The age-herald., 1902-03-29
CONDEMNED MAN
 HANGED BY MOB
Broke in Jail With SIedge Ham, mer and Secured Prisoner
WO00WAROWAS MURDERER
Shot to Death the Sheriff of Naeona County, Wyoming, and Then Mu- tllated Hls Body-stay of Exc
 eutlon Caused Lynchlng.

Casper, Wy, March 28-Charles Francis Woodward. the condemned murderer Of Sheriff William c. Kicker. was hanged early today by an infuriated mob of 200 men. Under cover of darkness an or ganisation was formed during the night. Crowds began to gather in the vicinity of the jail early in the evening.
 About o'clock the mob descended on the jail and the leaders demanded the keys of the sheriff. He refused to give them up and the crowd then secured q number of sledge hammers and beat down the Jail door. Once inside the jail rope was quickly thrown around Wood wards neck and he was roughly dragged from the building. He was taken to the scaffold which had been erected for his legal execution. Some one pushed him onto the trap but he gave leap before the trap could be sprung and fell from the gallows, hanging himself
 Woodward was sentenced to be hang ed at Casper today for the murder of Sheriff Kicker. but a stay of execution was granted by the Supreme Court last Tuesday, which would have given him three months more of life.
 A Horrible Crime.
 The crime for which Charles Francis Woodward paid the penalty with his life was committed the evening of Janu- ary last at Woodwards ranch near Garfield Peak, In the Rattlesnake Moun- tain. seventy-five miles west of Casper, when he shot to death and mutilated the body of Sheriff William c. Kicker of Ma coma County.
 Woodward, with his wife Bertha and brother Clarence were arrested last No- vember on the charge of stealing cloth ing and provisions at ranch. It was al- legged that Woodward's ranch was the headquarters of 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 ball.
 On the night of December 3l, 1901, they sawed the bars off their windows and cells and got out. At the stockyards east of town Charles Woodward secured a pis- tol which had been placed there by friend.
 Near Casper he ole a horse and rode to his ranch, reaching there on the even ing of January 2. 1902
 Stole the Sheriff's Horse.
 Instead of finding friends ready to assist him, he found Sheriff Kicker and two dep uties at the house, who were looking for him. He went to the barn intending to abandon his horse and steal one of the officers animals. It was ! o'clock in the evening and was quite dark. He mount cd 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 mortally wounded Wood ward then. 1t Is aid. went to the dying man and struck him in the face with his six shooter He took $45 out of the off, cer's pocket and rode off. He was capt ured by posse several weeks afterward near Billings, Montana, and brought back to Casper. He admitted the killing and was convicted and sentenced to hang today.
 Woodward MakAe cka%.n,ank