The Bozeman weekly chronicle., 1888-08-01
THE GAL0ws CLAIMED HIN.
Alex. Woods, the Wife Murderer, Taken
Back to Idaho to be Hanged. A
Brief Account of the Crime,
Capture and Oulprit.

Capture and 0ulprit.
Last week the CHRONICLE alluded at
some length to the important capture
OF Alex. Woods. colored man about
thirty years of age, at Bozeman, by City
Marshal Clark. The Marshal few days
before received description of the man
and was on the lookout for him. Woods,
on reaching Bozeman, sought work as
cook at the Farmers Hotel and was nab
bed near the hotel without difficulty.
Clark at once telegraphed the sheriff at
Elackfoot and after waiting two days re.
ceived an answer directing him to hold
the man. R. J. Hayes, a deputy sheriff
of Blackfoot, Immediately started for
Bozeman and so positive was he that
Clarke had gotten the man wanted that
he stopped at Helena and waited four
days for the necessary requisition papers.
He arrived on Sunday morning and at
once pronounced the prisoner to be the
man he wanted. Woods, who has been
considerably cowed and dispirited since
his Incarceration here, at the appearance
of Hayes lost what little selfcontrol he
had, and as the deputy sheriff expresses
1t, will have to be carried onto the scaf.
fold when he is hrng.
The history of Woods crime and SUBJ
sequent escape is as follows: On the
oath day of May, 1887, Woods, while in a
fit of ungovernable rage, hit his wife with
stone and killed her. He then dragged
the body to the brush, and under the
guidance of an Indian made round.
about way circuit to Corrinne, intending
to go east. The city marshal was on
the lookout and soon after W oods' arriv-
al arrested him. Woods was tried, his
case carried to the supreme court twice
and he was finally convicted and sentenc.
ed to be hanged on the 2Ist day of July
In the same Jail was prisoner sentenc.
ed to be hanged on the same day for the
murder of two prospeGtors, one of which
was well know in this territory as Capt
Winn. A few davs before the execution
was to come off, through the careless o
the guard, Woods associate seized {
butcher knife compelled the guard to
unlock the Jail door, then securing re.
volver from the sheriff 3 office, drove the
guard in the cell and after locking 1t
together with Woods made his escape
the balance of the prisoners refusing t,
leave. Woods secured a blanket befor,
he escaped and making II pair of leggings
impersonated an Indian and by thi
means was able to make his way to Butte
where he discarded his Indian apparel
His partner was captured two hour
after his liberation by some Indians VIII
made him believe that they wanted t
trade horses with him, thus enticing hir
to leave the brush where he was take
by the officers. Hewas hanged on tn
day set and up to the last exhibited tn
utmost composure and disregard for th
fate which in three minu tes sent him [
eternity.
Having gotten out ofan Indian countr
Woods resumed the habiliments of h
kind, replaced the shoes, which he ha
carried under his blanket and made fl
the Northern Pacific Railroad, where
supposed he would not recognized. B,
| the sheriff of Blsckfoot, knew that
+ would not undertake to go east over Il
U. P. as he would surely be recognize
at Pocatelo, where he committed h
crime, an offering reward directed IL
officers at Helena, Bozeman, Livingstc
and Billings to keep sharp look.ou
J with the above results. The Govern,
of Idaho refused to offer a reward, an
the sheriff is not only out his hundre
+ dollars and expenses, but does not g
extra pay for hanging criminals.
soon as Woods escaped the sheriff obtail
ed from the governor of his territory
| thirty days respite for him, whic
/ will bring the day of this execution @
: the 18th day of August.
: Woods wife, who was 80 brutal
murdered, was young mulatto woma
8 who was brought up in a prominel
. family in Illinois. She married ma
5 of her native town and soon after ru
away with Woods, who went to Idal
s and opend barber shop. On account
5 fear and cruelty she ran away fro
v him and was overtaken one time
s Butte and another at Portland, Orego
l After this she lived in peace and qui
!. with her lord for about six month
8 when he suddenly became jealous aga
}. and fulfilled his oft.repeated threat
i kill her. Woods is a tinly built negr
0 light colored and the deputy sheriff i
forms us one of the most accomplish,
liars that ever drew breath. During h
Incarceration at Bozeman he has stout
3 maintained that he was innocent and n
. the man wanted, although his demean,
proved that he was terribly Lowncas
The officers have taken him unchain,
to his meals down town and did not e
hibit the slightest intention of breakil
away from them. Owing to this mar
> believed that he was not the man war
ed, but the deputy sheriff soon settled
doubt as to this. Woods will surely hal
on the 18th of August.
News Notes.