“Clubfoot” George Lane – Outlaw Shoemaker?
The windswept plains of Montana, a land synonymous with rugged individualism and the untamed spirit of the American West, hold secrets buried beneath the sagebrush and whispers carried on the breeze. Among these tales of fortune seekers, lawmen, and outlaws is the story of George Lane, a man known as "Clubfoot" George Lane. Was he a simple shoemaker caught in the crosshairs of vigilante justice, or a cunning member of a notorious outlaw gang? The mystery surrounding “Clubfoot” George Lane continues to intrigue historians and capture the imagination.
The historical record paints a fragmented picture of “Clubfoot” George Lane. Born with a physical deformity that affected his foot, Lane was a shoemaker by trade. His life took him from the settled landscapes of Massachusetts to the chaotic boomtowns of the California Gold Rush, and eventually to the burgeoning settlements of the Pacific Northwest and Montana Territory. It was in Montana, in January 1864, that Lane’s life met a violent end at the hands of the Montana Vigilantes. Accused of being a member of Henry Plummer’s infamous gang of "Innocents," he was summarily hanged, leaving behind a legacy shrouded in doubt and speculation.
To understand Lane’s story, one must delve into the context of the era. The mid-19th century American West was a crucible of opportunity and lawlessness. The discovery of gold spurred massive migrations, leading to the rapid growth of towns and a breakdown of established social order. In the absence of effective law enforcement, vigilante groups often emerged to take justice into their own hands. These groups, while sometimes necessary to maintain order, were also prone to error and susceptible to manipulation. The story of “Clubfoot” George Lane is inextricably linked to this turbulent period in American history.
George Lane’s journey west began in Massachusetts. Seeking opportunity, he joined the throngs of hopefuls heading to California during the Gold Rush. He found work on a farm in Yuba County, and later as a store clerk in Calaveras County. While seemingly ordinary, these early years offer glimpses into Lane’s character. He was a man willing to work hard, adapt to new environments, and follow the lure of fortune. This adaptability would later lead him to the gold rush in Washington Territory.
In 1860, the discovery of gold in Washington Territory drew Lane northward. However, his time there was marred by accusations of horse theft. In 1862, a rancher in Lewiston, Idaho, accused Lane and another man of "running off horses." The following year, he and another individual were implicated in a similar crime, allegedly driving a stolen herd of horses towards the Snake River. While Lane evaded capture in both instances, these accusations cast a shadow of suspicion that would follow him throughout his life. The question remains: Were these accusations justified, or was Lane simply a victim of circumstance? Did these accusations follow “Clubfoot” George Lane?
By the fall of 1863, Lane had arrived in Virginia City, Montana, a bustling mining town teeming with prospectors, merchants, and outlaws. He found employment at Dance and Stewart’s Store, where his skills as a shoemaker and harness mender were put to good use. He quickly earned the respect of his employers, who found him to be a diligent and capable worker. This period of relative stability, however, was short-lived. His past and the volatile atmosphere of Virginia City would soon catch up with him. The skills of “Clubfoot” George Lane would not be enough to save him.
The turning point in Lane’s fate came in December 1863, when he rode to Bannack, Montana, to inform Henry Plummer of the George Ives trial in Nevada City. Plummer, the sheriff of Bannack, was secretly the leader of a ruthless gang of road agents known as the "Innocents." While Plummer was absent, Lane informed Deputies Ray and Stinson of the growing vigilance movement in Virginia City. This act, seemingly innocuous, would later be used against him as evidence of his complicity with Plummer’s gang. Why would “Clubfoot” George Lane inform Plummer of the growing vigilance?
The following month, during a meeting of the Vigilance Committee, Lane’s name was quickly mentioned as a suspected "spy" for the "Innocents." On January 14, 1864, he was arrested at Dance and Stuart’s store. The vigilantes accused him of being a "road agent, thief, and an accessory to numerous robberies and murders on the highway." Lane vehemently denied the charges, proclaiming, "If you hang me, you will hang an innocent man." Despite the respect his employers held for him, they chose not to intervene, assuming the vigilantes possessed concrete evidence against Lane.
The trial that followed was swift and decisive. Despite the lack of concrete evidence, the Vigilance Committee found Lane guilty. Along with Frank Parish, Boone Helm, Haze Lyons, and Jack Gallager, he was sentenced to hang. Before his execution, Lane requested to see a minister. As he stood on a box beneath the noose, he spotted a friend and yelled, "Goodbye, old fellow; I’m gone." He then leaped from the box, sealing his fate. Lane and the other executed men were buried in Virginia City’s Boot Hill Cemetery, their graves unmarked.
The story of "Clubfoot" George Lane does not end with his execution. Decades later, questions arose regarding the identities of those buried in the unmarked graves. In 1907, a former vigilante claimed to know the order of the graves and which one belonged to "Clubfoot" George Lane. To verify his claim, the city exhumed the grave he identified. The discovery confirmed the vigilante’s story: the grave contained George Lane’s deformed foot. The bones were initially placed in a cabinet in the courthouse, but are now displayed in a glass jar at the Thompson Hickman Museum in Virginia City, a morbid reminder of the swift and often brutal justice of the Old West.
The story of "Clubfoot" George Lane raises profound questions about justice, guilt, and the nature of historical truth. Was he a hardened criminal who deserved his fate, or an innocent man caught in the wrong place at the wrong time? The evidence remains circumstantial, and the truth is likely lost to the mists of time. However, the enduring mystery of “Clubfoot” George Lane serves as a reminder of the complexities and ambiguities of the American West, where legends were often forged in the crucible of violence and uncertainty. It also serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of mob rule and the importance of due process, even in the face of perceived threats. The tale of the outlaw shoemaker will continue to be told for generations to come.