Fergus County argus., 1902-01-29
Murderer of Sheriff Rickerts OF Gas
per, Wyoming, Caught by Farm
ers Near Billings.
HE MADE A DESPERATE FIGHT
Companions in Crime Were Captured
Some Time Ago and Narrowly
Escaped Lynching.

Billings. Mont, Jan. 27.-After a
desperate struggle, Charles Wood
ward. wanted at Casper, Wyo- for
the murder of Sheriff Rickerts, about
January 5th, was captured at o'clock
this after noon at the ranch of Will
son Owens, three miles south of Lau-
rel. The capture was made by Ow-
ems and his hired man, John Berk-
heimer.
Woodward came to Owens ranch
about a week ago. He Informed Mr..
Owens that he had been mixed up in
a little trouble in Wyoming, but that
II didn't amount to much and asked
Owens to say nothing about it.
Was Always Prepared.
At the time Woodward came to the
ranch he was wearing two big six
shooters, which he never laid aside
for an instant until this afternoon.
This fact aroused the ranchman's sus-
picions, and few days ago he got
hold of a paper giving an account of
the murder at Casper, and descrip-
ton of the murderer. The descrip-
ton tailed exactly with that of the
man working for him. He told Berk'
heimer of his suspicious.
Identity Established.
Then there came into Owens hands
a poster in which a reward of $1,000
was offered for the capture of Wood
ward, and he watched the man closer
than ever. So sure was he that he
was on the right scent that he sent
to Billings last Saturday for hand
cuffs, which were sent him at once.
All day Sunday Owens and Berk-
heimer watched for favorable op'
portunity to take the man when of
his guard. Ovens told Woodward
that he himself had been in consider
able trouble with the officers in his
time, thus he gradually gained Wood
wards confidence until the latter fin
ally took off his guns and laid them
on the table.
Fought Them Both.
In an instant the two ranchmen
sprang between Woodward and the
table and the struggle ensued. Wood.
ward fought like demon, but was
finally subdued with threats of shoot
ing. He swore he would not be TAX
en- alive, and his face shows that his
captors were compelled to use much
force. Owens had the bridge of his
nose broken in the struggle.
After he had been safely handcuff.
ed Woodward begged to be allowed
chance to escape. saying that If the
men would only give him start OF
three feet he would run for It, and
they might shoot all they wished, as
he would rather die than be taken
back to Casper.
He confessed to the killing of Sher
III Rickerts and said that he knew
that 1t meant death to go back there
He evidently fears lynching.
Woodward was brought to Billings
by his captors at o'clock this after
noon. He was lodged in the county
Jail and the authorities at Casper
were notified by telegraph.
Story of the Killing.
Woodward and two other men. on'
his brother, escaped from Jail at Cas-
per January End. Woodward went t
his ranch several miles from town
and was followed by Sheriff Rickerts
The sheriff rode up to the stable AM
seeing Woodward behind the horse
called out. ''Is that you, Clarence?
meaning the brother. The reply wa
a shot from Woodward's siX-shoote
which knocked the sheriff from hi
horse, mortally wounded. Wood
ward who is giant in stature, the
dragged the sheriff into the barn an
beat him over the head until he wa
dead.
Clarence Woodward. his brother
an. the other prisoners who escape
with him. were re-taken January It'll
and narrowly escaped lynching at tn
Lands of the people of Casper.
Woodward still had the weapo
with which he killed Sheriff Rickerti
A Great Record.
Il is unusual for any railroad