Identifier: sdbutcherspionee00butc (find matches)
Title: S.D. Butcher's pioneer history of Custer County : and short sketches of early days in Nebraska
Year: 1901 (1900s)
Authors: Butcher, Solomon D. (Solomon Devore), 1856-1927
Subjects: Frontier and pioneer life
Publisher: Broken Bow, Neb. : (Merchants Pub. Co.)
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: Sloan Foundation

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horses. (Signed) CAP. BURNHAM, Vigilance Committee. Roath proceeded to the place named and was informed by Burnham thatthe bay horse had been sold by Kid Wade to Frank Ellison, who lived atKeya Paha, and that the black mare had been sold to Henry Brockman. Thevigilantes had taken both of the horses and had possession of them at thetime the letter was written to Roath, but they had subse(iuently been replev-ined by Ellison and Brockman. Roath was induced to have Brockman ar-rested as an acomplice of Kid Wade, who, thinking he was about to be hangedas a horsethief, compromised by delivering up the horse and paying ;35 to helppay the expenses of the vigilantes. They then went up to Keya Paha andgot Roaths bay horse, and after leaving there thought it would be a goodplan to return and hang Ellison and see if he would not tell where Kid Wadewas secreted. But Ellison got wind of their intention and made his escape.An exciting race ensued, with the vigilantes close at Ellisons heels, but he
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AND SHORT SKETCHES OF EARLY DAYS IN NEBRASKA. 229 having shoes on his horse, was able to ride down the bed of a frozen creek,take a short cut and get away from his pursuers. During his stay in Browncounty Eoath spent ten days with this band of eighteen vigilantes trying torun down Kid Wade and his accomplices. A description of their method ofworking may be of interest to the reader who did not live here when JudgeLynch had a monopoly of the hanging industry. When the vigilantes found a man whom they suspected of knowing any-thing of the gang they wquld hang him up until he began to choke, then lethim down and question him. If he proved stubborn they gave him anotherlift and were not always particular to let him down in time. Upon one occa-sion they got hold of a man named Allen who was suspected of being prettyclose to the thieves. They took him to a barn, adjusted the noose about hisneck and then called upon him to tell what he knew about Kid Wade. Heprotested that he knew nothing ab

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