The Lamar register., 1902-02-26
CONFESSED THE DEED
OUTLAW SAYS HE SHOT KICKER
Woodward Breaks Down on the wit
ness Stand.-Says Shooting
Was Accidental.

Casper, Wyo., Feb. 22.-tSpeciai to
the Denver Republican, - Charles
Woodward last evening went on the
stand ana in n trembling voice confess
ed to the murder of Sheriff Kicker.
After breaking jail, Woodward said
he went to the stock yards below town,
where he found revolver. but he
would not tell who put it there. I'his
is the gun he used to shoot the sheriff.
The second night out of Casper he re-
mained mt n ranch six miles below
town. The next day he spent in coal
bank near the ranch. In the evening
he secured II horse and rode to his
ranch at Garfield peak. Arriving there
about dusk and going to the barn, he
found the horses of the sherir'S posse
and knew that the officers Were look
ing for him. He united one of the
horses. mounted 1t and was ready to
ride out of the barn when Sheriff Rick
or came from the house and said, "Har-
ay, is that you|
mo, it is not Harry said Wood
ward.
Kicker said then, "Oh, oh, is that
you, Charlie:"
~ pulled my own gun them" Wood
ward testified, "swung 1t around and
said, 'Go back and it went of. | did
not intend to shoot or kill Sheriff Rick
cr. | thought might scare him and he
would return to the house and give me
n chance to get away. When | fired
the shot, he said in n loud voice, ON.
right out loud, that way. | jumped OH
INV horse and went back into the barn
and did not hear anything for ten min
utes, and then Kicker came to and call
ed ont. oh, boys. come and get me
He called this way two or three times.
Someone stood near the house. for |
could hear them talking. | thought
they were coming to the barn ana |
held my gun and shot it Off in the air.
/ hoped TO warn them | was at the
barn, so they would not come and get
me. The men ut the house then fired
several shots.
n went into the barn and laid down
by the mamgers, the fellows at the
house shooting all the time, One OF
them called out: you had better sur
render. for we have you surrounded
FINALLY the sheriff called ont. and
these were the last words he spoke"
Here Woodward broke down and
wept like n child. When he had regain
his composurc he said:
"'rhc sheriff said: Wont you come
and carry me to the house? oh. my
poor wife and babies He said this
two or three times. | did not object to
the men mt the house coming ana get
ting Kicker and had notion To just
give mp everything. II sounded 50 pitt
ful for the sheriff. who was calling for
his wife and babies. hut | thought
they would come and kill me. so | sad
died the horse, tied long rope to iiS
bridle turned 1t out of til" barn and
then held on to the rope, and after n
while crawled ont Of n small window
aud escaped on the horse. knew The
sheriff was dead when | went away.
but did not steal his money. His gun
was lying on the ground and | picked
1t up and then unbucklcd his belt and
scabbard and put 1t on myself"
Woodward then described his trip
across country 10 the Malaffy sheep
camp. where he took breakfast lie
told Mahany he had broken jail. bur
said nothing about the murder lie
rode the same horse TO Arvada where
he took the train for Billings. He then
went to Laurel, where he met Wilson
Owens and John Hcrkhcimor He ask
ed Owens for work as he wanted To
find som" place where he could rest
for n while. Owens took him to his
ranch. where he remained for week
or more.
Woodward here told how tho men
had captured him. saying that they
beat him over the head with revolver
until he was almost unconscious. He
tried to crawl under the bed so they
would not beat him to death and sever
nj times he cried out, Hold mp. God
Almighty. men. don't Kill me-" but
they kept on hitting him until he was
handcufcd.
The cqnfcssion causcd intense cxcit"-
mcnt. bit the people arc calm and
there is no danger Of n lynching.
Woodward will he disposed of immr-
diately. The jury will return its YER
diet early tomorrow. Woodward Will
be sentenced at once and the execution
will be had without delay.