Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1943-01-08
HOW SLADE GAVE .
EFFECTIVE HELP
TO YOUNG WOMAN
HE QUICKLY RID THE COUNTRY
OF MAN WHO MURDERED
HER HUSBAND

One Of the best examples of the
sane side of Captain Jack SHADES
character, and the willingness and de-
sire Of the man to help those defense
less and in need, is set forth in the
story which years ago was narrated
by Amede Besette, one of the pioneer
residents of old Bannack. Besette said
Of Slade:
DO not expect me to blame the men
who took the rope to hang him, for I
believe that Slade carried in his right
hand pants pocket the rope with
which he was hung
when Slade left North Platte,
Nebraska, to come to this country, had
he cast into the river Jules Reni's
two ears, he might have been living
today. have seen those ears a dozen
times myself. was in charge of the
North Platte bridge for two years.
There we had a nice saloon and big
Two, three and four hundred wagons
would cross the bridge every day-toll
SIS per wagon. This run was from the
first Of May until the first Of October
each year. I heard that the bridge
was burned by the Indians in 1868.
Nov let me come back to Slade
again. Whenever he would come along
in one of the coaches, always full Of
passengers bound for California, he
would call them to take a drink. At
such times he would pull out of his
pocket handful Of loose silver coin
(mixed with which could be seen
Jules dry, wrinkled ears) pick out
enough silver to pay him for the
drinks, and pocket the rest. This &C.
CURED about every two weeks. Many
passengers, upon hearing the story
of the ears, would be so mortified that
they would swear never to drink with
him again"
Jules was killed by Slade after the
latter had succeeded the Frenchman
as division agent for the Overland
Stage Co. at Julesburg.
Thieves and Murderers
Let me here tell you what have
seen. heard and know" Besette con-
tinued. In the month of August, 1861,
there lived, about Is miles below In
dependence Rock, Wyo., two thieves
and murderers. One was named Henry
Bacon, French Canadian; the other,
Harry Smith, a Canadian of Scotch
descent. They kept station on Sweet
water river, on the California road.
Several emigrants disappeared myster-
iously in passing these. Many cattle
and horses belonging to neighbors were
recognized IN their bands.
Was Friend of Slade
There lived four miles above the
Bacon and Smith place man named
Joseph Plante, a wealthy French
Canadian. He had big store and
large supply of goods. Slade could get
anything he wanted there as if 1t
were his own place He thought a
great deal of Plante.
During the summer of 1861, Bacon
and Smith hired man named Bar
tholamew, who had wife and two
children-a boy of eight and girl of
five. In the month of July, Smith got
drunk and killed Bartholomew. The
latter had called him a liar, Smith
said, and no man could do that and
live. There were no witnesses to the
ARRAY. Two weeks afterwards, Smith
told the widow that he could give
her home. She scorned the PROPOSE
ton to marry the murderer of her
husband and the father of her chill
dren. mo-" she replied, You may kill
me if you want to. but I will never
marry you"
about ten days after this Bacon
and Smith planned to kill Plante, who
had no relatives around, and take
possession of his property. Plante,
having discovered the scheme, wrote to
Slade about it, asking his advice.
Slade replied: "Sit in your store with
a shotgun loaded with buck shot and
shoot the first one that tries to enter.
I will be there next Friday and will
fix those fellows. Have two rawhide
lariats ready"
This letter was written on Tuesday.
Sure enough, on Friday Slade was
there with four of his men and an
extra coach. Smith had been in
Plante's store about an hour trying to
raise quarrel with Plante.
"Slade was informed of all this. He
went to Smith in the store and ap-
preaching close to him said, Smith,
you liar and live. Pull out your gun,
for I am going to tell you what 1
think of you, and I expect to be shot"
The two men stood about 10 inches
apart, SHADES left hand on the right
shoulder of Smith. Looking at him
square in the face, Slade said to
Smith, you are a liar, thief and a
murderer and the greatest coward on
earth for you killed a man who had
two children to support, to get his
wife, and you did not succeed, but
I shall punish you severely for it."
Had Smith Hanged
Saying the last word, he showed
Smith four feet away. Smith nearly
fell over on his back. Slade then told
his men to go to work. They took
Smith, tied his hands behind him,
and walked him about 60 feet away
to the gate beam. Slade threw a
rawhide lariat around Smiths neck,
threw the end OF it over the beam and
pulled him up until his feet were
elevated three feet above the ground.
"'Get Bacon said Slade. So SHADES
men took the coach, as ordered, and
went after Bacon. They returned,
stopping the coach so that Bacon
would be close to Smiths body when
he got off. AS he stepped onto the
ground, he saw Smith. He struck
Smiths body about six inches above
the knee and causing it to swing
back and forth. With an oath he said,
"You-- -, will meet you
within an hour and will whip h
out of you"
QTyl--