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.