Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-07-20
MORE MOB VIOLENCE.
The State of Lawlessness Pre-
yailing In Northern Wyo-
ming Is Most Alarming
LIVES ARE SACRIFICED
Two Were Prisoners and the Other
Deputy Sheriff, Who Sought to Pro-
tect Them in the Name of the Law
From the Mob Which Sought Their
Lives-Westerners Aiming.

NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Red Lodge. Mont, July 2o.-Three
lives were sacrificed to mob violence
at Basin, Wyo., early yesterday. Iwo
prisoners. being held for murder, and a
deputy sheriff, were shot to death.
A state of lawlessness prevails in
northern Wyoming, and all semblance
of order seems to have been abolished
as the result of a range feud. A sheep
herder has been killed and call has
been made for militia. Many OF the
settlers are srming and desperate
outbreak is feared.
Jim German. who killed his brother
about a year ago and ran off with his
brothers wife, and a man named Walt
ers. who killed a widow named Hoover.
at the Hot Springs two years ago. be-
cause she refused to marry him, We're
the victims at Basin. G. r. Pierce,
a deputy sheriff, was killed during the
attack on the jail.
From President Moffett, of the Mon
tana and Wyoming Telephone company,
who is now making tour of inspec-
ton, comes the news of the lynching
and of an appeal for help from Sheriff
Fenton, of Big Horn county, who has
arrested a number Of prominent cattle
men near Thermopolis, and has APP
pealed to the Governor of Wyoming for
the assistance of the militia in getting
his prisoners to Basin.
1t was reported to Sheriff Fenton last
Wednesday morning that a mob was
coming up to Basin for the purpose of
lynching German and Walters. AS a
measure of precauton the sheriff took
these men and a horse thief ont of the
Jail and secreted them in a gulley near
town under guard of Deputy Sheriffs
Felix Aston and C. r. Pierce.
German managed to slip his hand
cuffs and make his escape. He swan
the Big Horn river, an unpreced snted
feat and made for the mountains. A
posse of seven men quickly organized
and German was recaptured early yes
terday morning about fifty miles from
Basin.
Early Sunday morning a mob of
about fifty unmasked men rode up the
east bank of the Big Horn and COM
PEELED the ferryman to carry them
across the river. They made no DEM
onstration until they entered Basin,
when five shots We're fired as a warm
ing.
Mob Bent on Death.
The mob proceeded at once to the
county Jail and fired a volley into the
Jail. Deputy Pierce and Special Depu-
ty Meade were guarding the prisoners
at the time.
One bullet grazed Meade's shoulder
and entered Pierces heart Members
of the mob then tore up the telephone
poles and battered down the Jail doors.
They first came to Walters, who was
crouched in his cell piteously begging
for mercy. No needless torture was
resorted to. Walters was shot instant
ly.
The mob next found German whose
body was pierced by five bullets and
was left presumably dead. He fingered,
however. until Sunday forenoon.
A still more alarming state OF affairs
is reported from the vicinity of Their
About six weeks ago. as a re-
suit OF the range feud that has been
so bitterly waged, sheep man, Ben
was killed by cattlemen. The
sheriff, it is asserted, has captured the
murderers, who are all prominent cat
tlemen, and whose names have been
withheld owing to threats made against
him.
Sheriff Fenton is unable to get his
prisoners to Basin 1t is said the same
mob that lynched German and Walters
are sympathizers, and have declared
that Sheriff Fenton will never get out
Of the locality alive with his prisoners.
Sheriff Fenton has wired the COVER
nor of Wyoming for permission to use
the state militia at Lander, and also
has sent telephone message to Basin
and other towns, asking for volunteers
to assist him in upholding the law
Everywhere hardy westerners are re-
spending to the call, arming themselves
and fastening toward Thermopols. 1t
IS probable the militia will be ordered
to the scene, and bloody battle may
be fought. The country about Their
mopolis is a wild and lawless one.
The last message from Sheriff Fen |
.on which was received Sunday said |
lie still held the prisoners, and that he
oelieyed he could hold out until re-
came.