The trial began three outlaws accused of killing an Idaho merchant and his crew for the man’s gold.
Lloyd Magruder ran a pack train to supply the gold camps in Montana. In the fall of 1863, Magruder sold his goods at a camp at Grasshopper Creek, earning about $18,000 in gold dust. When Magruder started back, he had seven helpers. But three of them had their eyes on Magruder’s gold.
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Five days later, James Romain, David Renton and Christopher Lower made their move. Lower picked up an ax and hit Magruder as he bent over the fire. The
men then killed the rest of the packers, but spared Billy Page because he could guide them to civilization.
The men rolled the bodies over a cliff into a ravine and tried to cover their tracks. But when Magruder didn’t return to Lewiston, the town suspected foul play and the sheriff tracked the outlaws all the way to San Francisco.
The three were found guilty and hanged even though Idaho Territory had no law against murder — a fact that did not become known until after their execution.
