West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1889-08-01
A WOMAN LYNCHED.
The Wyoming Cattle Queen and
Her Partner Hanged.
Pitiless Revenge of Cowboys On
Cattle Thieves.

James Averill and the notorious cattle
queen, Kate Maxwell, have been lynched by
cowboys. The bodies Of the '.rustlern and
range queen dangled from the samc limb OF
a big cottonwood all during the morning
The scene of tho lawless deed Is on the Sweet
water River, in Carbon County, near
independence Rock, Wyoming, land,
mark made historical during the
rush overland 20 the California
gold fields. Averill was Postmaster al
Sweetwater, Wyoming. Kate Maxwell was
the horoine OF sensational story which ap
pcared in the newspapers throughout the
country threc months ago, when shc raided
n agamblng house, and recovered n large sum
OF money won from her employees.
Stockmon OF the Sweetwater region have
been the victims OF cattle thieves for years
The rustlers had become very bold Averill
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 slightest pretekt and handling
the lariat and branding iron with tho skill of
the most expert vacquero. Fifty freshly.
branded yearling steers wero counted I'm the
Averill and Maxwell herds on Saturday
morning. A stock detective, whose sus-
snne when he was noticed viewing the
stolen property. This circumstance wos re-
ported 10 the ranchmen, who determined 20
cid the country OF the desperate pair.
AVerill and the woman have several times
been ordered TO emigrato or cease appropriat-
'ng cattle, but they disregardcd all warnings.
After her celebrated gambling house osca-
pade Mrs Maxwell degenerated from pic
suroSque Western character into reckless
prairie virago, and lost mosto her following,
out continued partnership with the post
master.
Word was passed along tho river, and If
teen to twenty men gathered at designated
place and salloped 60 tho cabin OF
Averill and Cattle Kate without un-
accessory noise. The rustlers We're mt
oome, and n peep through window
disclosed the thieves and boy In their eni-
oloy sitting beside n rude Fireplace smoking
cigarettes. AS n half dozen men rushed into
The room n Winchester was poled through
zach window, and a command 10 throw up
heir hands wns given with unmistakedble
sarnestness. The trio sprang for their weap-
)ns but were quickly overpowered
Averill begged and whined, protesting his
innocence; Kate cursed. Her execration OF
Tho lynchers was something terrible In
Il way. She cursed everything and
everybody, challenging the Deity to
| larm her IL He possessed the power. An
attempt was made to gag her. but her
| struggling wns so violent that this was
| abandoned. She called for her own horse
% ride TO tho tree selected for scat.
| old, and vaulted astrido the animals
| oack from the ground Averill did not
'esist, and tho boy, who had been told
| hat he would not DO harmed followed
| The ends of tho same rope were fast
med about the neclis of tho rustlers as they
at I'm their saddles. The boy made pass
With knife at the mnn who was preparing
| Kate for hanging. He was knocked insensi-
)le by blow with the butt of revolver.
The lad was a nephew OF the bandit queen.
When preparations for the hanging had
,een completed Averill and the woman wer,
,sked to speak. The man spoke only OF his
,flicc, taying that he did not wish a certain
nan 90 be his successor. The influence Of tn,
| )arty for another candidate was promised
| aim.
Kate made quite an address She wished
| he affair kept quiet as possible, desiring
hat her mother be kept I'm Ignorance OF heI
| lsgraceful career and tragic death IL was use
| ess 10 deny that their herd had been stoler
| rom the rnnchmen Of that section but II
| they did not wish 30 divide IL among them
| selves, she would like TO have 10 sold and tho
money given 20 a home for wayward girls
| Kate bade her nephew good-by and com
| nenced to deliver n bl9schemou3 harangue.
The horses were led from under tho psil
| while Kate was still cursinR. Both kicked
| IN lively style for ten or fifteen minutes. A
| few bullets were fired into Aycrilrs body
| and the lynchers rode away.
Kate had come up from the Indian Natior
Immediately after the opening OF Oklahomi
and brought with her several hundred heaC
II cattle, which she rounded up on th,
way.
Sho was gathering up all the mavericks n
the range preparatory 20 driving them u
Cheyenne, Wyoming, and selling thom wher
! the cowboys organized 90 drive her south
In appearance she was n remarkably fine
looking woman, tall wel-formcd Will
regular features. Her face was tame,
from exposure, and sho sat horse like
man. Her dress was partly a mans ant
partly woman's. She was a dend shot will
rins