The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1889-07-25
RUSTLERS HANGED.
Wyoming Cowboys Make an Ex-
ample Of Two Troublesome
Cattle Thieves.

CHEYENNE Wyo., July % James AveriIl
and the notorious cattle queen, Kate Max
well, were lynched by cowboys last night.
The bodies Of the "rustler" and range queen
dangled from the same limb OF a big
cottonwood this morning The scene OF
the lawless but justifiable deed
of the midnight riders is on the Sweetwa.er
river, in Carbon county, near Independence
Rock, Al landmark made historical during the
rush overland TO the California gold fields.
Averlu was postmaster at Sweetwater Kate
Maxwell was the heroine of n sensational
story which appeared in the newspa-
pers throughout the country three months
ago, when she raided gambling house and
recovered large sum of money won from
her employees Stockmen of the SweetWater
region have been tho victims of cattle
thieves for years. On account of prejudice
against the large outfits it has
been impossible to convict on this
charge, and the ruStlers have become very
bold. AveriIl and his remarkable partner
have been very active in thieving. The
woman could hold her own on the range,
riding like demon, shooting on the slight
est pTeteXt, and handling the larlat and
branding iron with the skill of the
most expert vaquero. Fifty freshly branded
yeariug steers were counted in the Averill
and Maxwell herds Saturday morning. A
stock detective whose suspicious were
aroused was driven from the place when he
was noticed viewing the stolen property.
DETERMINED RANCHNEN.
1h1, circumstance was reported to the
ranchmen, who determined to rid the country
of the desperate pair Avetill and the woman
have several times been ordered to em1grate
or cease apprOpriating mavericks, but
had disregarded all warnings After
her celebrated gambling house esca-
pade Mrs. Maxwell degenerated from a
picturesque Western character into a reck-
| less prairie virago of loose morals aud lost
most of her following, but continued part
nership with the postmaster. Word was
passed along the river, and fifteen to
| twenty men gathered at desig-
mated place and galloped to the
cabin of Averill and Cattle Kate without un-
necessary noise. The "rustlers" were a.
home and a peep through window dis
closed the thieves and boy in their employ
sitting by a rude tireplace smoking clga-
! rettes. AS half dozen men rushed into the
room, a Winchester was pOked through each
window and u command TO thlow up their
| hands given with unm :stakable earnestness.
| The trio sprang for their weapons but were
quickly overpowered. Averlll begged and
| whined, protesting his innocence. Kate
cursed Her eXecrution OF the lynchers was
something terrible in its way. She cursed
everything and everybody, challenging the
Deity to harm her if he possessed the power.
An attempt was made to gag her, but her
struggling was so violent that this was
abandoned. She called for her own horse to
ride to the tree selected for scaffold, and
vaulted astride the animals back from the
ground Averill did not resist, and the boy,
who had been told that he would not be
harmed, followed.
A TRAGIC DEATH.
Either end of the same rope was fastened
| about the necks of the rustlers as they sat in
their saddles The boy made pass with a
knife at the man who was preparing Kate
for hanging He was knocked insensible by
a blow with the butt of revolver.
The lad was q nephew of the ban
dit queen. When preparations for the
execution had been completed AVerill and
the woman were asked to speak. The man
spoke only of his office, saying that he did
not wish q certain man to be his successor.
He was promised the influence of the
party for another candidate. Kate made
quite an address She wished tie
affair kept as quiet as possible, desiring that
her mother be kept in ignorance of her dis
| graceful career and tragic death. 1t was
useless TO deny that their herd had been
stolen from the ranchmen of that section,
but if they did not wish to divide it
among themselves she would like to
have it sold and the money given to home
for wayward girls. Kate bade her nephew
good bye and commenced to deliver bias
phemons harangue The horses were led
nom under the pair while Kate was still
cursng. Both kicked in lively style
for ten or fifteen minutes A few bullets
were fred into Averl's body, and the lynch
ers rode away 1t lie doubtful if an inquest
will be held, and the execuioners have no
tear of being punished. The cattlemen have
been forced to this, and more hangtngs viii
follow unless there is less thieving.