The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-04-12
NOW HORSE AND HORSE.
The Governor Of Wyoming Breaks
Even With tho Governor
Of Montana
Osborne Has an Idea Richards
Refused TO Grant Requisi-
tion Papers.
lie Does tho Same 1hing In Return. but
n Seems lie Was Somewhat Mis-
Informed.

Gov Osborne OF Wyoming. has refussd
TO honor a requisition Of Gov. Richards. Of
Montana. for Thomas j Whsr.y who is
wanted Ia Valley county on a charge OF as
sault with intent TO kill. The ground Of
the Wyoming governors refusal vas that
X. W. Garland. who made the application
for the requisition, was one Of Whsiry's
boncsmen. and that Wherry left this state
prior to his trial. forfeiting his bail. This
Gov. Osborne considered an informally
and Also a suggestion that wherry was not
wanted so much for the crime Of assault. as
90 relieve his bondsmsn. The matter con
neeted with the feeuisition made by Wy
ominR for John 7. WiokhRm. charged with
murder also seems 90 have cut some fgure
with the governor Of Wyoming. Wiekham
was wanted in Wyoming for the
murder Of CoEstablss Bach and
Bedford last fall. Lieut. Governor
Botkin was acting governor Of Montana at
the time. Before honorinR the acquisition
he insisted that the Wyoming PEOPLE should
give Wickhhm protection from mob Vio-
lenoe and take him back by such route as
would insure this. These assurances were
given and the Wyoming oflcer started with
his prisoner. Before he got out Of the
state Wickham's friends secured a hsbeas
corpus on she ground that the prisoner was
20 bo allowed to fall into the hands of
mob The court granted the writ and
| Wickham was feleased. 10 has been claimed
that had he gotten into Wyoming be would
have been lynched, as he was one OF the
men mixed mp IN the TustlerS war In that
state. and the feeling ran very high at the
| time.
In his letter refusing 90 honor the Wherry
requisition. Gov. Osborne le'srs TO the
Wickhnm incident in these words; Il am
inclined to think that II the precedent es-
tablished by yon at the time reauisition
went forth from this ofice for the delivery
Of a notorious murderer. Miekhsm who
had taken refuge Ia your state, TO Wyom-
ing officer, were to govern my action IN
this instance. you would be asked 70 as
auTe this Office that this prisoner, " de-
livered to YOUR agent. would have safe con-
duct through your stste 90 the placs OF
trial and that he vould not be ovsrhauled
by a mob. l would also proclatm through
the press that the people Of Montana
were lawless and that the sherias and
other offcers were unable 20 MAINTAIN
the peace aud dignity OF the state. We,
however do not propose 70 adopt any such
preoedent. The executive department. OF
Wyoming will not be so presumptious as 20
charge tbe citizens OF n sister state with
lnwlsssness. Ga the contrary, We are
broad N inded enough TO believe your peo-
rls are as law abiding citizens as We are IN
Wyoming. but no more so.
To this letter Gov. Richards yesterday
made the following rsnly:
Hon. j. r. Osborne. Cove nor. Wyoming
Dear Sit: / have the honor TO aoknowlsdGe
the receipt Of your favor OF the Ith inst.
The files OF this off show that during nv
absence from the state and while Hon. A.
c. Roikin was acting as governor, a requi-
sition was made upon this Office for war .
rant for the person Of one Wiokham aud
| othefs, charged with murde-. In this re-
quisition one Hopkins was designated a.
, | messenger aud delivered the fequisition.
strong representations we're presented 30
the acting governor that the return OF the
risoner (WickhRm) through the shortest
route of travel would expose his life TO
eiest danger from mob violsnce. The act
, ing governor felt it 20 be bis duty 20 re-
quest that he should have she protection OF
the authorities of Wyoming against such a
possibility. Al the same time the messsn-
GER designated in your equisition promised
that tho prisoner would be conveyed TO the
I county seat of the county having Jutisdic-
tion OF the alleged ohsnse. via the Union
paciho and Burlington 4 Missouri rail-
roads. The requss, was MADE 20 you that
suitable protection should be Afforded the
| / prisoner, and upon Your reply and the as
surance OF the officer designated by you
that the route Of the Union Pacific and the
darlington a Missouri railroads would be
, followed in the conveyance and delivery OF
the parties named in the reQuisition, . war
tant was duly issued.
In the proceedings and correspondents
precedent 10 the issuGnoe OF auoh warrant
, 10 pursuance OF y0ur fequisition. the exec
b utive department OF this state only took
oognizance OF representations that weie
made by reputAble citizens hoth OF Nto-
ming aud Montsns, and OF conditions that
= were OF common knowledge, existing IN
certain counties in your state IL
% Is wholly untrue that thtrs was
. anv effort TO proclaim through the
ID ess that the reople Of Wyoming were
! iawless or that her officers we're unable 40
: maintain the peace and dignity OF she
e state; but ] learn with great regret that not
withstanding the assurances OF tho oihoer
; designated IN your requisition - messenger
that he would convey tne PARTIES named IN
, the rsquisition by the way Of the
, Union Pacific and Darlington Mis-
souri. be had no sooner taken ons OF the
, prisoners into custody than be sttsmptsd
! 60 convey him by another route. IN utter
: disregard Of the ASSURANCES already men
toned.
The executive department OF this state
cannot assume responsibility for any OF
the proceedings that we're thereafter had In
court 60 deliver the prisoner q ON ths Gus
: todv of your messenger.
Ny requisiticn upon you IN the case OF
, one Thomas j. Mheriy was only for the re-
"a OF man daily CHARGED with the crime
Of assault with intent 60 Hill. The chaFac-
o. ter of the orIms relieves the application
1 ffom any suspicion that the rsquistion Il
. for the urpOse OF collecting an individual
. doht. Hni presents Go you only the question
. whether the state of Wyoming shall anOrd
. refuge for criminal. and whsther the re-
. quisItion OF sister stats. fully issued,
/. shall be y upsrlv recognized 20 your hands.
. 1 cannot conclnde this letter without en-.
pressing tho hope that the states 90 closely
D related bY proximity and interest shall Hi
all times preserve the comfy end KINDLY
. feeling which their conditions require ani
. which 10 shall always te my hiaEest pur-
I moss 90 maintain. J. r. hcKtRDs
!. Governor OF Montana.