Red Lodge picket. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1889-1907, 1902-01-31
Charles Woodward, the Wyoming Murder
er, Captured by Ranchers Near Laurel
Through Strategy.
BEAT HIM UP WITH GUN
Fugitive Made Desperate Resistance
Against Great Odds in House Of Sup
posed Friends Big Reward.

Thrown completely Off his guard 10y q
clover ruse, successfully worked, Charles
Woodward one OF the four Wyoming
desperadocs. who, a month ago escaped
from the Casper Jail and cruelty muir
dered Sheriff Kicker OF Natrona county
was last Monday captured through the
employment OF strategy ia the house Of
supposed friends in Carbon county,
whore the murderer and fugitive, with a
price on his head. had taken refuge
Though taken completely BY surprise,
unarmed, and under circumstances that
made resistance absolutely unavailing
and almost suicidal, the entrapped fugi-
tive, knowing that capture meant certain
death to him, fought desperately for his
liberty and when finally yoverpowercd and
securely handcutfed, begged pitcousy to
be shot.
The prisoner is q splendid specimen of
physical manhood. About 80 years OF
age he stands over six feet tall, weighs
nearly 200 pounds and N as nevy A. hc#
is strong.
Last December he and his brother
Clarence, and Ed Foote and jeff Frank
lin were arrested in Natrona county
Wyo., on charge Of horsestealing. a
few nights thereafter they all broke out
OF the county jail at Casper and escaped,
with a posse, headed by Sheriff Richer,
hot on their trail. The fugitiVes pro
cceded to the Woodward brothers ranch
and as the sheriff, far in advance of the
posse, rode up in the darkness 10 the
stable door he was shot from ambush bv
4 Charles Woodward who rushed up as
the wounded man fell from his horse
disarmed the sheriff, dragged him into
the stable. beat him to death with his
own gun, rihed the body, secured tho
dead sheriff. watch and money, and
accompanied by his brother and tho
other two fugitives, mounted horses and
escaped to the hills. Two weeks later
Clarence Woodward and Ed Footc were
captured and taken back to Casper
Charles Woodward later bccume scpa
rated from jeff Franklin, who " Still a
large, and made his way to Billings
after having shaved off his mustach'
and abandoned his horse.
], One day, two weeks ago. hc put ia hi
appearance at Laurel and while at din
ner at the hotel struck up an acguaint
ance with Wilson Owen and John Berls
1 himcr, who happened to be IN l1anre
from their ranch on Grow Davis flat
where they were batching in cabit
Woodward gave his name as Bill Ca
and asked for and was granted pnrmis
sion to accompany the boys to thei
I ranch to work for his board. On lcay
ing Laurel Woodward excused himsel
D for a moment and crawlcd under til
! depot platform, soon emerging Therefor
y with d canvass Ovcrcoat and two reso
Y vcrs In explanation of this be said h
d had gotten into some trouble in Dakot
h over ranch matters and had been force
y to leave the country until the affair BILE,
y over.
@ After reaching the ranch WoodWar
d grew more communicative and told hi
q new found friends that nc had kille,
rs two men and a woman in hold-up /
Is Indian Territory and that officers wer
il looking for him As he became bette
d acquainted with the boys on the ranc
he unfolded at intervals the story OF hi
t. escape from the Casper jail and the sui
IS sequent murder of Sheriff Kicker Th
p boys encouraged him in his disclosure
and by their words and conduct SUI
it ceeded in gaining the entire contidenc
IS of the fugitive. Woodward related
st detail the full particulars Of his arres
and his escape, and boasted of the far
st that he had taken the life Of the sheriff
e. whom he charged with having gone o,
le of his way to harass and insult hin
it Woodward while he was d prisoner. /
il declared that the sheriff had prevente
,s him from securing bonds and in 9th
le ways had used his official position