P a g e 6 G h o s t T o w n s a n d H i s t o r y o f M o n t a n a N e w s l e t t e r THE LEGEND OF HENRY PLUMMER The story of Henry Plummer, the Road Agents and Vigilantes is surrounded in myth and mystery. Some modern authors have proposed that the sheriff was innocent of the crimes that he was accused of and hanged for. Unfortunately, we will never know the whole story. This version of the events that occurred here was taken from the book “The Vigilantes of Montana” by Thomas Dimsdale. Dimsdale was the editor of the Montana Post newspaper in Virginia City and his account of the Vigilante movement is still the primary source used by authors today when researching the Vigilante activity of 1863. Though true name or alias is disputed, Amos Henry Plummer is an enigma in the Old West. In 1852, Henry Plummer resided in Nevada City, CA where he served as local baker and city marshal. Five years later, he was charged with second degree murder after shooting the husband of a woman he was involved with. Plummer was sentenced to ten years in San Quentin. It was there that he met Cyrus Skinner, who was doing time for grand larceny. Because of a supposedly “fatal illness,” Plummer served only 6 months before returning to California. Plummer was in and out of law enforcement for a couple years following, during which time he nearly killed one man and did kill William Riley at a house of ill-repute on October 27, 1861. He was incarcerated, but escaped by literally running out the door. He hid with friends in Carson City and then went to Idaho. Plummer again became a wanted man after killing Patrick Ford. Plummer met up with his old friends and ended up in Bannack, where he was appointed sheriff. He lived a public life of virtue and generosity, marrying Electa Bryan, and even providing the first Thanksgiving dinner in Bannack in 1863. After three months of marriage, Electa left for Cedar Rapids, Iowa where her parents lived. Henry Plummer was the leader of the Road Agents, also known as the “Innocents”. Their password to identify each other was “I am innocent.” The Road Agents had spies and snitches in many businesses and gold camps of southwest Montana. When they got word of a gold shipment or a stagecoach passenger carrying large sums of money, they promptly relayed the information to gang leaders. Such wealth seldom reached its destination. Plummer and his deputies infiltrated every decent group and endeavor in the mining camps- except the Masons. Plummer’s gang consisted of about 25 of the meanest roughs in the territory and reportedly killed 102 prospectors between here and Virginia City during an 8-month period in 1863. They stole millions of dollars worth of gold, which is still believed to be hidden in these hills…
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