Vigilantism Gone Bad

Local hell raiser Jack Slade stood out even among the many rabble-rousers who inhabited the frontier mining towns of Virginia City, Montana.  When he was sober, townspeople like and respected Slade through there were unconfirmed rumors he had once been a thief and a murderer.  When drunk, Slade had a habit of firing his guns in bars and making threats, although not hurting anyone, they began to disturb others and fuel the rumors that he was a dangerous man.

The Montana Vigilantes decided to hang Jack Slade in 1864 and took him into custody.  Slade who had committed no serious crime, pleaded for his life and at least a chance to say goodbye to his wife.  Before she could arrive, the vigilantes hung him. 

Not long after the questionable execution, legitimate courts and prisons began to function in Virginia City.  Though sporadic vigilante justice continued until 1867, it increasingly became the public's concern.  In March 1867, miners in one Montana mining district posted a notice in the local newspaper that they would hang 5 vigilantes for every one man they hung.  Seems they weren't so intent on serving justice in lieu of that notice and vigilantism faded out quickly.