Innocents (gang) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Innocents |
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Portrait of Sheriff Henry Plummer, who was discovered to be the leader of the Innocents
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| Founded | 1863 |
| In | Virginia City, Montana, Idaho Territory |
| Founded by | Henry Plummer |
| Years active | 1863–1864 |
| Territory | western Montana |
| Ethnicity | European-American |
| Membership | over 20 |
| Criminal activities | road agents, stagecoach robbery, highway robbery |
The Innocents were a group of alleged outlaws in Montana Territory during the 1860s. This was a time of the gold rush, when many people traveled to Montana hoping to find gold. The Innocents were accused of being "road agents." This means they would stop travelers and stagecoaches on the roads. Their main goal was to steal gold being carried from places like Virginia City, Montana.
People at the time said the gang would attack gold shipments. They were also accused of harming travelers who tried to fight back. Henry Plummer, who was the Sheriff of Bannack, Montana, was believed to be the leader of this group. In January 1864, a group of vigilantes from Virginia City executed Sheriff Plummer. Several other people believed to be part of the gang were also executed. Vigilantes were groups of citizens who took the law into their own hands.
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What Was the Gold Rush Like?
The 1860s were an exciting time in Montana. Many people rushed to the area after gold was discovered. Towns like Virginia City and Bannack grew very quickly. People traveled with their gold, often by stagecoach. This made them targets for outlaws. The roads were not safe, and there was not much law enforcement.
Who Was Henry Plummer?
Henry Plummer was a well-known figure in the Montana gold camps. He was elected as the Sheriff of Bannack. A sheriff is a law enforcement officer. However, many people suspected Plummer was secretly leading the Innocents. They believed he used his position as sheriff to help the gang. This made it harder for people to trust the law.
How Did the Vigilantes Respond?
Because of the many robberies and the lack of official law, some citizens decided to act. They formed groups called vigilantes. These groups took justice into their own hands. They believed the legal system was not working. The Virginia City vigilantes decided to stop the Innocents. They captured Henry Plummer and others they believed were part of the gang. They then executed them without a formal trial. This was a very harsh way to deal with crime.
What Do Historians Say Today?
Today, historians look back at the story of the Innocents. They have found that many early stories about the gang might not be fully accurate. There isn't much official proof or detailed records about the gang. Some early accounts said the gang had over a hundred members. They also claimed the gang used secret passwords like "I am innocent."
However, modern scholars like Frederick Allen have questioned these stories. They wonder if the gang was really as big or as powerful as people said. Some historians, like Mather and Boswell, even believe there wasn't a large gang at all. They think the robberies were likely done by a few independent outlaws. It's possible the stories grew bigger over time, becoming part of the "frontier myth." This means some tales from the old West were exaggerated.
