Up to the very hour at which he was hanged, they were confident of Plummer’s arrival in time to save him. But events were transpiring throughout the Territory which produced intense excitement, and rumor on her thousand wings was ubiquitous in her journeying on absurd errands.
Before Lane reached Bannack news of Ives’ arrest had reached there, with the further story that the men of Alder Gulch were wild with excitement, and ungovernable from passion; that a Vigilance Committee had been formed; a number of the best citizens hanged, and that from three hundred to five hundred men were on their way to Bannack City to hang Plummer, Ray, Stinson, George Chrisman, A. J. McDonald and others. This last “bulletin from the front” was probably the offspring of Plummer’s brain. It is also likely that Lane and perhaps, Ray and Stinson, helped in the hatching of the story. Suffice it to say that Plummer told it often, shedding crocodile tears that such horrible designs existed in the minds of any, as the death of his, as yet, unrobbed friends, Chrisman, McDonald and Pitt.
His was a most unctious sorrow, intended at that crisis, to be seen of men in Bannack, and quite a number of the good citizens clubbed together to defend each other from the contemplated assault, the precise hour for which Plummers’ detectives had learned, and all night long many kept watch and ward to give the attacking party a warm reception.
There is no doubt that Plummer believed that such a body of men were on their way to Bannack City, after him, Ray, Stinson and company. The coupling of the other names with theirs was his own work, and was an excellent tribute paid in a backhanded way, to their integrity and high standing in the community.
“Conscience doth make cowards of us all.”
and Lane found Plummer anxious to look after his own safety, rather than that of George Ives.
The rumors carried day by day from the trial, to the band in different parts of the Territory, were surprising in their exactness, and in the celerity with which they were carried; but they were changed in each community, by those most interested; into forms best suited to subserve the purposes of the robbers; and, in this way, did they beguile into sympathy with them and their misfortunes, many fair, honest men.
Ives’ trial for murder, though not the first in the Territory, differed from any that had preceded it.
Before this memorable day, citizens, in the presence of a well disciplined and numerous band of desperadoes, had spoken of their atrocities with bated breath; and witnesses upon their trial had testified in whispering humbleness. Prosecuting lawyers, too, had, in their arguments, often startled the public with such novel propositions as, “Now, gentlemen, you have heard the witnesses, and it is for you to say whether the defendant is or is not guilty; if he is guilty, you should say so; but if not, you ought to acquit him. I leave this with you, to whom it rightfully belongs.” But the counsel for the defense were, at least, guiltless of uttering these last platitudes; for a vigorous defense hurt no one and won hosts of friends—of a CERTAIN KIND. But on Ives’ trial, there was given forth no uncertain sound. Robbery and honesty locked horns for the mastery, each struggling for empire; and each stood by his banner until the contest ended—fully convinced of the importance of victory. Judge Byam remained by the prisoner from the time judgment was given, and gave all the necessary directions for carrying it into effect. Robert Hereford was the executive officer.
An unfinished house, having only the side-walls up, was chosen as the best place, near at hand, for carrying into effect the sentence of death. The preparations, though entirely sufficient, were both simple and brief. The butt of a forty-foot pole was planted inside the house, at the foot of one of the walls, and the stick leaned over a cross beam. Near the point, was tied the fatal cord, with the open noose dangling fearfully at its lower end. A large goods box was the platform. The night had closed in, with a bright, full moon, and around that altar of Vengeance, the stern and resolute faces of the guard were visible, under all circumstances of light and shade conceivable. Unmistakable determination was expressed in every line of their bronzed and weather-beaten countenances.