Pictured on this tinted postcard reproduction of an old photograph is the final "necktie party" at the tree, April 30, 1870. The guests of honor were Arthur L. Compton and Joseph Wilson, who had earlier that day been adjudged guilty (by a crowd of about 1500 citizens gathered at the courthouse) of the robbery and attempted murder of one George Leonard. Not all who swung got so formal a hearing.

Hangings would occasionally occur at night, the body being discovered by the general public in the morning. The corpse usually had a sign hung on it, stating the nature of the person's crime. After 1870, the Helena courts presumably took a more active role in prosecuting criminals.

Hanged from the tree were:

1865: John Keene (murder); Jake Seachriest (robbery); Tommy Cooke (picking pockets); Con Kirby (crime unknown); George Sanders (robbery).

1866: James Daniels (murder); John “Frenchy” Crouchet (robbery).

1870: Arthur L. Compton (robbery and attempted murder); Joseph Wilson (robbery and attempted murder); Ah Chow (murder).

Note: Conflicting hanging dates for several of these persons have been published over the years.

The tree was chopped down in 1875 by the man who then owned the lot, Methodist minister W. M. Shippen. He likely cut it down not because he objected to its past function, but because it was leaning and threatened to topple onto his barn. According to newspaper accounts, a crowd gathered at the site after word spread that the tree had been felled. Some who gathered expressed to Shippen their dislike for what he had done, explaining they had wanted the tree left standing to serve as an object lesson to potential lawbreakers. Shippen allowed people to take away pieces of the tree as souvenirs, which many did.

Thanks to Helena historian Charleen Spalding for her help in plotting the location of the tree on the satellite photo above.