Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1889-07-25
STRUNG Up A WOMAN.
Kate Maxwell and Her Partner, Post
master Averill, Hanged.
\ CoNvBoH REVENGE,

The Bodies of noth Left Dangling From
tho Limb OF the Same Tree-Cnttle
ThteyInG the Crimc-Iknte Wanted
tIse Affair Kept Quiet for Her Mother.
Sake.
CHEYENNE, Wy. r., July 23..-Kate
Maxwell, the noted Cattle Queen" and
her partner, James Averill, postmaster
Mt Sweet Water River, Wy. T., have been
lynched at that place by cowboys.
Tho bodies of tho ''rustlor" and tho
Range Queen" dangled from the same
limb of a big cottonwood.
Tho scene of tho lawlcss but justifiablo
decd of tho midnight riders is on the
Sweet Water River, near Independence
Rock.
Ayerill was postmaster at Sweet Water.
Stockmen of that region have suffered
from cattlo thcfts for years, but on ac-
count of prejudice against the largo con-
Germs, it has been impossible to convict
the offenders, and the ''rustlcrs' nevo
been very bold. Ayerill and his partner
have been the most active. Fifty freshly
braided yearling steers were found in
their herd by n stock detective, who re-
Ported the fact to the ranchmcn.
Tho latter decided to punish tho noto-
rious pair, who had hitherto disregardod
warnings to leave tho country. About
twenty ranchmen gathered and galloped
to the, cabin of Averill and Kate.
Half adozen of them rushed into the
room, where the pair and boy in theil
employ were found.
The trio sprang for their weapons, but
were quickly overpowcred. Avcrill beg
god and whined, protesting his limo.
cence, whilo Kate cursed fearfnlly.
Her blaephcmics were so horrible that
an attempt was made to gag her, but s he
struggled 30 violently that tfis was
abandoned. She was allowed to ride her
own horse 20 the tree selected for the exc
cution.
One end o: the rope was fastened
around Kate's neck and the other around
AverilPs rs they sat on their horses.
They We're invited to speak.
Bato said that for her mothers sake
sho wanted the affair kept as quiet ae
possible. Sho admitted that tho cattle
had boen stolen.
She wanted the cattle sold and tho
money given for home for homeless
girls.
She badc the boy, who was her nephew,
ndieu, and then wound up with q bias
phemous harangue.
Averill said nothing, except that lie
didn't want a certain man to be his sue.
cessor as postmaster.
Tho horses were driven from undor
them. Kate was not shot at, Averill' $
body was filed with bullets ana tho
lynchcrs rode away. No inquest will be
held.
Kate Maxwell was one of the most
unique characters in tho west. She was
known and feared by every cattle owner
from the Canadian limo TO the Rio Grnnde.
Who sho was or where she came from is
not known. For ten years or moro she
had been the leader of gang of rust
ltrs," or cattle thieves, and has stolen
moro cattle than any single man in tho
west.
Many efforts have been made to cap
ture her, but none hitherto were SUCCESS
ful. Lately the depredations of hor gang
have been so great that tho cowboys
banded together and determined to kill
Averill or drive them olt of the terri
toly.
Kate had como up from the Indian Ma
tioE Immediately after tho opening OF
Oklahoma and brought with her several
hundred head of cattle, which she
grounded up" on tho way.