The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-03-29
Wyoming ride Who Would Have
Been Legally Executed Yester-
day but for n Reprieve.
PROCESS OF LAW TOO SLOW
SUCH WAS THE VERDICT OF THE
TWENTY-FOUR LYNCHERs.
ScahOld that Was Erected for Expect
ed Execution Used by Avengers
Postmaster Out of Peril.

CASPER, Wyo., March 2S.-Charles Fran
els Woodward, the condemned murderer Of
Sheriff w. c. Kicker, of this county, was
hanged in his night clothes at l o'clock this
morning by twenty-four masked and armed
men on the scaffold erected for his legal
execution. The men ~overpowered Sheriff
Tubbs, secured the keys and led the con-
demned murderer from his cell with as lit
tie ceremony as possible. At l o'clock there
came a loud rap at the sherid's door and
twenty-four determined men demanded the
keys to the Jail. On refusing the demand
Sheriff Tubbs was seized and bound and the
keys secured. After this there was no re-
sistance to the lynchers. They soon Sc
cured the prisoner and led him to the scat
fold erected in the Jail yard, on which
Woodward was to nave been hanged to-day
but for the intervention of a respite granted
by the Supreme Court. a rope was quickly
fastened to the beam and a moose placed
about Woodward's neck.
While the preparations were being made
Woodward talked rapidly. His words were
incoherent, but this was gathered from
his talk: Boys, let me kneel and
pray. 1 want to pray for all OF you and
send a message TO my blessed little wife.
1 love her dearly and want you to tell her
that. 1 pray that you will have the papers
print it. l pray for you, Charles Kicker,
and for all OF you. 1 never had a grudge
against Sheriff Kicker; never in Gods
world. l never meant TO shoot him. For
Gods sake don't choke me to death. Oh"
Then somebody gave the condemned man
a push. forcing him on the trap. and the
rope began to tighten. Woodward gave a
leap before the trap could be sprung and
fen off the gaIlows. hanging himself.
One of the lynchers pinned to the dead
mans clothing a card bearing the following
words: Process of law is a little too slow.
so this is the road you will nave TO go.
Murderers and thieves, beware.-People's
verdict" Early this morning Sheriff Tubbs
took the body down and removed it to the
city hail., where the rope was cut from the
neck. 1t was then turned over to the cor
oner.
Late this afternoon the county attorney
received a telegram from acting Governor
Chatterton, calling upon him as 'the county
prosecutor to institute and make a thor
ough investigation Of the crime, with a
view to the punishment of the guilty
parties"
on the evening of Jan. 2 last. at his
ranch, near Garfield Peak, in the Rattle
snake mountains, seventy-five miles west
of Casper, Woodward shot TO death and
mutilated the body Of Sheriff William C..
Kicker, of Natrona county. Woodward,
with his wife Bertha, and brother Clarence,
was arrested last November on the charge
of stealing clothing and provisions from a
ranch. 1t was alleged that Woodward
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 were unable TO furnish bonds. On the
night of Dec. 30. 1901, they sawed OF the
bars of their cells and a window and got
away Al the stockyards east Of town
had been placed there by a friend. Near
Casper he stole a horse and rode TO his
ranch. reaching there on the evening of
Jan. 2. 1902. Instead of finding friends ready
to assist him, he found Sheriff Kicker and
two deputies at the house, who were look
ing for him. He went TO the barn, intending
to abandon his horse and steal one of the
officers animals. 1t was about Z o'clock in
the evening and was quite dark. He
mounted one Of the sheriff's horses and was
ready TO ride away when the sheriff came
out of the house and. approaching the
barn, ordered him to surrender. Woodward
instantly shot the sheriff through the body
and the officer fell to the ground. morta1y
wounded. Woodward then. IT is said, went
10 the dying man and struck him in the
face with his six-shooter. He took S45 out
of the officers pockets and rode off. He was
captured by a posse several weeks after
ward, near Billings, Mont. and brought
back to Casper. He admitted the killing
and was convicted and sentenced to hang
to-day. Last Tuesday the Supreme Court
granted a stay Of execution, which would