The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-07-23
THE FRUIT OF EVIL.
Cattle Queen Kate Maxwell
Lynched in Wyoming.
THE TREE OF HUMAN INVENTION.
1t Takes the Form Of Cottonwood This
Time-Kate and POstmss ter AyerilI did
Too Much "Maverieking."

CHEYENNE, Wyo., July 22.-[Special to
THE HERALD. The strong limb Of a big
cottonwood tree in tie shadow of indie
pendence row bore strange fruit this
morning. A prairie breeze, which waited
the sweet odor of modest fragrance across
the green plains, was swinging to and fro
the bodies of man and woman who had
been lynched by stockmen the previous
night. The discolored faces of the pair
who had so long defed the officers Of the
law and plundered their neighbors, their
tongues lolling from between their swollen
lips and their twisted limbs contorted by
agony, completed CHASTITY picture. The
man and woman to whom Justice
had been so sunlmarily melted out,
were George AveriQ, postmaster at
Sweetwater, Carbon county, and the
notorious cattle queen Kate Maxwell.
whose recovery Of the winnings of skin
gamblers from her men several months
ago created such a sensation.
Their offense was stealing and branding
range cattle, and is called here maverick
ing' and 'rustling" The postmaster and
his remarkable partner have large bunch
of cattle recruited from the herds of the
stockmen of that section. They have
operated boldly, having little to fear, as on
account of the feeling against the cattle
kings who control large tracts of land, it
has been impossible to secure Jury that
would convict TIE "rustlers." The
Maxwell woman was the equal of
any man on the range. OF mascu-
line physique, she was a daredevil in
the saddle; quick on the shoot; an adept
with the lariat and branding iron. After
her gambling hell escapade, she became
dissolute. Her relations deserted her and
- e.
became postmaster simply because his
ranch was in a convenient location. The
discovery of about seventy-fve head Of
freshly branded stolen calves in the Maxwell
IL AveriQ corral was made Saturday after
noon by detective employed by the power
full stock association to protect the indus
try from 'maverickers.n This officer was
driven from the place by the woman, who
sent a couple OF rife balls after him
as he galloped away. This incident
incensed the stOckmen and they determined
to resort to desperate measures to remove
the menace to their business. Averill and
Kate had been served with notice. but de-
clared that they would not leave the coun-
try and said that an unmarked range ami
NAL was common property and subject to
by the finder. The regula-
tors gathered at designated meeting point
o3ly few miles from the ranch of their in
tended victim, all fully armed and fully
equipped with long rope. The horses
were tethered a short distance from Il e
house and the approach was made stealth
lily. Inside the rudely furnished house
were Kate, Averill and hoy
who says that his mother and
the cowboy queen were sisters. The
descent was made with a rush. Hands
up sounded above the noise Of the en-
trance as half dozen men crowded through
the door, while rife barrels were forced
through the windows on either side of the
little dwelling. The boy was knocked
down senseless while striking with knife
at man who was struggling with Kate
She and Averill were Oyerpowered after a
brief struggle. The man weakened at
once and began numbering and whining.
Kate was made of steTner stuff, and her
could not be approached in vile
visit punishment upon her and cheat
the lynchers. Averill and Kate were
given a horse to ride to the
scafold. The woman jumped from the
ground on to the horse straddle fashion,
the wedding march. The two
ends of long rope were fastened about
the necks of the thieves and the center
made fast to limb. The horses were then
led from beneath Kate and Averill. Their
hands were tied but they kicked fright
fully. A few shots were taken at Averill's
body. Before dying Mrs. Maxwell said
she wished the news of her demise kept
from her mother, and would like the pro-
ceeds of the sale of her property to go to
some charitable institution.
An inquest may be held over the re
mains, but the lynchers will not be pun
ished and scarcely pursued.