Stuart's Stranglers: Difference between revisions
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'''Stuart's Stranglers''' was a well known [[vigilante]] group in [[Montana]] that was founded in 1884 and led by [[Granville Stuart]] in response to widespread [[ |
'''Stuart's Stranglers''' was a well known [[vigilante]] group in [[Montana]] that was founded in 1884 and led by [[Granville Stuart]] in response to widespread [[Cattle raiding|livestock theft]] at that time. They were also less commonly known as the "Montana Strangers." |
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==History== |
==History== |
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Revision as of 06:59, 26 September 2014
Stuart's Stranglers was a well known vigilante group in Montana that was founded in 1884 and led by Granville Stuart in response to widespread livestock theft at that time. They were also less commonly known as the "Montana Strangers."
History
Granville Stuart originally organized a group of ranchers in response to the theft of his stallion and 35 steers. The 14 men who gathered at his ranch in the Musselshell region called themselves a "Vigilante Committee," akin to the vigilance committees that formed in the mining camps of western Montana. They became known as "Staurt's Stranglers."[1]
Their missions were directly led by William "Floppin Bill" Cantrell. Throughout their short existence their membership during chases would fluctuate between 17 and 40 men, depending on the location of the thieves and the day of the week.[2]
Stuart's Stranglers tracked down livestock thieves in Montana. The men they caught were either shot in a gun fight or executed. Many of the bodies they hung were found with place cards on their person that usually read "Horse Thief" or "Cattle Thief." They were known for being extremely deadly and efficient.[1]
They staged their final attack at James' Corral at Bates Point where 160 head of cattle was being held. There were 69 remaining after Stuart and his men retrieved their own cattle. Stuart brought them all to his ranch and advertised for all the remaining animals to be picked up by their owners. Shortly afterwards they dissolved the group. In just a few months they had returned over 300 horses to their owners. It is estimated that they killed up to 75 men during their run.[3]
Stuart's Stranglers gained so much notoriety during their time that Theodore Roosevelt had requested to join them. Granville Stuart turned him down though, he was afraid that the group would received much unwanted public attention.[4]
Controversies
Stuart's Stranglers, like other vigilate groups, have been criticized by some historians for the extrajudicial justice they meted out without due process of law. There is also debate about whether they actually were effective at reducing the overall rate horse and cattle theft.[5]
References
- ^ a b Schmitt, Dee Brown ; photos edited by Martin F. (1995). The American West (1st Touchstone ed. ed.). London: Touchstone. pp. 327–335. ISBN 978-0684804415.
{{cite book}}:|edition=has extra text (help);|first=has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Hyatt, H. Norman (2009). An uncommon journey : the history of old Dawson County, Montana Territory. Helena, Mont.: Sweetgrass Books. pp. 81, 83, 150, 173, 180–185. ISBN 978-1591520566.
- ^ Kittredge, Joseph Kinsey Howard ; preface by A.B. Guthrie, Jr. ; introduction to the new Bison Books edition by William (2003). Montana, high, wide, and handsome. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press. pp. 129–137. ISBN 978-0803273399.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Gavett, Joseph L. (2006). Minot: The Magic City. pp. 47, 49–50. ISBN 978-1929148608.
- ^ II, Clyde A. Milner; O'Connor, Carol A. (2009). As big as the West : the pioneer life of Granville Stuart. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 219–223, 226–248. ISBN 978-0195127096.