Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1903-07-23
MOB LAW REIGNS
NORTH WYOMING SCENE OF LAvFv'
LESSNESS AND TERROR.

DulUe, hlOub., July IO,-A SpeClHl
to the Miner from ked Lodge, Mont,
says:
Jim German who killed his brother
about year ago and ran Off with
his brothers wife, and a man named
Walters, who killed a widow named
Hoover at the BOT Springs two years
ago because she refused to marry
him, were killed by mob at Basin,
Wyo., Sunday. {. Il. Pierce, deputy
sheriff was killed during the attack
on the Jail.
A state of lawlessness now prevails
in northw' stern Wyoming. From
President MoiIett of the Montana
and Wyoming Telephone company,
who is now making tour of In.
spcction Of bis company's lines,
comes the news of the lynchinP and
Of an appeal for help from Sheriff
Fenton of Big Horn county, who has
arrested number of prominent cat
tlemen near ThermopOlis and has APP
pealed to the governor Of Wyoming
for assistance Of the militia In get
ting his prisoners to the Basin.
1t was reported to Sheriff Fenton
llst Wednesday morning that a mob
was coming up to Basin from Hats
Vile and Tonslir, for the purpose OF
lynching German and Walters. AS
a measure of precaution the sheriff
took these two men and horse
thief out of the Jail and sccreted
them in gully near town under
guard of Deputy SherilTs Felix Ais
ton and @ Il. Pierce.
German managed to slip bis hand
cuffs and make his escape. He swan
the Big Horn river, an unprecedent-
ed feat, and started for the noun
tains. A posse of seven men was
quickly organized and German was
fecaptured early Saturday morning
abaut fifty miles from Basin.
Last night mob Of about fifty
men rode up the east bank OF ths
Big Horn and compelled the ferry
man to carry them across the river.
, They made no demonstration until
they entered Basin when five shots
were fred as a warming. The mob
proc eeded at once to the county Jail
and fired a volley into the Jail. Dep
uty Pierce and Special Deputy Meade
were guarding the prisoners at the
time One bullet grazed Meade's
shoulder and entered Pierce's heat.
Members of the mob then tore up
telephone poles and battered the jail
doors down. They first came to Wal.
tiers who was crouched in his eel
piteuuSly begging for mercy. Nc
needless torture was resorted to-
Walters was shot instantly.
The mob next found German
whose body was pierced by five bull
lets, and he was left presumabl.
dead. He fingered, however, unit
Sunday forenoon.
A still more alarm ing state o
affairs Is reported from the vicinity
Of Thernopolis. About six months
ago as result Of the range feud thai
has been so bitterly waged, sheer
man, Ben Minnie k, was killed by
cattlemen. The sheriff, it Is assert
ed, has captured the murderers, who
are all prominent cattlemen. ant
whose names have been withheld ow
ing to the threats made against him
Sheriff Fenton is unable to get hi!
prisoners to Basin.
1t is said the same mob that Lyme b.
ed German and Walters are sympa
thizers and have declared that Sher
if Fenton will never get out OF TIT
locality alive with his prisoners
| Sheriff Fenton has wired the govern
or Of Wyoming for permission Il
use the state militia at Lander. ant
has a,so sent telephonGd messages tt
Basin and other towns asking TO-
volunteers to assist him In uphold
ing the law Everywhere hardy ives
terriers are responding to the calls
arming themselves and Fastening to
ward IbermopOlis.