Dee was jailer for the local Deadwood jail for four years under Sheriff Garland and later Sheriff Manning. He shared many unusual adventures about this time of his life with his daughter, Estelle, who has now shared them with us. Some of these stories will be retold here in her voice.
"Dad often had to go to the saloon to break up a fight or put someone in jail until he sobered up, mostly on Saturday nights when the cowboys came in with their week's pay. Dad, of course, had a gun but didn't usually wear it. He believed the best way to get shot was to wear a gun. He also was more concerned about killing some one than being killed himself. He had two English bulldogs. He said they looked fierce but wouldn't hurt a mouse. Whenever he had to bring someone into jail, he would take the dogs along instead of his gun.
"Come on, I'm taking you to jail until you sober up," he would tell the guy stirring up the trouble.
"Who's going to take me??" was often the reply along with a dirty look and a fist ready to hit Dad.
"Take'em Boys!" Dad would yell at the dogs. The dogs would each grab a pant leg and pull until the guy sat down---HARD! After that the guy would step on his heels to get into the jail away from the dogs.
The dogs loved this game.
One time when the jail was full, one of the inmates asked Dad to let the dogs in because there was a mouse in there and they thought the dogs could get it. So Dad let the dogs in and locked the door. But it sounded like all H...broke loose. When Dad opened the door, every man was downed and the dogs were looking at him very self satisfied. They didn't understand they were sent in just for a little old mouse!"
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Jailer Days-Deadwood South Dakota
Dee told Estelle, his daughter, how he came to stay in Deadwood:
"When Dad decided he wanted to stay in the Black Hills of South Dakota, he looked for a job. They had a dangerous prisoner, Mr. Lawton, in jail and they needed another man for the night shift, so Dad got the job. Mr. Lawton, had killed four men and was the reason that another man was needed. When Dad asked for the key to go into the room where the prisoner was kept, he was told, "Don't go in there!"
Dad said, "How can I do my job if I'm afraid to go in there? He took the keys to go in. The door was unlocked, then locked after Dad went in. He could hardly believe what he saw. Lawton was chained hand and foot to a bench. He just scowled at Dad. Dad went over to him and saw that his wrists and ankles were swollen over the irons. Dad went to the door and asked for the keys to the irons and a basin of warm soapy water. Fellows outside said, "You're crazy...he will kill you." But they did give him the keys and the water, but they locked the door after him again. Dad took off the irons and bathed his wrists and ankles and messaged them. He thought he saw a tear in Lawton's eyes. He said, "Thank "God, there's one human being here."
Dad got him to walk around and exercise. He became very friendly and he and Dad would have long talks to while away the long hours. Lawton admitted he was getting what he deserved. He didn't blame anyone but himself. He said it was his uncontrolled temper. He said each of the four men had wronged him but they didn't deserve to die. Dad really liked the man.
When the time came for Lawton to be hanged, he asked Dad, "Do you think you could get me the rope?" When dad asked why he said, 'I want to be sure who ever ties that knot knows how to do it right." You see he didn't want to hang and choke to death--the knot should break his neck. Dad was able to bring him the rope. So Lawton himself tied the knot that broke his neck the very next day. That same knot is on display today at the Adams Museum, in Deadwood, South Dakota."
www.adamsmuseumandhouse.org/ Link for your information
"When Dad decided he wanted to stay in the Black Hills of South Dakota, he looked for a job. They had a dangerous prisoner, Mr. Lawton, in jail and they needed another man for the night shift, so Dad got the job. Mr. Lawton, had killed four men and was the reason that another man was needed. When Dad asked for the key to go into the room where the prisoner was kept, he was told, "Don't go in there!"
Dad said, "How can I do my job if I'm afraid to go in there? He took the keys to go in. The door was unlocked, then locked after Dad went in. He could hardly believe what he saw. Lawton was chained hand and foot to a bench. He just scowled at Dad. Dad went over to him and saw that his wrists and ankles were swollen over the irons. Dad went to the door and asked for the keys to the irons and a basin of warm soapy water. Fellows outside said, "You're crazy...he will kill you." But they did give him the keys and the water, but they locked the door after him again. Dad took off the irons and bathed his wrists and ankles and messaged them. He thought he saw a tear in Lawton's eyes. He said, "Thank "God, there's one human being here."
Dad got him to walk around and exercise. He became very friendly and he and Dad would have long talks to while away the long hours. Lawton admitted he was getting what he deserved. He didn't blame anyone but himself. He said it was his uncontrolled temper. He said each of the four men had wronged him but they didn't deserve to die. Dad really liked the man.
When the time came for Lawton to be hanged, he asked Dad, "Do you think you could get me the rope?" When dad asked why he said, 'I want to be sure who ever ties that knot knows how to do it right." You see he didn't want to hang and choke to death--the knot should break his neck. Dad was able to bring him the rope. So Lawton himself tied the knot that broke his neck the very next day. That same knot is on display today at the Adams Museum, in Deadwood, South Dakota."
www.adamsmuseumandhouse.org/ Link for your information
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