Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1902-04-03
CASPER WYO., AVENGERS RE-
SENTEO DELAY OF LAW
HANG MURDERER WOODWARD
U1ILIzB sCAFFoLD BUILT FOR HIS
EXECUTION.
rWENTY-FOUR MEN DO DEED
Stay Granted ny Supreme Court Supposed
10 Have Prompted Lynching. Doomed
Man Prays for Siayers.

Casper, Wyo,, March 29.-Charles
Woodward, the desperate who muir.
dered Sheriff Kicker last January,
Sis lynched by IA mob OF TIVE uty-four
men at an early hour this morning.
rhe scafrold which had been built for
h legal execution Of Woodward was
utilized by the lynchers.
The men, who we're masked, but
orderly, went to the county Jail,
overpowered Sheriff Tubbs, secured
3 70 keys and led Woodward from his
G III In his night clothes and hang d
nim. The lynchers made no moi Q
and prevented the prisoner from cry
ing out by tying a piece Of cloth over
his mouth. The men wore handker-
chiefs over their faces and not one
WIS recognized by sheriff Tubbs or
the Jail r.
On the way to the gallows Wood
ward implored the men to let him go
and not choke him. Reaching the
scafIold the rope was quickly and Sc
curely fastened to the beam over
head and the moose placed about the
murderer's neck.
While this was being done Wood
ward talked rapidly, saying as near
as could be heard:
"Boys, let me kneel and pray for
you. i want to pray for you all.
AS the moose was frightened about
the throat Woodward said:
"To my blessed little wife. / love
her dearly. Won't you tell her that,
boys9 ] pray that you have the pa
. rs print 1t. God forgive me for my
sins. l pray for myself and ! pray
for Charlie Kicker. never had any
grudge against him In Gods world"
When asked why he shot Kicker,
Woodward continued:
"I never meant to shoot him then.
Don't choke me, boys"
AS the moose began to tighten
about the condemned mans neck and
choked off his breath, he said:
"For Gods sake, you are choking
me to death. God have mercy on me
and my dear little wife. Please don I
choke me, boys, for l didn't mean to
kill Charlie Kicker. Lord have mercy
on me. OH"
Just then some one pushed Wood
ward onto the trap and the rope
frightened. Woodward gave leap
before the trap could be sprung and
he fell of the gallows, hanging him
self.
1t was sic ening sight and one
that win never be forgotten by the
two dozen men who witnessed the
execution. Woodward's bare legs
scraped along the rough edge OF the
pine board scaffold and the body com
menced to writhe and gurgling
sound could be heard coming from
Woodward's throat.
Some one In the crowd seized the
two bare feet and gave them jerk,
then pulled the body as far away
from the gallovs as the length OF the
rope would permit and let 1t swing
back against the framework, which
the now almost lifeless form struck
with thud that sent chill down
the backs OF the spectators.
The crowd stood and watched the
whiting form and when the muscles
had ceased to twitch some one pinned
card bearing these words to the
night shirt:
"Process OF law is a little slow, sc
this Is the road you'll have to go.
Murderers and thieves, beware
Peoples verdict.
The leader of the lynchers gave
orders to disperse and each man went
his way, one OF their number releas
ing Sheriff Tubbs and the taller.
1t was several hours before the
news spread that Woodward had beer
hanged and then the people left theil
eds to see the body. Woodward wa
cut down and the body was removed
TO the city hall, where the Dame
was taken out OF his mouth and TIM
pc cut from his neck. A coroner
Jury was impane,ed at daylight.
1t had been the day set for Wood
wards legal execution under conyic
ton reached and sentence imposed
by the district court several week
ago, but early in the week his at
torneys took the case on a writ o
error TO the supreme court and sta,
Of execution was granted.
An Exodus Fro ~ LOrdOn
IOudon March Ok ing Edward