The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-07-25
CATTLE QUEEN" KATE MAXWELL.
Variety Actress, Stock Woman and FINAL.
Prairie Tramp and Thief.

Prairie Tramp and Thief.
Cheyenne Special to st. Louis Republic.
Averill, who was lynched Sunday night
with Cattle Queen Kate Maxwell, though
called coward. and really a cur, has a rec
ord of killing two men. One was assassi-
mated, being shot in the back from under
cover. The other was killed in row over
a game of cards, bulletfrOm big revolver
trial was held in either case, though Aver
i'll was threatened with arrest and even
lynching, but his victims were men of no
prominence and the tragedies were soon
master on account of the central location
of his ranch. As an official he was not en-
tirely satisfactory. Several men with
whom he had quarreled had their letters
sent to a postoffiee fifty miles away rather
than risk q conflict with Averlll.
Mrs. Maxwell, whose rapid descent since
the debauch which followed the gambling
house adventure had somewhat dimmed
her ulster, was a character indeed. She
was once Chicago variety actress, but.
with the adaptability of women of her
class, fell into Western ways readily. She
improved vastly on ranch life by importing
race horses, fighting dogs and sprinters and
holding Journeys at her place. Her nus.
that she poisoned him. The ranch foreman,
whom she had known in the East, became
proprietor. This liaIsOn was open. but Kate
was true to her lover She resented the
ing bullet through him. Mrs. Maxwell
participated in an Indian war before
she had been in the country thirty
days. One of her thoroughbreds showed
his heels to shs ft of chfr shp
day sprinter from the East easily de-
feated a young brave in a dash of 100 Yards.
The Indians lost money, ponies blankets
and even squaws on the event. They
started away from the race muttering
threats and suddenly turned about and
| opened fire on Kate and her men. The lat
ter rallied quickly and repulsed the Arapa-
hoes, killing several. NO whlte men were
killed in the conflict.
Life on the ranch was now gayer than
ever but after the recovery of the money
| from the skin-gamblers at Bessemer. things
went to the dogs. Rates paramount made a
| trip to the railway and forgot to come back
| The men left one at a time, horses were
| stolen dogs killed and cattle scattered. A
| colOred boy who had been Kate's body
servant was the last to disappear. He took
her diamonds along. She set out in pnr-
| down on the highway. recovering the jew
els: but they were soon pawned. From her
high estate as the wealthy and powerful
| queen of the cowboys, she became prairie
| into camps and ranches, and helping her
| self as though an attache of the outfit. She
knew that Averill was q thief, and seemed
| to become one herself after the dOubly I'M
| holy partnership nau OecD formed. Again
| established in home she sought to re-
sumo her place IN the hearts of the cow
| boys, but they were fearful of Averill, and
| could not be captivated by her blandsh-
| ments. Failure to reOrganiZe q lawless
band did not discourage the dashing Kate
/ and her terrible partner. For time they
were guarded in their criminal work. but
| every thing coming to their net was fish,
! They would kill a steer, burn the
hide. and sell the carcass to en-
| ployes who owned the animal. 1t was
darkly limited and doubtless not without
foundation that the pair were veritable
Blenders. Their ranch was only a couple of
miles from the road. Travellers stopped
| for meals while freighters loved to camp
| beside q splendid spring just outside the
] Maxwell and Averill pasture. Many of
| these visitors were lured to financial ruin
| at least by the wilcs of the winning Kate,
| who was faded but still a beauty. She
| played every card game well, and to fleece
| the innocent was only pastime for her and
her husband. Two men who mysteriously
| disappeared were traced to this deadfall,
where they were, in all probability, muir
| dered for their money. A thorough but
/ fruitless search of the premises was made.
| The "rustlers" at first stole calves in
| the night, but soon branched ont.
| and on numerous occasions were met on
| the range in broad daylight driving bunch
| es OF young unbranded beeves to their COR