Langford, who undoubtedly knew intimately of the activities of this organization, makes no apology for the acts of the Vigilantes, although they did not have back of them the color of the actual law.

He says: "The retribution dispensed to these daring freebooters in no respect exceeded the demands of absolute justice....

There was no other remedy.
Practically the citizens had no law, but if law had existed it could not have afforded adequate redress.

This was proven by the feeling of security consequent upon the destruction of the band.

When the robbers were dead the people felt safe, not for themselves alone but for their pursuits and their property.