The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1902-04-04
MOB EXECUTES wOODARD.
DIED ON scAFFoLD WHICH HAD efE'
ERECTED FOR HIS LEGAL EXECUTION.
The Murderer Of sherin Iicker is Taken
From Jaii At Casper, wyoming by
Mob and Hang, Iie neinE
str-ngicd 10 Death.

day morning, by twenty-four masked
men. 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-
preme court granted a stay Of eNeeu-
ton. which would have given the con-
demned man at least three more months
Of life.
The stay Of execution seems to have
been received with bad grace by
number Of Caspers citizens, and the
lynching resulted.
Woodland was awakened from sound
sleep by the mob's entrance to the jail
lie was not'given time 10 dress him
self but was taken out In two inches
Of snow with nothing on his person
but n n ort shirt lie made no cutlery
or resistance when he saw the masked
men, who had handkerchiefs tied over
their faces, but went quietly with
them.
lie was taken to the gallows, when
he said: Boys, let me kneel down
aud pray for you'll 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
that you have the papers print H. God
forgive me for my sins. pray for my
self aud l pray for you, and pray for
Charley Kicker. never had any
grudge against him In Gods world"
After declaring that he never meant
TO kin Sheriff Kicker, and pleading
that he be- not choked, the naked and
trembling man, with the rope tightly
drawn about his neck, was
showed of the trap, but he gave n
spring off from II before the lever
could be pulled.
The body commenced to go through
terrible contortions, and couple OF
masked men caught hold OF his feet
aud gave them several hard jerks. The
man was simply choked to death.
A card was pinned to Woodlands
shirt which reads; Process OF the
law Is little slow; 80 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 Woodard's rauoh, near Garfield
peak. In the Rattlcsnake mountains,
i seventy-0vs miles west OF Casper, when
he cruelty shot 10 death and nutilated
the body OF sheriff William G. Kicker
OF Natroua county.
Woodland, with his wife, Bertha, and
brother. Clarence, was arrested last
| November on the charge of stealing
clothing and provisions from ranch.
IL was alleged that " oodard's ranch
was the headquarters OF "a band Of cat
tie and horse thieves, AZ the prolimi.
nary trial Bertha Woodland WIS re
leased from custody. The brother
were held 10 the district court, bu'
were unable TO furnish bonds, On the
night OF December 10, 1901, they sawed
of the bars OF their cells aud "a win
dow and got away.
Al the stockyards east OF town
Charles Woodland secured pistol,
which had been placed there by a
friend. Near Casper lac stole horse
aud rode 10 his ranch, reaching the
place on the evening Of January ., 1909.
Instead Of finding friends ready TO AS.
sist him, he found sheriff Kicker and
two deputies at the house, who were
there looking for him.
lilo went TO the barn, intending 10
abandon his horse and steal one OF the
officers animals. IL was about 2 o'clocl,
/ L. Al. Ina al uHlF Ia
mounted one OF the sheritf's horses
aud was ready to ride away, when the
sheriff came out OF the house and APP
preaching the barn ordered him Ia
surrender.
Woodland instantly shot the sheriff
through the body and the officer fell
TO the ground mortally wounded. Wood
ard then, II Is said. went 10 the dying
man aud struck him In the face will
his six-shooter, lilo emptied the sher
IFS pockets, securing si5, and also
took of from the body belt full OF
cartridges and scHbbard. WoodarS
then dragged the body several feet TO
ward the barn and left ". lie wen
into the barn, turned two Of the horsel
out, saddled the remaining one RnS
, rode on
lie was captured several weeks 81
terward near billings, Mont, ant
brought back to Casper lie admitte,
the killing aud was convicted and sen
fenced to hang Friday last.
Acting Governor Chatterton has sen
to A. @. Bucler, prosecuting attorue!
OF Natrona county. the following tele
= gram: "In the brutal lynching o
Woodland the fair name Of Wyoming
has been dragged In the mire, th
order OF onr supreme court dlsregarded
, the law grossly violated. The report
p indicate that no precautionary step
4 were taken by the officers OF the law b
, prevent lts violation. In the name q
, the law, which has been violated, an
Ms the acting executive Of the state,
. call upon you, the county prosecutor
z TO institute and make n thorough Ia
! vestigation Of this crime with vie,
to the punishment OF the guilty paI
ties"
wyoming Man slated 10 succeed secretar