New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1889-07-31
RUJSTLERS HANGED.
Wyoming Cowboys Make an Ex.
ample Of Two Troublesome
Cattle Thieves.

Cattle Thieves.
CHEYENNE, Wyo., July % James Averill
and the notorious cattle queen, Kate Max
well, were lynched by cowboys last night
The bodies of the 4rustler" and range queen
dangled from the same limb OF big
| cottonwood this morning. The scene of
the lawless but justifable deed
of the midnight riders is on the Sweetwaser
river, ia Carbon county, near Independence
Rock, q landmark made historical during the
rush overland to the California gold fields
Averil was postmaster at SWeetwater. Kate
Maxwell was the heroine of a sensational
story which appeared in the newspa-
pers throughout the country three months
ago, when she raided a gambling house and
recovered large sum OF money won from
her employees. 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 remarkable partner
have been very active in thieying. The
| woman could hold her own on the range,
riding like demon, shooting on the slight
est pretext, and handling the larlat and
branding iron with the skill Of the
most expert vsquero. Fifty freshly branded
.Jearling steers we're 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 properly.
DETERMINED RANCHMEN.
This circumstance was reported to the
ranchmen, who determined to rid the count try
OF the desperate pair. Averill and the woman
have several times been ordered to emigrate
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 reck-
less prairie virago of loose morals, and 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 a desig-
mated place and galloped to the
cabin of Averill and Cattle Kate without un-
necessary noise. The srustlers" were at
home and peep through a window dis
closed the thieves and a boy in their employ
sitting by a rude frellace smoking clga-
rettes. AS half a dozen men rushed into the
room, a Winchester was poked through each
window and command to throw up their
hands given with unm:stakable earnestncss.
The trio sprang for their weapons but were
quickly overpowered. Averill begged and
whined. protesting his innocence Kate
cursed Her execration 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, ind
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.
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 a pass with a
knife at the man who was preparing Kate
for hanging. Hewas knocked insensible by
o blow with the butt @of revolver.
The lad was a 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
.
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 dis
graceful career and tragic death. It was
useless TO deny that their herd had been
stolen from the ranch,nen 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 a home
for hayward girls. Kate babe her nephew
good bye and commenced to deliver bias
phemous 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 few bullets
were fred into Averili's body, and the lynch
ers rode away. It lie doubtful if an inquest
will be held, and the executioners ave no
fear of being punished The cattlemen have
been fo1eed to this. and more hangings will
follow unless there is less thieyiug.