The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-20
And a Special Deputy Sheriff Killed
While Attempting to Defend
His Prisoners.
GRAVE STATE OF AFFAIRS
REIGN OF LAWLESSNESS IN NORTH
WESTERN WYOMING.
Lives of Prominent Cattlemen in Dan.
ger-Call Made for Militia
Fight Probable.

RED LODGE, Mont, July 19.-Jim Cor
man, who killed his brother about a year
ago and ran off with his brothers. wife, and
a man named Walters. who killed widow
named Hoover at the Hot Springs two
years ago because she refused to marry
him, were lynched at Basin. wyo, early to-
day. c. E. Pierce. deputy sheriff. was
killed during the attack on the Jail.
A state of lawlessness now prevails in
northwestern Wyoming. as a result Of
which all law and order seems to have
been abolished. From President Moffett.
of the Montana and Wyoming Telephone
Company, who is now making a tour of in
spection of his company's lines, comes the
help from Sheriff Fenton, of Big Horn
county, who has arrested a number of
prominent cattlemen near Thermopolis and
has appealed to the Governor of Wyoming
for assistance of the militia in getting his
prisoners to Basin.
1t was reported to Sheriff Fenton last
Wednesday morning that mob was COM
slip for the purpose of lynching German
and Walters. AS a measure of precaution
the sheriff took these two men and a horse
thief out of the jail and secreted them in a
gully near town under guard of Deputies
Felix Aston and c. Z. Pierce. German
managed to slip his handouts and make his
escape. He swan the Big Horn river. an
unprecedented feat. and made for the noun
tains A posse of seven men quickly or
ganized, and German was recaptured early
yesterday morning about fifty miles from
Basin.
Last night mob of about fifty unmasked
men rode up the east bank of the Big Horn
and compelled the ferryman to carry them
across the river. They made no demon
stration until they entered Basin. when
five shots were fired as warning. The mob
proceeded at once to the county Jail and
fired a volley into the Jail. Deputy Pierce
and Special Deputy Meade were guarding
the prisoners at the time. One bullet grazed
Meades shoulder and entered Pierce's
heart. Members of the mob then quickly
procured two telephone poles and battered
-
Walters. who was crouched in his cell pite-
ously begging for mercy. No needless tor
ture was resorted TO. Walters was shot in
stantly.
The mob next found German, whose body
was pierced by five bullets and was left
presumably dead. He fingered. however.
until this foreroon.
A still more alarming state of affairs is
reported from the vicinity of Thermopolis.
About six weeks ago. as a result of the
range feud that has been so bitterly waged.
a sheepman, Ben Minnick. was killed by
cattlemen The sheriff, il is asserted. has
captured the murderers. who are all prom
inent cattlemen, 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
Governor of Wyoming for permission to use
the state militia at Lander and also has
sent q telephone message to Basip and