Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1902-04-04
MOB EXECUTES wOODARD.
The Murderer Of sheriff Kicker 10 Taken
From JAN ~ Casper. Wyoming. by .
Mob and Hang. He Being
strsoKi~d "a Death.

W k"tHtf ~'P't ft@on -
saen. who overpowered Sheriff Tubbs
and secured the prisoner. and hanged
him on the gallows which had been
built for his legal execution. Wood
ard was to have been executed Friday,
but on the previous Tuesday the su-
prsme court granted a stay OF execu-
ton, which would have given the con-
dcmned man at least three more months
OF life.
The stay OF execution seems to have
been received with bad grace by a
number Of Cssper's citizens, and the
lynching resulted.
Woodland was awakened from sound
sleep by the mob's entrance to the Jail.
He was not given time to dress him
self, but was taken out in two inches
OF snow with nothing on his person
but short shirt. II made no cutlery
or resistance when he saw the masked
men, who had handkerchiefs tied over
their faces. but went quietly with
them.
He was taken TO the gallows, when
he said: Boys, let me kneel down
and pray for you; want to pray for
all OF you. These are the last words to
my blessed little wife. Tell my dear
little wife that | loved her dearly, |
won't you. Tell her that, boys, pray
thnt you have the papers print 1t. God
forgive me for my sins. pray for my
self and pray for you, and l pray for
Charley Ricixer. | never had any
grudge against him in Gods world"
After declaring that he never meant
to kill Sheriff Kicker, and pleading
that he be not choked, the naked and
trembling man, with the rope tightly
drawn about his neck, was
showed off the trap, but he gave a
spring off from il before the lever
could be pulled.
The body commenced to go through
terrible contortions, and couple OF
masked men caught hold of his feet
and gave them several hard jerks. The
man was simply cholsed TO death
A card was pinned to Woodard's
shirt which reads: process of the
law Is little slow; SO is the road you'll
have to go. Murders and thieves be-
ware. Peoples Verdict
The crime for which Charles Francis
Woodland paid with his life was COM
mitted on the evening of January End
last at Woodnrd's ranch, near Garfield
peak, In the Rattlesnake mountains,
seventy-ive miles west of Casper, when I
he cruelty shot TO death and ,nutilated
the body of Sheriff William G. Kicker
Of Natroua county.
Woodard, with his wife, Bertha, and
brother, Clarence, was arrested last Z
November on the charge of stealing |
clothing and provisions from a ranch.
II was alleged that Woodard's ranch
was the headquarters OF IA band Of cat ]
lie and horse thieves. At the preimi-
nary trial Bertha Woodland was re-
eased from custody. The brothers
we're held To the district court, but
we're unable to furnish bonds. On the t
light of December 30, 1901, they sawed 8
III the bars of their cells and a win ,
low and got away.
At the stockyards cast of town N
'harles Woodland secured pistol, I
which had been placed there by a
riend. Near Casper he stole a horse 4
nd rode to his ranch, reaching the
lace on the evening OF January 2, 1902.
instead Of finding friends ready to as :,
list him, he found Sheriff Kicker and ~
wo deputies at the house. who were o
here looking for him. d
He went To the barn, intending to h
bandon hts horse and steal one of the .
Ulcers animals II was about o'clock u
l the evening and was quite dark He &
Que of the sheriff's horses A
nd was ready to ride away, when the -
neriff came out of the house and APP
reaching the barn ordered him to p
lrreuder. II
Woodland instantly shot the sheriff In
trough the body and the officer fell
, the ground mortally wounded. Wood II
I'd then, 1t is said went to the dying
ian and struck him in the face with
Is six-shooter. lie emptied the sher- -,
rs pockets, securing S45, and also ="
,olx off from the body belt full OF III
,rtridges and "A scabbard. Woodland II
len dragged the body several feet to- 10
ard the barn and left it, He went
to the barn. turned two of the horses "
It. saddled the remaining one and 'e
de off. ca
lie was captured several weeks af- at
rward near Billings. Mont. aud D.
ought back to Casper. He admitted 's'
g killing and was convicted and sem OF
need to hang Friday last. he
Acting Governor Chatterton has sent X,
A. c. Hueler. prosecuting attorney
Natrons county. the following tele-
am: "In the brutal lynehiug OF
GODDARD the fair name of Wyoming &c
- been dragged In the mire, the Al
der Of our supreme court disregarded, ~,
@ law grossly violated. The reports -
dictate that no precautionary steps re-
IRE taken by the officers OF the law to be
event it's violation. In the name OF to
: Jaw, wnlen mas oesn s'o,s'ea. anu tn