Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1942-10-16
Con Murphy Was Last Person Hanged
In Montana Territory by the Vigilantes

The Vigilantes first came into exis-
tence In Montana at Virginia City In
the fall OF 1868. 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 1868 and 1864. To those unacquaint-
ed with the early day history of Mon
tana. it would appear from the &C
counts of the Vigilantes written by
Langsford and Dimsdale that that
celebrated organization functioned
only for a brief interval during the
winter of 1868 and 1864, commencing
its work with the summary trial and
execution Of George Ives on December
81. 1863. and ending with the hanging
Of Captain John A. Slade, March 10,
1864. 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 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 ad-
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, placard on which
was portrayed a skull and cross bones,
under which appeared the figures
"3-7-7" and the word Beware" When
crimes were committed within the
community this was the notice Of the
Vigilantes to the culprits to move on
or suffer the consequences, and the
Hangman's tree and its fruits stood
forth at all times as warning to
desperadoes and law violators.
The Last of the Hangings
The last person to be executed by
the Vigilantes in the Territory OF
Montana was notorious character by
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 organl-
cation.
In the winter of 1884 and 1885, the
two Edmonson brothers were held in
the county jail at Helena awaiting
trial or transfer to the penitentiary
following conviction. They were the
leaders of the famous crowd OF des-
peradoes and road agents known
throughout the territory as the Ed
monson gang" They were in Montana
what the Jesse James gang was 10
Missouri. During that time almost
every night large fires OF incendlary
origin occurred and the people OF
Helena we're greatly incensed in con-
sequence. From day to day the Vlgl,
lante signs were prominently ana
numerously in evidence, yet the 1lres
continued. 1t was felt quite generally
that these fires were started by COIL
federates of the Edmonson boys to
distract attention from the county
jail and thus better enable them W
effect an escape.
Con Murphy 49,.
Con Murphy was a member OF the
gang. and being then at large, many
citizens entertained belief that he was
a moving factor behind the many con-
flaerations. He was fugitive from
Justice and his record was such as
IN instill bitterness of feeling towards
him. more especially because OF the
great losses by fire constantly occur
ring Con Murphy, alias Red alas
slack" Redmond, was a man rather
small of stature and weighed about
15O pounds. He was very well muscleo
and developed, however, and was
Quick and wiry His complexion was
decidedly sandy; freckles; light brown
hair. a sandy mustache, and Whlskers
cut close; a straight pointed nose; a
cold peculiar, blue eye; red eyellds'
and a stolid countenance. In CONVEX
sation. however, he was quite atfaole
and frequently wore pleasant smlle.
He usually wore black slouch hat
with fancy hat band, dark coat
and blue overalls, heavy red soS WIN
the overalls tucked in, and arctlc over,
shoes. He dressed very warmly ana
could Withstand the severest cold.
He came to Montana in 1876, and III
1879 was committed to the penitentlary,
at Deer Lodge for horse stealing, ana
after seven months imprisonment
made his escape. He was at large 1or
about a year when he was captured
on the Dearborn river by a sherl1fs
posse under Charles NJ. Jeffrles, then
Sheriff of Lewis and Clark county. he
completed his term of Imprisonment
and was discharged in 1882. He was
subsequently arrested for the hold-up
of the Fort Benton stage, which oc-
CURED in the Prickly Pear canyon IN
the summer of 1883. He was then
placed in the city lookup at Helena
but effected his escape therefrom by
cutting his way through the roof. A
short time afterwards he was recap
tured on the Yellowstone river, and