The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-07-23
ONE AT EACH END OF A ROPE
Wyoming Cattlemen Display Rare Econ
0my in the Informal Use of Hemp.
"Rustler" James Averill and Cattle Queen
Kate Maxwell Hanged by yigilantes-
How the Thieves We're Captured.


CHEYENNE, Wy. T., July 22.-James Aver
i'll and the notorious cattle queen. Kate
Maxwell, 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 Sweetwater
river, In Carbon county, near independence
Rock, a landmark made historic during the
rush overland to the California gold
fields. Averill was postmaster at Sweet
water. Kate Maxwell was the heroine of a
sensational story which appeared in the
newspapers throughout the country three
months ago, when she raided gambling
house and recovered large sum of money
won from her employees. The stockmen
of the Sweetwater region have been the
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. Averill and his re-
markable partner have been very active in
thieving. The woman could hold her own
on the range, riding like a demon, shooting
on the slightest pretext, and handling the
lariat and branding-iron with the skill of
the most expert vaquero. Fifty freshly
branded yearling steers were counted in
the Averill and Maxwell herds. Saturday
ciOns were aroused, was driven from
the place when he was noticed
viewing the stolen property. This
Circumstance was reported to the ranch
men, who determined to rid the country of
the desperate pair. Averill and the woman
have several times been warned to emf
CRATE or cease appropriating mavericks"
but had dIsregarded all warnings. After
her celebrated gambling-room escapade,
Mrs. Maxwell degenerated from a pictur-
esque Western character into reckless
prairie virago of loose morals and lost
most of her following, but continued part
nership with the postmaster.
Wsrd was passed along the river, and fif-
teen to twenty men gathered at a desig-
nate place and galloped to the cabin of
Avcrh and Cattle Kate without unneces-
sary noise. The rustlers were at home. and
a peep through window disclosed the
beside q rude fireplace, smoking cigar
cites. As half dozen men rushed into the
room, q Winchester was poked through
ta'" to throw ~"0pm "p their a hands s01aan giVen
with unmistakable earnestness. The
trio sprang for their weapons, but were
quickly overpoweTed. Averill begged and
whined, protesting his innocence. Kate
cursed. Her execration of the lynchers
was something terrible In its way. She
cursed everything and every body. chal-
longing the Deity to harm her if He pos
sessed the power. An attempt was
made mad to gag her. but he her struggling ahn
doned. She called for her own
horse to ride to the tree selected for a
scaffOld. and vaulted astride the animals
back from the ground. Averill did not re-
sist, and the boy, who had been told that
he would not be harmed, followed. 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 blow with the butt of revolver. The
lad was nephew of the bandit queen.
When preparations for the execution had
been completed. Ayeriil and the woman
were asked to speak. The man spoke only
of his Otnce, saying that he did not wish a
certain man to be his successor. He was
promised the influence of the party for
another candidate. Kate made quite an
address. She wished the affair kept as quiet
as possible. desiring that her mother be
kept in ignorance of her disgraceful 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 goodbye. and commenced
to deliver blasphemous harangue. The
horses were led from under the pair while
Kate was still cursing. Both kicked in
lively style for ten or fifteen minutes. A
and the lynchers rode away. 1t is doubt
full if an inquest will DO held, and the ex.
ecutioners have no fear of being punished.
The cattlemen have been forced to this,
and more hangings will follow unless there
is less theving.