The gold rush sheriff who secretly led Montana’s deadliest gang in 1863-64

Bannack, Montana

Sheriff Henry Plummer built the gallows that would end his own life. In May 1863, the citizens of Bannack elected him to bring law and order to their gold rush town.

What they didn’t know was that their trusted lawman was secretly leading a gang of road agents called the “Innocents” who terrorized the mining camps with robberies and murders. The deadly charade lasted eight months before vigilantes hanged him on his own gallows in January 1864.

Here’s what happened in Montana’s first territorial capital, now preserved as Bannack State Park where you can walk the same streets today.

Plummer’s Election as Sheriff of Bannack

In May 1863, Bannack miners elected Plummer as sheriff, thinking he was an honest man who could bring order. They had no idea about his criminal plans. Plummer won by a landslide. His clean appearance and good manners fooled everyone in town.

After becoming sheriff, he hired two gang members, Buck Stinson and Ned Ray, as his deputies. This gave him control over law enforcement in the area. He then collected money from townspeople to build a jail and gallows.

The Secret Gang of Road Agents

The “Innocents” gang used clever tricks to stay hidden. Members identified each other with secret codes and wore ties with a special knot. The gang reportedly grew to over 100 men spread across the territory.

They called themselves “road agents” – a term for bandits who robbed travelers. They ran their operations from Rattlesnake Ranch, twelve miles from Virginia City. This remote spot was perfect for planning robberies.

As sheriff, Plummer learned when gold shipments left town. He passed this information to his gang, who then knew exactly whom to rob.

The Peabody and Caldwell Stage Robbery

On October 26, 1863, gang members Frank Parish and George Ives stopped the Peabody and Caldwell stagecoach. Bill Bunton, who owned Rattlesnake Ranch, helped by joining the stage as a passenger earlier.

The robbers took $2,800 in gold dust from the passengers. That was worth about $65,000 in today’s money. They threatened to kill anyone who talked about the robbery. Despite these threats, news spread through the mining towns.

This was one of the first robberies with clear evidence linking it to Plummer’s gang. Before this, witnesses rarely lived to tell their stories.

The Henry Tilden Incident

On November 13, 1863, teenager Henry Tilden was stopped by three masked men while looking for horses. They searched him but found nothing worth stealing. Even with masks on, Tilden recognized Sheriff Plummer by his coat and gun.

This was the first time someone connected Plummer to the robberies. Tilden told Hattie Sanders and Sidney Edgerton what happened. Both were from important families in the area.

When Plummer heard about this, he questioned Tilden directly. Scared of what might happen, Tilden stopped talking about what he had seen.

The A.J. Oliver Stage Robbery

On November 22, 1863, gang members George Ives, “Whiskey Bill” Graves, and Bob Zachary robbed the A.J. Oliver stagecoach. They took about $1,000 in gold and paper money.

Passenger Leroy Southmayd reported the crime to Sheriff Plummer and named the robbers. He didn’t realize he was telling the gang leader himself. Later, gang members tried to attack Southmayd on his return trip to Virginia City.

He managed to escape through quick thinking. This second stage robbery so soon after the first one made travelers even more afraid. People began asking for armed guards when moving gold.

Murder of Nicholas Tiebolt and Trial of George Ives

In early December, miners found the body of Nicholas Tiebolt, a young Dutch immigrant. He had been shot in the head and left near the Ruby River. George Ives was seen with Tiebolt’s mules after the murder.

People heard him say Tiebolt “would never trouble anyone again.” Angry citizens caught Ives and put him on trial in Virginia City from December 19-21. Hundreds of miners watched the outdoor trial in the winter cold.

A jury of 24 men found Ives guilty. He was immediately hanged from a building beam. His last words blamed another gang member for the murder.

Formation of the Vigilance Committee

Two days after hanging Ives, on December 23, twenty-four men secretly formed the Vigilance Committee. They pledged to catch criminals when normal law methods failed.

The men signed an oath promising to “arrest thieves and murderers” and to support each other. They kept their membership secret for safety. Wilbur Sanders, who acted as prosecutor at Ives’ trial, led the group with Captain James Williams. Both risked their lives standing up to Plummer’s gang.

The vigilantes marked suspected criminals’ homes with the numbers “3-7-77” as a warning. This symbol later became the Montana Highway Patrol badge.

The Confession of Red Yeager

In early January 1864, vigilantes captured gang member Erastus “Red” Yeager and George Brown near Rattlesnake Ranch. Both were suspected in several robberies. While being taken to Virginia City, Yeager confessed everything.

He named Plummer as the gang leader and listed other members and their jobs. Yeager said Plummer was chief, Bill Bunton was second-in-command, and George Brown was secretary. He named many others as lookouts and robbers.

After getting this information, the vigilantes hanged Yeager and Brown from a cottonwood tree. Yeager’s confession gave them what they needed to go after Plummer.

The Failed Warning From Clubfoot George

George Lane, called “Clubfoot George” because of his twisted foot, rode to Bannack to warn Plummer about the vigilantes. Lane worked as a bootmaker and messenger for the gang. He hoped Plummer could use his sheriff position to protect gang members.

Lane wanted Plummer to demand a proper trial for Ives instead of quick frontier justice. When Lane reached Bannack, Plummer wasn’t there. Lane talked to his deputies about the vigilantes, raising suspicion with his inside knowledge.

Authorities arrested Lane as a suspected road agent despite his claims of innocence. His warning never reached Plummer, leaving the sheriff unaware of the danger.

The Capture and Execution of Henry Plummer

On January 10, 1864, vigilantes from Virginia City arrived in Bannack to capture Plummer and his deputies. They split into three groups to catch them all at once. They found Plummer sick at his in-laws’ home.

He gave up without a fight, not expecting the vigilantes to move against him. The vigilantes also caught deputies Buck Stinson and Ned Ray. When Plummer realized what was happening, he offered to reveal hidden gold for his freedom.

The men marched Plummer and his deputies to the gallows Plummer had built. All three were hanged that night without trials, ending the gang’s grip on the area.

Visiting Bannack State Park

You’ll find Bannack State Park 25 miles southwest of Dillon, Montana, off Highway 278. The park preserves Montana’s first territorial capital as a true ghost town.

Don’t miss walking through the Hotel Meade, Skinner Saloon, and schoolhouse. The Masonic Lodge/schoolhouse on the second floor also gives you a glimpse into frontier education.

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