Newspaper account / Dec. 14, 1884
MONTANA OVERRUN WITH BANDS OF LAWLESS MEN.
AN ERUPTION OF VIOLENCE WHICH THE VIGILANCE COMMITTEES ARE TREATING WITH PLENTIFUL DOSES OF HEMP.
MILES CITY, Montana, Dec. 1. -- Never since the dark days of 1863-4 has Montana been so overrun with horse thieves, road agents, and other bad characters as at the present time. Both whites and reds have taken a hand at the business, as though endeavoring to see which could outdo the other in deeds of villainy and acts of crime. As it stands both parties are about even, with no back counties to hear from. The first act of violence this year was committed May 15, near Glendive, by a well organized band of road agents, who made a murderous attack on Major Whipple, a regular army Paymaster, in the hope of securing some $18,000 or $20,000 which that officer was carrying to pay off the troops at Fort Buford. The scheme failed, owing to the fact that the mules became frightened at the rapid firing and ran away with the