In the summer of 1863, this unfortunate gentleman came to Virginia, with a large pack-train, laden with merchandise, selected with great judgment for the use of miners, and on his arrival, he opened a store on Wallace street, still pointed out as his place of business by “old inhabitants.”
Having disposed of his goods, from the sale of which he had realized about $14,000, he made arrangements for his return to Lewiston, by way of Elk City. This becoming known, Plummer and his band held a council in Alder Gulch, and determined on the robbery and murder of Magruder, C. Allen, Horace and Robert Chalmers, and a Mr. Phillips, from the neighborhood of Marysville. During the debate, it was proposed that Steve Marshland should go on the expedition, along with Jem Romaine, Doc Howard, Billy Page and a man called indifferently Bob or Bill Lowry. The programme included the murder of the five victims, and Marshland said he did not wish to go, as he could make money without murder. He was, he said, “On the rob, but not on the kill.” Cyrus Skinner, laughed at his notion, and observed that “Dead men tell no tales.” It was accordingly decided that the four miscreants above named should join the party and kill them all at some convenient place on the road. Accordingly they offered their services to Magruder, who gave them a free passage and a fat mule each to ride, telling them that they could turn their lean horses along with the band.
Charley Allen, it seems had strong misgivings about the character of the ruffians, and told Magruder that the men would not harm him, (Allen,) as they were under obligations to him; but they would, likely enough try to rob Magruder. His caution was ineffectual, and Mr. McK Dennee, we believe, fixed up for the trip the gold belonging to Magruder.
It is a melancholy fact that information of the intention of the murderers had reached the ears of more than one citizen; but such was the terror of the Road Agents that they dared not tell any of the party.
Having reached the mountain beyond Clearwater River, on their homeward journey, the stock was let out to graze on the slope, and Magruder, in company with Bill Lowry, went up to watch it. Seizing his opportunity, the ruffian murdered Magruder, and his confederates assassinated the four remaining in camp, while asleep. Romaine said to Phillips, when shooting him down, “You ——, I told you not to come.” The villains having possessed themselves of the treasure, rolled up the bodies, baggage and arms, and threw them over a precipice. They then went on to Lewiston, avoiding Elk City on their route, where the first intimation of foul play was given by the sight of Magruder’s mule, saddle, leggings, etc., in the possession of the robbers. Hill Beechey, the Deputy Marshal at Lewiston, and owner of the Luna House, noticed the cantinas filled with gold, and suspected something wrong, when they left by the coach for San Francisco. A man named Goodrich recognized Page, when he came to ranch the animals with him.
The murderers were closely muffled and tried to avoid notice. Beechey followed them right through to California, and there arrested them on the charge of murdering and robbing Magruder and his party. He found that they had changed their names at many places. Every possible obstacle was interposed that the forms of law allowed; but the gallant man fought through it all, and brought them back, on requisition of the Governor of Idaho, to Lewiston. Page turned State’s evidence, and the men, who were closely guarded by Beechy all the time, in his own house, were convicted after a fair trial, and hanged. Romaine, who had been a barber, and afterwards a bar-keeper, was a desperate villain. At the gallows, he said that there was a note in his pocket, which he did not wish to be read until he was dead. On opening it, it was found to contain a most beastly and insolent defiance of the citizens of Lewiston. Before he was swung off, he bade them “Launch their —— old boat,” for it was “only a mud-scow, any way.”
A reconnoisance of the ground, in Spring, discovered a few bones, some buttons from Magruder’s coat, some fire-arms, etc. The coyotes had been too busy to leave much.
Page, at the last advices, was still living at the Luna House. Even a short walk from home produces, it is said, a feeling of tightness about the throat, only to be relieved by going back in a hurry. He was not one of the original plotters, but not being troubled with too much sense, he was frightened into being a tool.
The perpetration of this horrible outrage excited immense indignation, and helped effectually to pave the way for the advent of the Vigilantes. Reviewing the long and bloody lists of crimes against person and property, which last included several wholesale attempts at plunder of the stores in Virginia and Bannack, it was felt that the question was narrowed down to “Kill or be killed.” “Self preservation is the first law of nature,” and the mountaineers took the right side. We have to thank them for the peace and order which exist to-day in what are, by the concurrent testimony of all travellers, the best regulated new mining camps in the West.
The record of every villain who comes to Montana arrives with him, or before him; but no notice is taken of his previous conduct. If, however, he tries his hand at his trade in this region, he is sure of the reward of his crimes, and that on short notice; at least such is the popular belief.