... country, saving it at least five or six thousand dollars." However, these groups would often be lead by ex-criminals or people simply chosen because of their ability with a gun as opposed to their rationality or understanding which could've actually of been of use in trying suspected criminals. Wild Bill Hicock is an example of 'Sheriffs' chosen like this. However, some of their practices were flawed. An article from the 'Idaho World' newspaper printed on the 2nd of September 1865 stated that: "The remedy for existing evils is greater than the evils". This quote tells us that the vigilantes wee generally causing more trouble than they were preventing. Any trials held were usually held by the vigilantes themselves and local townspeople, no government officials were involved at all. In one case two French men, a Chilean man, neither of whom could speak English, were accused of murder. They were tried ...

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