Henry Plummer, The Outlaw Sheriff and his Lost Treasure

Henry Plummer was one of the most colorful characters in Wild West history, and like many famous westerners, he was involved in a story of lost treasure. Henry was born in

Maine in 1832, As a young man he moved around frequently and did a variety of odd jobs. In 1855, Henry was appointed deputy sheriff of Nevada City. In 1857, when Henry killed John Vedder, he was having an affair with Vedder's wife. Henry was sentenced to 10 years in the infamous San Quentin Prison. He told prison officials that he had tuberculosis and was released in 1859 for health reasons. Henry went back to Nevada City, was soon caught up in another murder, and found himself on the run. He moved to Idaho and started a gang that robbed local

families working in mining camps. A posse was formed, and Henry was on the run once again. In May of 1863, Henry was elected sheriff of Bannack Montana. He was soon simultaneously elected sheriff of Virginia City, Montana. Henry brought temporary relief to the violence of these two towns. He was responsible for building the gallows in Bannack,

where lawbreakers were often hung. Soon local townspeople started to accuse Henry of being part of a gang known as the Road Agents. The town was divided on whether or not Henry was part of the murderous gang. A vigilante committee was formed and after a night of heavy drinking, the members decided to track down and hang Henry. On the walk to the gallows, Henry told the townspeople that he would tell them where $100,000.00 in gold was buried near a roadhouse called Robbers' Roost if they would let him live. The mob decided against it, and Henry Plummer was hung on

the same gallows he had built. Robbers' Roost was a local stagecoach stop between Bannack and Virginia City. It is said that Henry Plummer spent a lot of time there. If Henry was part of the Road Agents, he would probably have counted his stolen treasure at Robbers' Roost. Robbers' Roost still exists today just a few minutes down the road from Virginia City. A local jewelry maker currently lives on the premises and sells his art to the general public.