Club-Foot George (George Lane) was arrested at Dance & Stuart’s. He was living there, and working at odd times. He was perfectly cool and collected, and inquired the reason of his arrest, as Parish had done previously. On receiving the same answer, he appeared surprised, and said, “If you hang me you will hang an innocent man.” He was told that the proof was positive, and that if he had any preparation to make he must do it at once, as his sentence was death. He appeared penitent and sat down for some time, covering his face with his hands. He then asked for a minister, and one being immediately sent for, he talked and prayed with him till the procession to the gallows was formed. In his pocket-book was found an extract from a western newspaper, stating that George Lane, the notorious horse-thief, was Sheriff of Montana. Lane was a man of iron nerve; he seemed to think no more of the hanging than a man would of eating his breakfast.
Boone Helm was brought in next. He had been arrested in front of the Virginia Hotel. Two or three were detailed for his capture of whom he would entertain no suspicion, and they played their part, apparently, so carelessly and well, that he was seized without being able to make any effort at resistance. A man at each arm, and one behind, with a cocked revolver, brought him to the rendezvous. He lamented greatly that he “had no show” when taken, as he said, “They would have had a gay old time taking me, if I had known what they were after.” His right hand was in a sling. He quietly sat down on a bench, and on being made acquainted with his doom, he declared his entire innocence. He said, “I am as innocent as the babe unborn; I never killed any one, or robbed or defrauded any man; I am willing to swear it on the Bible.” Anxious to see if he was really so abandoned a villain as to swear this, the book was handed to him, and he, with the utmost solemnity, repeated an oath to that effect, invoking most terrific penalties on his soul, in case he was swearing falsely. He kissed the book most impressively. He then addressed a gentleman, and asked him to go into a private room. Thinking that Boone wanted him to pray with him, he proposed to send for a clergyman; but Boone said, “You’ll do.” On reaching the inner room, the prisoner said, “Is there no way of getting out of this?” Being told that there was not, and that he must die, he said, “Well, then, I’ll tell you, I did kill a man named Shoot, in Missouri, and I got away to the West; and I killed another chap in California. When I was in Oregon I got into jail, and dug my way out with tools that my squaw gave me.” Being asked if he would not tell what he knew about the gang, he said, “Ask Jack Gallagher; he knows more than I do.” Jack, who was behind a partition, heard him, and burst out into a volley of execrations, saying that it was just such cowardly sons of —— and traitors that had brought him into that scrape.
Helm was the most hardened, cool and deliberate scoundrel of the whole band, and murder was a mere pastime to him. He killed Mr. Shoot, in Missouri, (as will be afterwards narrated,) and testimony of the most conclusive character, showed that his hands were steeped in blood, both in Idaho and since his coming to the Territory. Finding that all his asseverations and pleas availed him nothing, he said, “I have dared death in all its forms, and I do not fear to die.” He called repeatedly for whiskey, and had to be reprimanded several times for his unseemly conduct.
The capture of Lyons, though unattended with danger, was affected only by great shrewdness. He had been boarding at the Arbor Restaurant, near the “Shades.” The party went in. The owner said he was not there, but that they might search if they liked. The search was made, and was ineffectual. He had left in the morning. During the search for Lyons, Jack Gallagher was found, in a gambling room, rolled up in bedding, with his shot-gun and revolver beside him. He was secured too quickly to use his weapons, if, indeed he had had the courage; but his heart failed him, for he knew that his time was come. He was then taken to the place of rendezvous.
In the meantime the other party went after Haze Lyons, and found that he had crossed the hill, beyond the point overhanging Virginia, and, after making a circuit of three miles through the mountains, he had come back to within a quarter of a mile of the point, from which he started to a miner’s cabin, on the west side of the gulch, above town. At the double-quick, the pursuers started, the moment they received the information. The leader threw open the door, and bringing down his revolver to a present, said, “Throw up your hands.” Lyons had a piece of hot slapjack on his fork; but dropped it instantly, and obeyed the order. He was told to step out. This he did at once. He was in his shirt-sleeves, and asked for his coat which was given to him. He was so nervous that he could hardly get his arms into it. A rigid search for weapons was made; but he had just before taken off his belt and revolver, laying them on the bed. He said that that was the first meal he had sat down to with any appetite, for six weeks. Being told to finish his dinner, he thanked the captain, but said he could eat no more. He then inquired what was going to be done with him, and whether they would hang him. The captain said, “I am not here to promise you anything; prepare for the worst.” He said, “My friends advised me to leave here, two or three days ago.” The captain asked why he did not go. He replied that he had “done nothing, and did not want to go.” (He was one of the murderers of Dillingham, in June, ’63, and was sentenced to death, but spared, as before related.) The real reason for his stay, was his attachment for a woman in town, whose gold watch he wore when he died on the scaffold. He was asked if he had heard of the execution of Plummer, Buck Stinson and Ned Ray. He replied that he had; but that he did not believe it. He was informed that it was true in the following words, “You may bet your sweet life on it.” He then inquired, “Did they fight?” and was informed that they did not; for that they had not any opportunity. By this time they had arrived at the rendezvous, and Lyons found himself confronted by some familiar faces.
Jack Gallagher came in swearing, and appeared to be inclined to pretend that the affair was a joke, asking, “What the —— is it all about?” and saying, “This is a pretty break ain’t it?” Being informed of his sentence, he appeared much affected, and sat down, crying; after which he jumped up, cursing in the most ferocious manner, and demanded who had informed of him. He was told that it was “Red, who was hung at Stinkingwater.” He cursed him with every oath he could think of. He said to himself, “My God! must I die in this way?” His general conduct and profanity were awful; and he was frequently rebuked by the chief of the executive.
Haze Lyons was last fetched in, and acquainted with his sentence. He, of course, pleaded innocent, in the strongest terms; but he had confessed to having murdered Dillingham, to a captain of one of the squads of the guard, in the presence of several witnesses; and he was a known Road Agent. He gave some directions for letters to be written, and begged to see his mistress; but warned by the experiment of the previous year, his request was denied.
The chief dispatched an officer, with fifteen men, who went at the double-quick to Highland District, where two suspicious looking characters had gone, with blankets on their backs, the evening before, and making the “surround” of the cabin, the usual greeting of “throw up your hands,” enforced by a presented revolver, was instantly obeyed, and they were marched down after being disarmed. The evidence not being conclusive, they were released though their guilt was morally certain. The Vigilantes rigidly abstained, in all cases, from inflicting the penalty due to crime, without entirely satisfactory evidence of guilt.
After all was arranged for hanging them, the prisoners were ordered to stand in a row, facing the guard, and were informed that they were about to be marched to the place of execution. Being asked if they had any requests to prefer, as that would be their last opportunity, they said they had none to make. They were then asked if they had anything to communicate, either of their own deeds or their comrade Road Agents; but they all refused to make any confession. The guard were ordered to pinion their prisoners. Jack Gallagher swore he would never be hung in public; and drawing his knife he clapped the blade to his neck, saying that he would cut his throat first. The executive officer instantly cocked his pistol, and told him that if he made another movement, he would shoot him, and ordered the guard to disarm him. One of them seized his wrist and took the knife, after which he was pinioned, cursing horribly all the time. Boon Helm was encouraging Jack, telling him not to “make a —— fool of himself,” as there was no use in being afraid to die.
The chief called upon men that could be depended upon, to take charge of the prisoners to the place of execution. The plan adopted was to march the criminals, previously pinioned, each between two Vigilantes, who grasped an arm of the prisoner with one hand, and held in the other a “Navy”—ready for instant use. When Haze Lyons heard the order above mentioned, he called out, “X, I want you to come and stay with me till I die,” which reasonable request was at once complied with.