M. G. and Y. creeks. The millers placed two armed men at the forks

with instructions to allow no one to interfere with the flow of the water.”

* *
*

“M,.. is figuring in the courts as a much abused and injured man.

430 Reau Lire in THE Nortu-WEstT.

He claims that last Sunday night, between the hours of one and two,
twelve or fifteen armed and masked men appeared at his residence and
placed a rope around his son’s neck and dragged him out doors, choking
him considerably. M... and his wife were sleeping on their pre-emption
claim, about 300 yards distant, and Mrs. M..., alarmed at the cries of her
boy, hastened to the house. Upon arriving there, she was seized and
thrown down, dragged around, etc., as was her husband also, as soon as
he arrived upon the scene.

M... claims that the outrage was perpetrated by a neighbor, whose
land he jumped, aided by friends.

There are many who doubt the entire story; and the wounds are such
as might have been caused by a little friendly discussion ‘ wid fists,” all
among themselves.”

[It transpired that the chief of the mob was a Mason and
that it was intended to kill M... (who was unknown to the
chief as a brother in his gang), but on the verge of his death he
(M...) made his relation known with a sign to the Grand
Worthy Chief, who forthwith gave orders to quit, and they did.
M... got the land also. It being just so in the courts, too.

The following is how the Masonic press howled, when they
found it was a brother. |

““Murperovus Assavtt.—Last Sunday morning at about one
o’clock, a band of midnight assassins assaulted the J. M..
family in this [Garfield] county. We will not give the names
of the parties this week, as they are not all caught yet. They
knocked Mrs. M. . downand bruised her, choked the old man and
hit him a blow with the butt of a gun. The bloody parties also
stole a gun and pistol from the house. The assassins were
partly disguised when they did their bloody deed. Mr. M..’s
sons were also assaulted about the same time and place as that
made on their father and mother. Whoever would be guilty of
such work is meaner than a highwayman. There is law
in this country for such men as M.. if any have a grievance
against him and his family. [Yes, indeed, there is law for such
men, but none that will work against them.] We hope the
parties will get the full extent of the law in this case, The
proof is too overwhelming to fight the case in any court with
hope of success.”

[When outsiders were the victims then the ring press only
“hoped that the affair [?] would serve as a lesson to law-
makers,” and no attempts were made to arrest the mob.

Re
age
Hy

aoie
Pe te
| 1
|

—

Re STE

' one and two,
3 residence and
doors, choking
‘ir pre-emption
the cries of her
was seized and
also, as soon as

1eighbor, whose

vounds are such
‘swid fists,” all

a Mason and
known to the
of his death he
to the Grand
,and they did.
ourts, too.

led, when they

g at about one
ed the J. M..
rive the names
eht yet. They
he old man and
bdy parties also
assassins were
\d. Mr. M..’s
d place as that
1d be guilty of
There is law
hve a grievance
is law for such
We hope the
his case. The
ny court with

ng press only
lesson to law-
ob.

Rea Lire In THE Norra-WEst. 431

Therefore, this mob demanded the same immunity as ac-
corded to the other brethren, as follows:]

‘*HiaoH HanpEep.—We have heard from good authority that some of
the parties who were engaged in the M.. attack joined with others, held a
meeting and passed resolutions of condemnation upon several persons who
were Officially engaged in the prosecution. That there were some forty
persons present, and that one county officer was voted to be put out of the
way by a vote of 34 to 6, and that each one of the band was sworn to
secrecy.”

“The excitement consequent upon the commiting of the M.. crime
having mostly subsided, the people of this community were again startled
by the report that plans were being made for the assassination of Justice
O.. and the principal witnesses for the prosecution.”

‘‘Those [masonic] fellows who hold secret meetings and take votes to
put O.., F.., H.. and S.. to death, had better cease such work ; they
are too cowardly to execute their plans unlessthey have greatly the advan-
tage. If an attempt should be made to injure either of these parties
threatened, there would be a general uprising, and blot the whole lot out
of existence at once. There is a move on foot to set fire to the house in
which they meet and shoot every one dead that might make an attempt to
leap from the flames, which would only inflict a modicum of the pain that
awaits them in the flames in the regions of those whose deeds consign them
to the hissing flames of eternal perdition in the fiery regions of the
damned.”

[Just so, as far as it goes; but why howl against, burn and
shoot down the little loose side show-sprig of the devil, while
the old-midnight-lurking, intriguing devil himself, with his
army of Danites, arrayed for mutual slaughter and havoc and
cruelty, are secure.

“With pride in their port, defiance in their eye,
We see the secret lurking lords of human kind pass by.”

Though the court machinery is worked in. “mystery,” it
appeared that this sprig of its father made its relationship felt
so effectively that the trials (?) were a notorious farce at the ex-
pense of the people and profit to the gang, enlarged by secret fines
of some of the accused. |

“ Don’t do it.—We heard strong hints of lynching Mr. J.B..
for the manner he is conducting himself as an employee of the
railroad company in the sale of lieu lands.”

“There seems to be an epidemic wave of madness moving
over the country. Murder and theft, with other crimes and
Vices, are walking abroad at noonday. All this boldness in

432 Reau Lire In THE Norto-WEst.

crime grows out of the loose manner in which the penalties of
law are ministered by our courts, [and the endorsing of the
blackest crime by blackleg Governors]. We beseech the courts
and officers of this district to do their duty, regardless of who
the violators of law may be that shall suffer the just penalty of
their crimes.”

“Tt has come to a pretty pass that the honest men of the
country have to arm themselves against the big, ugly, mean,
sneaking thieves [of the gang] that are found here and there,”
[because the courts and Governors are their friends, dead or
alive].

‘Tt has gone abroad that Garfield county has the most criminals of

any county in the Territory. The crime calendar shows this to be the
case.”

[But the convictions did not show it, as the gang was in con-
trol, and declared good evil, and evil good. |

‘A just rebuke.—I have noticed an article in the Jowrnal entitled “A
dangerous man to have around,” directed at me. AsI am to be tried ona
serious charge, and as I believe the article directed at me was written with
malicious intent, I hope you will allow me space to contradict the state-
ments made.” [As a general thing, in the northwest a victim of the gang

cannot gel a hearing in the press, which is generally collared and linked
together to howl at and strike those that cannot strike back, and are suf-
fering in the darkness of pain and sorrow.]....‘‘I have no objections to
being examined as to my lunacy, provided the Journal editor is put through
the same ordeal, the insane man to be committed to the asylum, and the
other to be given his freedom. County jail, F. L..”

“Mr. L.. has certainly cause to complain at having his case tried in
a newspaper [not so, if he is given an equal show to be heard, and which
should be compelled by law.| No true and honorable journalist will attempt
to create unfavorable opinion against a prisoner previous even to u jic-
liminary examination.” [But this is the general rule as against an out-
sider]. ‘*The reason for such a course is that L..’s incarceration in the
asylum or penitentiary, or execution, would end a long protracted attempt
at stealing an honest settler’s home.”

‘Tt is said that there is a determination among certain persons to do
L.. great bodily harm should he be released on bail, or acquitted.”

‘After driving L.. crazy by attempting to jump his ~anch, the land
sharks are now trying to prejudice public opinion against him in their
malicious sheet.”

“Tt appears that L.. claims some land which the gang wish to get
hold of, hence their anxiety to hang him or send him to the lunatic
asylum.”

> penalties of
orsing of the
ech the courts
rdless of who
ust penalty of

st men of the
g, ugly, mean,
re and there,
ends, dead or

nost criminals of
vs this to be the

gang was in con-

urnal entitled “A
m to be tried ona
e was written with
ntradict the state-
victim of the gang
blared and linked

ack, and are suf-
} no objections to
itor is put through
b asylum, and the

5 his case tried in
heard, and which
nalist will attempt
us even to u pic
as against an ovl-
carceration in the
protracted attempt

‘ain persons to do
acquitted.”

his vanch, the land
hinst him in their

gang wish to get
im to the lunatic

Reau Lire 1N THE Nortu-WEst. 433

‘* Land Trouble.—Mrs, M.. swore to a complaint charging W., H., E.,