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The gallows were ordered constructed by Henry Plummer, lawman and outlaw of Bannack. John
Peter Horan, R.C. Rawley, Ned Ray, Buck Stinson, and Henry Plummer were the only men
hanged on the gallows. Justice was often swift in the early mining towns. On January 10,
1864, several of the Vigilantes from Virginia City arrived in Bannack. They had recently
captured and hung Red Yeager and others. Before Yeager was hung he confessed and implicated
Plummer as the leader of the "Innocents." The Vigilantes from Virginia City, along with
Vigilantes from Bannack decided they must capture Mr. Plummer and his associates, Ned Ray
and Buck Stinson. They planned to apprehend and hang them the next day but received word
that three fresh horses had been brought into town. Afraid that the leader of the Road
Agents was about to escape, they decided to act immediately. They proceeded in the
regimented military fashion and captured all three of the men. Not a shot was fired.
On that cold January evening, just about dark the three men were marched up to the
gallows. All three were lifted up and dropped to their death. Henry Plummer, after
pleading his innocence, begged the Vigilantes to "please give me a good drop."
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