Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1902-04-02
Stay of Execution on Behalf of chas.
Woodward Resulted in His Death
at the Hands of a Mob.
SHERIFF GAGGED AND BOUND
Woodward Hanged on the ScaffoId
Prepared for His Legal Execution
by the sheriff's Force.
May End in lynching.

Wyo., says: The attorneys for Chas.
Woodward, under sentence to be
hanged at Casper, on March 2Sth.
for the murder of Sheriff Kicker, to-
day filed in the state supreme court
a petition in error and the condemn
ed man has been granted stay OF
execution pending the hearing of the
proceedings in error.
Under the law the plaintiff is allow
ed sixty days in which to prepare his
case and the defendant forty-fve
days, SO that Woodward, no matter
what the decision of the supreme
court may be, cannot be hanged be-
fore August IL. Sheriff Tubbs, of
Casper, has been notified of the ac-
tion of the supreme court There is
some talk that Woodward will be
lynched. .
Casper, Wyo., March 2S.-Charles
Francis Woodward, condemned muir
derer of Sheriff VIM. c. Kicker, was
hanged early today by twenty-five
masked men. -'-.-r
The organization was formed dur
ing the night. Crowds began to gath
er in the vicinity of the jail in the
evening.
About 3 o'clock in the morning 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 a num-
ber of sledges and hammers and beat
down the jail door.
Once inside the jail. the rope was
quickly thrown around Woodward's
neck and he was roughly dragged from
the building.
He was taken to the scaffold which
had been erected for his legal execu-
ton. Someone pushed him on the
trap but he gave leap before the
trap could be sprung and fell from
the gallows, hanging himself.
Less than half an hour was occu-
pied in the hanging. Considerable
excitement prevailed but little was
said. Woodward attempted to talk to
the leaders but they refused to hear
him.
Before the drop 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
a message to my blessed little wife.
| love her dearly and want you to tell
her that. pray that you will have
the papers print it; | pray for you,
Charles Kicker, and for all Of yeu.
l never had grudge against Sheriff
Kicker, never in Gods world. Inever
meant to shoot him. For Gods sake
don't choke me to death. Oh
And then Woodward leaped off be-
fore the trap could be sprung. Sher.
iff Tubbs this morning found picnel
to the scaffold this note
"The process of the law Is little
slow. This is the road you will have
to travel. Murderers and thugs be-
ware
No one could be found today wLo
could identify any members uf The
mob.
Ar Immene crowd witnessed the
lynching. Several hundred heep and
cattle men came to town during yes
terday and every corner was the
scene of discussion Of the reprieve
granted by the supreme court.
After the lynching the mob dispers-
ed and the greater part of those from
out of town left for their homes.
Early this morning Sheriff Tubbs
took the body down and removed 1t
to the city hall, where the rope was
cut from the neck. 1t was then turn
ed over to the corner.
Late this afternoon the county at.
torney received a telegram from Act.
ing Governor Chatterton calling upon
him as "the county prosecutor to in
stitute and make thorough investi-
CATION of the crime with view to
the punishment of the guilty parties.
.fe, .