Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-03-29
DEEDS OF VIOLENCE.
Murderer Lynched By Mob
at Casper, Wyoming.
North Andover Girl Stabbed By
Man--In Critical State.
Brutal Murders at Gainesville, Ohio,
and Saxton, Ky.

Casper. Wyo., March 2S.-Charles
Francis Woodward, the condemned
murderer of Sheriff Kicker, was hanged,
To-Day, by a party Of "a masked men.
The mob descended on the Jail and the
leaders demanded the keys Of the sher-
if. He refused to give them up and
the crowd then secured sledges and
hammers and beat down the Jail door.
A rope was thrown around Woodward
neck and he was dragged from the
building.
He was taken to the scaffold which
had been erected for his legal execu-
ton. Someone pushed him onto the
trap, but he gave a leap before the trap
could be sprung and fell from the gal
lows, hanging himself.
After the lynching the mob dispersed
and greater part of those from out
of town left for their homes.
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. I pray that you
will have the papers print it.
IT pray for you, Charles Kicker, and
for all of you. / never had a grudge
against Sheriff Kicker. never in Gods
world. / never meant to shoot him.
For Gods sake, don't choke me to
death. Oh" and then Woodward
leaped off before the trap could be
sprung.
Sheriff Tubbs found pinned to the
scaffold this note: 1.-THE process of the
law is little slow. This is the road
you will all have to travel. Murderers
and thugs beware"
No one could be found, today. who
could identify any member of the mob.
The crime for which Charles F.
life was committed on the evening of
Jan. last, at Woodward's ranch near
Garfield Peak in the Rattlesnake noun
atins, rs miles west of Casper, when he
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 No
vember, on charge of stealing clothing
and provisions from a ranch 1t was
alleged that Woodward's ranch was the
headquarters of a band of cattle and
horse thieves
At the preliminary trial Bertha
Woodward was released from custody
The brothers were held to the district
court but were unable to furnish bonds
On the night of Dec. 80, 1901, they
sawed off the bars of their cells and
escaped. Near Casper Charles stole a
horse and rode to his ranch, reaching
there. JAN 2. 1902. Instead of finding
friends ready to assist him, he found
Sheriff Kicker and two deputies at the
house. He went to the barn, mounted
one of the sheriff's horses and was
about to ride away in the dark when
the sheriff appeared and ordered him
to surrender.
Woodward instantly $50 the sheriff
through the body and the officer fell to
the ground mortally wounded. Wood
ward then, it is said, went to the dying
man and struck him in the face with
his six-shooter. He took $45 out of the
officers pockets and rode off. He was
captured by q posse several weeks
afterward near Billings, Mont
He admitted the killing and was con-
victed and sentenced to hang, today.
Last Tuesday, the supreme court grant
ed stay of execution which would
have given Woodward at least three
months more to live. A