The Men In Masks

" I __________ do solemly swear, I will willingly lay my life on the line for my fellow american, and will to the best of my ability protect, and serve the people of my great country, and willview all americans as equal until otherwise proven. May I and my weapon stand strong in my service to rid this great country of crime and evil. So Help Me God." - the oath of service every vigilante must recite upon their initiation into the bureau.


in the early 1900's the U.S. federal government opened a new bureau to battle its growing crime pandemic. This vigilante justice system was first initiated under the administration of Theadore Roosevelt, after William Mckinley, the third president to meet the same fate, was gunned down by an assassin. it became clear to congress that the growing crime pandemic could not be met with conventional means, so as history proves in the third year of Roosevelts term the Federal Vigilante Act was signed into effect with a near 75% approval rating by american citizens. These "Men in Masks", a term coined by Roosevelt himself went on to reduce the crime problem in the country drastically.

1901: President William Mckinley is gunned down by an assassin dying just after a week of the shooting

1901: President Thoedore Roosevelt is inagurated as president, taking the slain presidents place.

march, 1902: President Roosevelt introduces the vigilante act into congress

august, 1902: after a heated debate the supreme court passes the constitutionality of the vigilante act, some say with "extra persuasion from am unknown cause", nothing is prven and the rumor quickly dies away.

january, 1903: the bill passes through both the senate and house with an incredible public popularity.

september, 1903: the first nine vigilantes are sworn into service to the United States Government by the US attorney General Knox. these vigilantes included. Samuel S. Copple, Richard H. Harwell, Gregory Ryan, Herman Kobble, William k. Madelly, Gregory J. Watts, Philip C. Vickers, Bryan L. Smart, and the one female member Christine H. Kelly. all 8 male members were personally picked by the president after visiting a number of military regiments, however, the only female member was let in after her marksmen ship was witnessed by the Attorney General in the countryside while visiting his summer home.

1907: vigilantes Copple, and Ryan are killed in a gun fight lasting 4 hours in the streets of chicago. a national funeral is held and they are placed in a cript in arlington national cemetary, along with the rest of the nine once they pass on.

1915: only 5 original vigilantes remain in active duty those being Smart, Madelly, Watts, Kelly , and Harwell as another 54 have been sworn into service.
-Vickers is sentenced to life in prison in 1910 after killing an innocent civilian in a kentucky restraunt, he was intoxicated
- Kobble, turned to drinking after he was forced to kill a 16 year old boy holding aiming a rifle at him, he commited suicide in 1912

1925: a approximated 1500 have been brought to a "permanent justice" by the Bureau. with another estimated 200 unreported "black-op kills"
 
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