Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-03-29
ASKED MEN LOCK UP THE SHERIFF
0verpower Jailer and Take Condemned
Man to the soaffold.
SLAYER OF SHERIFF RlcKER SOON DEAD
Makes Brief Speech, Saying He Never
Mesat Murder
MOB DOES ITS WORK METHoDlcALLY
Quiet but Determined Plans for VEN
geance-ActinE Governor orders
County Attorney to
Prosecute.


Prosecute.
CASPER Wyo.. March 2s--(Special Tele-
gram)-Good Friday was observed in Cas-
per by lynchnE. At an early hour this
morning masked men went to the county
Jail, 6verpowered sheriff Tubbs, secured
the keys and led Charles Woodward. the
condemned murderer OF Sheriff William c.
Kicker, from his cell in his night clothes
and hung him from the scaffold which had
been arranged for his legal execution.
The lynchers made no noise and prevented
the prisoner from crying out by tying a
piece Of cloth over his mouth. The men
wore handkerchiefs over their faces and not
one was recognized by Sheriff Tubbs or the
jailer. On the way to the gallows Woodward
implored the men to let him go and not
choke him. Reaching the scaffold the rope
was quickly and securely fastened to the
beam overhead and the moose placed about
the murderers neck. While this was being
done Woodward talked rapidly, saying as
near as could be heard:
Prays for Forgiveness.
Boys, let me kneel and pray for you.
want to pray for you ALL
As the moose was frightened about the
throat Woodward said:
ITO my blessed little wife. love 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 Charlie Kicker.
l never had any grudge against him In
Gods world
When asked why he shot Kicker. Wood
ward continued:
81 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't
choke me. boys, for / didn't mean to kill
Charlie Kicker. Lord have mercy on me.
| Obi"
Springs from the GaIIOws.
Just then some one pushed Woodward
onto the trap and The rops tlghtened.
/ Woodward gave leap before the trap could
be sprung and he fell off the gallows. hang
ing himself 1t was sickening sight and
one that will never be forgotten by the
two dozen men who witnessed the execu-
tion. woodwards bare legs scraped alons
the rough edge OF the pine board scaffold
| and the body commenced to writhe anc
! gurgling sound could be heard coming from
Woodwards throat.
Someone in the crowd seized the two bare
| feet and gave them jerk, then pulled the
| body as far away from the gallows as tho
| length OF the rope would permit and let It
| swing back against the framework, which
| the now almost lifeless form struck with
thud that sent a chill down the backs OF
the spectators.
The crowd stood and watched the writh
ing form and when the muscles had ceased
to twitch someone pinned card bearing
these words to the night shirt:
Process of law is little slow. so this
is the road you'll have to go. Murderers
and thieves beware. Peoples verdict"
sheriff aud JaIIer Released.
The leader of the lynchers gave orders to
disperse and each man went his way, one
Of their number releasing Sheriff Tubbs and
the Ialler.
1t was several hours before the news
spread that Woodward had been hanged
and then the people left their beds to see
the body.
Woodward was cut down and the body
removed to the city hall. where the flannel
was taken off his mouth and the rope cut
from his neck. A coroner's jury was i'm
paneled at daylight and is now inquiring
into the cause OF Woodward's death.
There were two inches OF snow on the
! ground and the men could easily be fol-
lowed The mob was orderly and no dis
turbance of any kind followed. Woodward
died OF stTangulation. He made a short
statement. His body was taken In charge
by the coroner and an Inquest will be held
today. Generally people thought Woodward
cold-blooded murderer and the public
think he simply got justice.
Satisfaction and Relief.
There seems 10 be a feeling Of satisfa1-
tion and relief among citizens OF Casper
tonight as a result OF the hanging OF Wood
ward. Nearly everyone that has expressed
an opinion says he regrets that the lynch
ing had to occur, but they are satisfied,
now that the AFFAIR is over with, aud are
willing TO take the responsibility for the
consequences There seems TO be a feeling
also now that the people have started in
to rid this part OF the state OF its Iawless
element. that the work should be continued
until every criminal is hanged. sent to the
penitentiary or run out OF the country.
The Hole-In- The Wall and its notorious
gangs of cattle rustlers. horse thieves,
bank robbers and criminals OF various
classes have been a milestone about the
neck OF Casper and Natrona county and
have had much TO do with the slow deveI-
opment and settlement OF this section Of
the state. Two years ago the rsnchmen
determined to rid the country OF the law
less characters and since then an active
campaign has been waged.
Woodward while he was not a member
OF the outlaw bands, was believed TO be in
sympathy with them and to have aided
them on different occasions. carrying on a
campaign of petty thieving himself
Treated as Matter of Course.
At noon today the excitement caused by
the lynching began to die down and tonight
the town is quiet, people are occupying their
time at their usual avoeations and little
concern is felt in regard TO the hanging.
The men who lynehed Woodward, and Il is
claimed that many Of them are known. have
the sympathy and moral support OF some
OF the best business men and leading citi-
zens OF the town and county, and no local
effort will be made 30 prosecute them. The
murderer. the people say, only met bis juSt
deserts.
The body Of Woodward "a lying at the