HomeMy WebLinkAboutHistory of the Bozeman Police Dept_Chapter 01
' Chapter 1
Bozeman Before Iacor oration
' On August 9, 18b4 the few people residing in the Bozeman Pass area got together
and formed the Upper East Gallatin Association, Jahn M. Bozeman, Chairman. The
business at hand was the formation of a claim association far the purpose of making laws
' in relation to farming claims and for mutual protection. It was during this meeting that a
motion was made to name the new town and district Bozeman. The second motion set
the boundaries. J.M. Bozeman was elected recorder and was paid one dollar for
' recording.a farming claim. The next day John M. Bozeman recorded seven claims and
the new town was off the ground.
t Gallatin City was located near the three forks of the Missouri river and was the
first county seat of Gallatin County. This town, located on the west side of the river, no
longer exists. Two years later, the legislature authorized the citizens of Gallatin County
' to vote at the general election in 1867 to permanently locate the county seat.
Gallatin City, Bozeman, and Farmington, a town that did not exist, were involved
in the race for county seat. An election was held on Christmas day in 18b7 to determine
the permanent location of the county seat for Gallatin County. C.P. Blakely owned a
ranch near Middle Creek, the present Hyalite Creek, and he had visions of the new
county seat being located on his ranch. G.P. Blakely who was a member of the territorial
legislature intended to develop a town to be called Farmington. Bateman won over
Farmington by a significant margin.
By February 1, 1869 the County Commissioners realized the need far a jail. The
' minutes of their meeting an that date reflect the following.
"The Board of Commissioners requested that the citizens build a jail and sell to
' the County at the cash cost of same, J.C. Guy, D. Wilson, et. AI., were requested to raise
a subscription far the above purpose."
' Jahn C. Guy was the sheriff of Gallatin County. Sheriff Guy was elected when he
was a resident of Gallatin City. The August 3, 1869 minutes of the County Commission
meeting retards progress an the status of the jail.
This day came J.C. Guy {Agent heretofore appointed to erect a county jail by
subscription to be paid by warrants issued upon the treasurer) and the said Agent now
' reports the following names with the amounts each had paid for the erection of said jail,
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' to wit: E. Sanford, $15.00; B. Reed, $10.00; Davis & Sperling & Ca., $50.00; Al
Lund, $30.00; Rich & Williams, $50.00; Wm. Ward, $10.00; G.W.A. Frazier, $10.00;
' P.W. McAdow, $50.00; W.S. McKenzie, $50.00; Tom Lewis, $10.00; T.B. Gray,
$50.00; A. Lamme & Co., $50.00; Marshall Jones, $100.00; Harper & Finch, $50.00;
J.S. Chestnut, $20.00; N. Story, $50.00; W.D. Davis, $7.00; Spieth & Company,
' $14.50; Adam Filmore, $11.00."
' The first jail, a log building, appears to have been built with the $487.50. It was
located an the south side of East Mendenhall Street in the 200 block, about one-half
block east of the Bozeman and Mendenhall street intersection. About one hundred feet
' east of the jail, Bozeman Creek crossed Mendenhall, causing the erection of bridges for
street and sidewalks across the creek.
' It is believed the only law enforcement provided in the County was by the Sheriff,
J.C. Guy and troopers from Fort Ellis. This belief is based on the following that was
printed by the Avert Courier on February 7, 1873.
"On Saturday evening about ten o'clock, the cry of murder was heard from one
William Rae, then confined in jail, as accessory to the alleged murder committed by
' "Steamboat Bill". The sheriff, Jahn Guy, Esq., on hearing the call, went to the Northern
Pacific Hotel for assistance." Sheriff Guy has built the hotel as the "Guy House," in
18b9, but sold it in 1872, when it was renamed "The Northern Pacific". It was located on
' the northwest corner of Main and Black, about two and one-half blocks from the jail.
The newspaper account continued:
' "...not findin hel there he looked elsewhere and succeeded in ttin tw lv r
g p ge g e e o
' fiReen men together, who, at first, refused to act under orders because they had no arms,
but afterwards accompanied him nearly as far as the bridge, a short distance from the
fail."
' "Here an unknown man placed his arm around the sheriff, then the example. was
followed by two or three other men, who took him to the store of Dr. Lamme, and there
' detained him far one and a half ar two hours. In the meantime, however, the attention of
Judge Langhorne was attracted to the jail by the same cause, and he immediately
responded toward it; but when he was within some distance of the building he was told
to halt. He announced his name, and commanded that peace be preserved, but no
attention was paid to his order or to himself~ther than to prevent him from passing to
the jail. He next forwarded a dispatch to Gol. Hancock, commanding at Ft. Ellis, in
' substance informing that officer that the jail was being broken into for the purpose of
hanging the prisoners within and requesting military aid to prevent the threatened
violence."
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"The messenger first entrusted with the dispatch was stopped at or near the
bridge, by which same delay was caused. After Judge Langhorne succeeded in
forwarding the message to the Col., whether by same or another courier we are
unadvised. With a promptness and zeal inspiring the confidence of the public in our
constituted authorities, that officer forwarded a detachment of cavalry under the
command of Lieutenant Hamilton to the city. The later officer reporting to the Judge for
duty instanter on his quick arrival here. But the deed had been done before his arrival,
because of the stoppage of the first messenger."
Z.T. Tripett "Old Man Tripp" and John St. Clair "Steamboat Bill" were both in
jail for murders committed within Bozeman. Both were hanged on January 31, 1873 by
Vigilantes. They were hanged at the slaughter house where the old Chevron station was
located on East Main Street at the corner of Main and Broadway. The beef dressing rack
was used for the scaffold.
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