Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-07-22
TWO VICTIMS
OF MOB LAW
Two Wyoming Murderers Whose Pun.
ishment Was Delayed by the
Court Are Shot to Death.
LAwLEsNess AT THERMopoLI
Sheriff Finds II Necessary to Appeal
to the Governor for Aid--cat.
tIemen Arrested.

Butte, July 19.-Advices received
here tonight from Red Lodge, Mont.
tell Of the lynching of two murderers
under sentence OF death and the kill
ing of deputy sheriff at Basin, Wyo.,
just across the Wyoming line from
Red Lodge.
A mob, after desperate battle with
the officers. in which Deputy Sheriff
E. c. Pierce was instantly killed, bat
tered down the doors of the county
jail with telegraph poles and riddled
Jim Gordon and prisoner named
Walters with bullets. About thirty
masked men did the work. The mur-
derers crouched in their cells and
their piteous appeals for mercy were
cut short by hail of bullets in their
faces and bodies. Walters face was
nearly shot of. German fingered
few moments, and after making a re-
quest to see his girl, died. After kill.
ing German and Walters the mob
quietly mounted their horses and dis
appeared.
Sheriff Fenton first received word
of the approach of the mob last Wed
nesday, and as measure of protec-
ton took German and Walters AMI
a horse thief out of jail and secreted
them in a gully under the guard of
two deputy sheriffs. German man.
aged to slip his handouts and make
his escape. Yesterday he was recap
tured in the mountains in a famished
condition by a posse and returned to
jail. From Wednesday until yester-
day he had not eaten a mouthful of
food and was exceedingly weak. He
had no fire arms and offered no resist.
ance.
In the meantime Sheriff Fenton had
replaced Walters and the horse thief
in the Basin Jail. Last evening Cor
man was also placed in jail and 4
force of fifteen deputies was sworn
in.
Feeling had been running high
among the people for a long time.
Germans crime was considered a par
ticularly inhuman one. He shot his
brother, Tom, at the latter's ranch
on Shell creek, near Thermopolis, in
cold blood. and then, running off with
Toms wife, Maggie, who is also held
as an accessory in the crime, but is
out on bail. German has had two
trials, each resulting in sentence of
death by hanging. uBt his attorney
fought the case hard and took an ap-
peal to the supreme court. The ranch
ers believed justice would be defeat
ed.
Walters was a travelling man, who
fell in love with Mrs. Hoover. She
refused to marry him, and he shot her
about two years ago. Justice has been
delayed in this case also. he having
been sentenced to death.
A still more alarming state OF af-
fairs is reported from the vicinity of
Thermopolis. About six weeks ago,
as result of the range feud that has
been so bitterly waged. a sheepman.
Ben Minnick, was killed by cattle
men.
Sheriff Fenton. II is claimed, has
captured the murderers, who are all
prominent cattlemen and whose
names have been withheld. but on ac-
count of threats made against him,
Sheriff Fenton is unable to get his
prisoners to Basin. 1t is claimed that
the same mob that lynched German
and Walters and its sympathizers
have declared that Sheriff Fenton will
never get out of the locality alive with
his prisoners. Sheriff Fenton has wir.
ed the Governor of Wyoming for per-
mission to use the state militia 2t
Landers and has also sent telephone
message to Cody, Basin, Meeteetse
and other Wyoming towns, asking for
volunteers to assist him In upholding
the law. Everywhere hardy western.
ers are responding to the call. arming
themselves and Fastening toward Ther-
mopolis. II is probable that the mil
itia will be ordered to the scene and
that a bloody battle will be fought.
The country about Thermopolis Is a
wild and lawless one. A message re-
ceiyed at Cody today from Sheriff
Fenton stated that he still had the
prisoners in his possession and that
he believed he could hold out until
reinforcements arrived.
Divorce proceedings were instituted
in the district court by Harta Flint,
of Garneill, against her husband, Sam
uel ]. Flint, s. w. Pennock appearing
as attorney for the plaintiff. Mrs.
Flint complains that since their mar
rage, which occurred no longer than
May 8, 1902, her husband has treat
ed her most cruelty, beating her Sc
yerely upon several occasions and ac-
companying the physical chastisement
with the vilest of names. She prays
in her petition to the court to be
granted a divorce. the privilege OF TAX
ing her maiden name, Harta Hassett.
the possession of certain specified cat
tie. horses and hogs and the house.
hold furniture to the value of $3.50.
Alexander Filds, of San Francisco,
an American representative of two
large English insurance companies, is
in the city this week visiting Wright
Bros, who are the local agents for
his companies.
j. G. Huntoon, F. c. Fowler and
r. A. Parmenter came over Sunday
to see the Utica ball tossers defea.
Lewistown.
Charley Denyes returned yesterday
morning from a short trip to Nilsson
la, where he went in the interest Of
his health, he having been troubled
somewhat OF late with an affection
OF the left vital organ.
On Monday the Montana railroad