"You can hang me now, but you had all better hang Sheriff Plunkett as well! He's the leader of our gang!"
Billy's dying words sent the crowd viewing the hanging into an uproar. He instantly polarized everyone, and chaos erupted. Sheriff Plunkett turned pale, as he heard the words, and everyone seemed to go crazy.
"He's lying! He's lying! I ain't no leader of 'The Guiltless!'"
Plunkett professed his innocence, but the crowd was split. Some of the people in attendance clearly wanted him hanged, while others also supported him. Poor Billy McCoy hung much longer on that noose because of the commotion. They let him down, a few days later.