OF bne
-aat losses by fire constantly occur
mo CON Murphy, alias Red" anas
Tact,,' redmond, was man rabnet
-,aI1 of stature and weighed ABOUT
n mounds. He was very Wen muscleo
NJ developed, however, ana was
,,ick and wiry. His complexion was :
scSdad1v sandy: freckles; light Drown
air ! sandy mustache, and WHISPERS
- close. straight pointed nose;
Did. peculiar, blue eye; req eyenus'
nd n gfDUQ COlulCAAuAS~s - I
,tion however, he was quite aIiapie'
ID rsi~ frequently wore pleasant srrile. I
. usually wore a black sloucn nae {
an a fancy hat band, dark coat
m blue overaIls, heavy red sox win {
= overalls tucked in, and arctic over
,oes He dressed very warmly anu Z
,a,id Withstand the severest colo.
He came to Montana in 1875, ana Ia
no 10 VAS committed TO the penitentlary ?
- T,eer lodge for horse stealing, a no :
,ts n~ seven months Imprisonment !
~. his escape. He was at large loa 2
I'm, .o = wear when he was captu[ssssu !,
'ou ~ = ySsarborn river by sherifrs !
-. sA-T Under Charles M. Jeffries. 1nsn :
'sTtsf If Lewis and Clark county. ~ I
:, ~ his term of imprisonment i
=, was discharged In 1889. ne w@ 4
lS,seouentIy arrested for the nolo-up +
~ ths Fort Benton stage, which os +
,rr al Il, the Prickly Pear canyon ~ >
= . s. summer Of 1883. He was tnen Z
!, aced Ia the city lookup at Helena, i
:, stN' erected his escape therefrom py !
I