The Case of George Ives

The story  so far in Montana where Sheriff Plummer and his men - Gallagher, Stinson and Ray have control of the town of Bannack, stealing, gold, property, and Killing over 100 of the townspeople. The honest citizens have begun to organize,  beginning at the murder trial of Deputy Billingham. ' Presiding was Dr. G. G. Bissell, along with two other doctors. The prosecutor was blacksmith Cutler and the citizens were the jury. 

The trial was held in Wallace Street with Judge Bissell on a  wagon. By noon the trial was  over und by second  day a verdict of guilty was returned for the Sheriff's men.   In a last minute softhearted pleas by a few women present, Plummer's men were let go. The community did not agree. Several more unpunished crimes were committed (more on that later) until one day...
 

The bloodstained and mangled body of a young boy, Nicholas Tbalt, an orphan,  was found murdered for his little money and mules in Stinkingwater Valley. The murderer was discovered to be another of Sheriff Plummer's men, George lves. The trial and conviction was the first victory of the Montana Vigilantes.

Several citizens along with 25 men captured lves and his two co-horts, "Long John" Franck and George Hilderman, the  "American Pie Eating Champion." They were captured just outside Plummer's jurisdiction on October 19, 1863. Fifteen hundred men took part in the trial-just to see justice done to “one of Plummer's men." It was decided that all 1500 citizens would serve as jury with 25 acting as an advisory jury. The accused had attempted escape several times, so he and his cronies were held in  logging chains, secured by padlocks. 

The trial began in the afternoon and lasted until night fall. Ives tried to establish an alibi through the testimony by Honest Whiskey Joe.   The defense attorney attempted to discredit the prosecutor because of his place of origin. The evidence showed lves to be a robber and a killer on other occasions. The advisory jury found 23 to 1 for  a guilty verdict.  Out of the 1500 "jurors" less than 100  voted against the verdict. George Ives   was to be "Forthwith hung by the neck until dead."  Within 58 minutes lves was on the scaffold. His comrades? Hilderman was banished from Montana forever, and Long John had turned in evidence, and allowed to remain. 

 

The Vigilante Committee grew to large proportions and determined that and order would win in the end every  time. The fate of Henry Plummer?

 
Next time  - the fate of Henry Plummer and his Highway men

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Today in Pioneer History: "On June 20, 1619, the first elected legislative assembly in America convenes in Jamestown.  The House of Burgesses convenes in the choir of the town's church.  Jamestown was just 12 years old at the time, founded by the London Company and governed by Sir George Yeardley.  The assembly included 22 representatives, free adults male of voting age.