Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1902-04-03
MOB EXECUTES WOODARD.
DIED ON scAFF0LD WHICH HAD BEEN
ERECTED FOR HIS LEGAL EXECUTION.
The Murderer of Sheriff Kicker is Taken
From JaIi at Casper, Wyoming, by
Mob and Hung, He Being
Strangled to Death.

Charles r. woodard, convicted of the
murder of Sheriff Kicker, was taken
from jail at Casper, Wyo., at 1910 Fri
day morning, by twenty-four masked
men, who overpowered Sheriff Tubbs
and secured the prisoner, and hanged
him on the gallows which had been
built for his legal execution. Wood
ard was to have been executed Friday,
but on the previous Tuesday the SUI
preme court granted stay OF execu-
ton, which would have given the con-
demned man at least three more months
OF life.
The stay of execution seems to have
been received with bad grace by a
number of Casper's citizens, and the
lynching resulted.
Woodland was awakened from sound
sleep by the mob's entrance to the jail,
He was not given time to dress him
self, but was taken out in two inches
OF snow with nothing on his person
but short shirt He made no outcry
or resistance when he saw the masked
men, who had handkerchiefs tied over
their faces, but went quietly with
them.
He was taken to the gallows, when
he said: Boys, let me kneel down
aud pray for you; want to pray for
all of you. These are the last words to
my blessed little wife. Tell my dear
little wife that | loved her dearly,
won't you. Tell her that, boys, pray
that you have the papers print it. God
forgive me for my sins. pray for my.
self and pray for you, and ] pray for
Charley Kicker. ! never had any
grudge against him in Gods world"
After declaring that he never meant
to kill Sheriff Kicker, and pleading
that he be not choked, the naked and
trembling man, with the rope tightly
drawn abont his neck, was
showed off the trap, but he gave a
spring off from it before the lever
could be pulled.
The body commenced to go through
terrible contortions, and a couple OF
masked men caught hold of his feet
and gave them several hard jerks. The
man was simply choked to death.
A card was pinned to Woodards 8
shirt which reads: Process of the
law is little slow; so is the road you'll
have to go. Murders and thieves be-
ware. Peoples Verdict"
The crime for which Charles Francis
a. L. s.
mitted on the evening of January 2nd
| last at Woodard's ranch, near Garfield
peak, in the Rattlesnake mountains,
| seventy five miles west of Casper, when
he cruelty shot to death and mutilated
| the body of Sheriff William G. Kicker
| of Natrona county.
| Woodland, with his wife, Bertha, and
brother, Clarence, was arrested last
| November on the charge of stealing
clothing and provisions from ranch !.
| 1t was alleged that Woodard's ranch
was the headquarters of band of cat
/ tie and horse thieves. At the prelimi-
nary trial Bertha Woodland was re-
| leased from custody. The brothers
were held to the district court, bai
1 were unable to furnish bonds. On the
night of December 30, 1901, they sawec
| off the bars of their cells and win
dow and got away
! At the stockyards cast of towr
Charles Woodland secured pistol
which had been placed there by |
friend. Near Casper he stole hors'
and rode to his ranch, reaching tn
place on the evening of January 2, 1902
Instead of finding friends ready to as
sist him, he found Sheriff Kicker an
two deputies at the house, who wer
there looking for him.
| He went to the barn, intending t
abandon his horse and steal one of th
officers animals. / / was about o'clocl
in the evening and was quite dark. Ii
mounted one of the sheriff's horse
and was ready to ride away, when tn
sheriff came out of the house and ap
preaching the barn ordered him t
surrender.
Woodland instantly shot the sheri.
through the body and the officer fel
to the ground mortally wounded. Wooe
ard then, it is said, went to the dyin
man and struck him in the face wit
his six-shooter. He emptied the shel
ifs pockets, securing S45, and ais
took off from the body belt full C
cartridges and scabbard. Woodar
then dragged the body several feet /.
ward the barn and left it. He wer
into the barn, turned two of the horst
out, saddled the remaining one an
rode off.
He was captured several weeks a
terward near Billings, Mont, an
brought back to Casper. He admitte
the killing and was convicted and SCI
fenced to hang Friday last.
Acting Governor Chatterton has sci
to A. G. Bueler, prosecuting attorn.
of Natrona county, the following tel
gram: ssIn the brutal lynching
Woodland the fair name of Wyomir
| has been dragged in the mire, Il
order of our supreme court disregarde
the law grossly violated. The repor
indicate that no precautionary ste
were taken by the officers of the law
prevent it's violation. In the name
the law, which has been violated, al
as the acting executive of the state,
call upon you. the county prosecute
D to institute and make thorough
yestigation OF this crime with a vie
to the punishment of the guilty p;
ties"
wyoming Man slated to Succeed Secrets
Hitchcock.
Information received in Cheyen
u from Washington IN private letters
;, to the effect that Secretary Hite
cocks resignation, despite all deni