Rigney

Rigney worked as a bartender in the saloon of the Cosmopolitan Theatre in Miles City, Montana. In July 1883 he was held in the Miles City County Jail, where, according to a newspaper dispatch, masked men overpowered the jailer, took him about a mile out of town and hanged him from a railroad tie over a culvert. Newspapers disagree on whether the jailer gave up his keys at gunpoint or was pinned down before the men reached Rigney's cell. That night a fire destroyed the Cosmopolitan Theatre and several other buildings, and it was generally thought to be retaliation for the hanging, though papers disagree on whether the fire came before or after it.

Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. Masked men overpowered the jailer at the Miles City jail, took Rigney from custody and hanged him from a railroad tie over a culvert, according to press dispatches and later historical accounts.

Reported by: Miles City special dispatch reprinted in newspapers (reporters); W. H. Banfill, historical account; D. J. O'Malley, recalling events from the 1880s.

Sources (21)

• Memphis Daily Appeal, July 27, 1883, page 2 Memphis Daily Appeal, July 27, 1883
• Savannah Morning News, July 27, 1883, page 1 Savannah Morning News, July 27, 1883
• The Daily Dispatch, July 27, 1883, page 3 The Daily Dispatch, July 27, 1883
• Daily Republican, July 27, 1883, page 1 Daily Republican, July 27, 1883
• The Daily Cairo Bulletin, July 27, 1883, page 1 The Daily Cairo Bulletin, July 27, 1883
• Las Vegas Daily Gazette, July 27, 1883, page 1 Las Vegas Daily Gazette, July 27, 1883
• Wheeling Register, July 27, 1883, page 1 Wheeling Register, July 27, 1883
• The Billings Herald, July 28, 1883, page 3 The Billings Herald, July 28, 1883
• The Sun, July 31, 1883, page 2 The Sun, July 31, 1883
• The Iola Register, August 3, 1883, page 7 The Iola Register, August 3, 1883
• Huntsville Gazette, August 4, 1883, page 1 Huntsville Gazette, August 4, 1883
• The Grenada Sentinel, August 4, 1883, page 2 The Grenada Sentinel, August 4, 1883
• St. Landry Democrat, August 4, 1883, page 2 St. Landry Democrat, August 4, 1883
• Iron County Register, August 9, 1883, page 2 Iron County Register, August 9, 1883
• Wessington Springs Herald, August 11, 1883, page 2 Wessington Springs Herald, August 11, 1883
• The Ronan Pioneer, November 8, 1928, page 7 The Ronan Pioneer, November 8, 1928
• The Poplar Standard, November 8, 1928, page 7 The Poplar Standard, November 8, 1928
• The Kevin Review, March 28, 1929, page 7 The Kevin Review, March 28, 1929
• Plentywood Herald, March 28, 1929, page 3 Plentywood Herald, March 28, 1929
• The Wolf Point Herald, September 7, 1934, page 5 The Wolf Point Herald, September 7, 1934
• The Poplar Standard, July 13, 1939, page 5 The Poplar Standard, July 13, 1939