The Butte inter mountain., 1902-03-28
CHAs. WOODWARD, MURDERER
OF SHERIFF KICKER, WAS
HANGED TODAY.
HE JUMPED OFF scAFFoLD
Several Hundred Sheep and Cattlemen
Came to Town and After the Pris-
oner's Death Quietly Left
for Their Homes.
ORy Associated press.l

Francis Woodward the condemned mur-
derer of Sheriff william c. Kicker was
hanged early today by "a masked men.
Under cover OF darkness an organization
wos formed during the night. Crowds
began to gather In the vicinity of the
Jail early In the evening.
About o'clock the mob descended on
the Jail and the leaders demanded the
keys of the sheriff. He refused to give
them up, and the crowd then secured
number of sledges and hammers and
beat the jail door down.
Once inside the Jail, rope was quickly
thrown around Woodward's neck and
he was dragged roughly from the build
ing.
He was taken to the scaffold which
had been erected for his legal execution
Someone pushed him upon the trap, bur
he gave a leap before the trap could be
sprung and fell off the galows. hanging
himself.
Less than half an hour was occupied
in the hanging. Considerable excitement
prevailed, but little was said.
Woodward attempted to talk to the
leaders, but they refused to hear him.
Several hundred sheep and cattlemen
came to town during the day yesterday.
and every corner was the scene OF a dis
cussion of the reprleve granted by the
supreme court.
Quickly Dispersed.
After the lynchng the mob dispersed.
and a great part of those from out of
town left for their homes.
The crime for which Charles FrancIs'
Woodward paid with his life was COM
mitted on the evening OF January 2 at
Woodward's ranch, near Garfield peak.
in the Rattlesnake mountains, rs miles
west of Casper when he cruelty shot to
death and mutilated the body of Sheriff
William c. Kicker of Natrona county.
Woodward, with his wife Bertha and
his brother Clarence, was arrested last
November on the charge of stealing
clothing and provisions from a ranch. 1t
was alleged that Woodward's ranch was
the headquarters Of a band of cattle and
horse thieves.
At the preliminary trial Bertha Wood
ward was released from custody. The
brothers were held to the district court,
but We're unable to furnish bonds.
On the night OF December 30, 1901 they
sawed off the bars of their cells and
window and got away AT the stock
yards east of town Charles Woodward
there by friend.
Near Casper he stole horse and rode
to his ranch, reaching the place on the
evening of January q 1902.
Instead of finding friends ready to as
sist him, he found Sheriff Kicker and
two deputies at the house, who were
looking for him He went to the barn.
intending to abandon his horse and steal
one OF the officers animals. 1t was about
o'clock In the evening and was quite
dark.
Captured Near Billings.
He mounted one Of the sheriif's horses
and was ready to ride away when the
sheriff came out of the house and ap-
preached the barn, ordering him to sur
render. Woodward instantly shot the
sheriff through the body, and the officer
fell to the ground mortally wounded.
Woodward then, II Is said, went to the
dying man and struck him in the face
with his six-shooter.
He emptled the sheriff's pockets, Sc
curing s45 and also took off from the
body a belt full Of cartridges and a scab-
bard.
Woodward then dragged the body sew
eral feet toward the barn and left It.
He went into the barn, turned two OF
the horses out, saddle1 the remaining
one and rode off. He was captured by a
posse several weeks afterward near
Billings, Mont. and brought back to
Casper. He admitted the killing ana
was convicted and sentenced to hang
today
Last Tuesday the supreme court
granted a sta yof execution, which would
have given Woodward at least three
months more Of life.
Message of Love.
Before the trap Woodward began
making an address, half talking, half
praying. He said:
Boys, let me kneel and pray. want to
pray for all of you and send message
to my blessed little wife. / love her
dearly and want you to tell her that. l
pray that you will have the papers print
it.
IT pray for you Charles Kicker and for
all Of you. / never had grudge against
Sheriff Kicker never in Gods world.
never meant to shoot him. For Gods
sake don't choke me to death. Oh!-,'
and then Woodward leaped off before the
trap could be sprung.
Sheriff Tubbs this morning found
pinned to the scaffold this note:
1.-THE process Of the law is htte SLOW
This Is the road you will all have to
travel. Murderers and thugs, bewaren
No one could be found today who could
identify any member of the mob