The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-07-21
BIG HORN COUNTY SCENE OF
DOUBLE LYNcHING.
MOB KILLS THREE men
Two Murderers RiddIed by Bullets
Deputy Sheriff Accidentally
Shot by Lynchers.

at Cne laws Qolay anu
fearing that two redhanded murderers
would ultimately escape their just
dues, the men OF Big Horn county,
Wyoming, wreaked terrible vengeance
last Sunday morning on Jim German
and J. P. Walters, both of whom
were prisoners IN the Basin Jail under
conviction for murder and awaiting
final decision OF their cases by the
supreme court. Unfortunately the
mob also took the life of an innocent
man, a deputy sheriff, who was guard
ing the two murderers.
Had Been Warned.
Last Wednesday evening Sheriff
Fenton of Big Horn county was warn
ed that a mob had been organized
at Sha!! End Painted Rock for th5
uI lose !ynching ,,c: .EcE a: :!
Walters To Illustrate the would-be
lynchers, the sheriff handcuffed the
two men together and took them from
the Jail to a canyon about two miles
from the town, where he thought he
would secrete them. When almost
near their destination German slipped
off the handcuff that was holding him
and ran into the brush. One of the
guards with the sheriff fired at him,
but failed to hit the a German
swan the Big Horn river and made
for the mountains.
A posse was organized and last Sat
urday German was recaptured on Trap
pei creek, about SO miles from Basin.
He had been without food and was
in a famished condition. Being with
weapons, he offered no resistance and
was taken back to Jail. Meanwhile
Sheriff Fenton had replaced Walters
and another man, a ~horsethief, who
aid been taken along, in jail, believing
that they would be safe there.
The Avengers Arrive.
Saturday night a mob of about 80
men arrived on the east bank of the
Big Horn river and forced the ferry
man to- take them across. All were
mounted and before crossing the river
they tied their horses nearby. They
made no demonstrations of any kind
and entered the town quietly. Once
within the town they fired five shots,
evidently as a warning to the people
to keep under cover and offer no resis-
lance.
Without delay the men proceeded to
the building which does duty as court
house and Jail and fired a volley into
the Jail department. Inside were
Deputies C. E. Pierce and George s.
Mead. One of the bullets struck
Pierce in the heart and he died in
stantly. Another grazed the shoulder
of Meade.
The next move OF the lynchers was
OF secure some telephone poles, OF
which a number were close by, and
with these they battered, down the
Jail door. Walters was the first OF
their victims seen by them. He was
crouched on mis- bed and made a pit
eous plea for his life. His pleadings
fell on deaf ears. Without a word
a volley was fired into mis- body. The
shots tore away the greater part OF
his face.
German was now found and five
bullets were fired into him. Believing
him to be dead, the avengers withdrew
and quickly recrossed the river and
rode off.
German Dies AfterWard.
Although the mob thought him
dead, German fingered until Sunday
morning and died at 8 o'clock. He
made no statement, but asked that
Maggie German, his accomplish, be
summoned, saying he desired to see
her before he died. His request could
not be granted, as the woman was
far away, she being out on bonds.
Were Not Masked. !.
None of the lynchers was masked
and. no attempt to conceal their iden,
tity was made by any of them. One
statement is that not a single man
of the gang was recognized, while
another has it that Meade recognized
the leader, but refuses to reveal his
identity, fearful that he will suffer
the consequences.
The crimes for which Walters and
German were SO summarily punished
were peculiarly revolving and colo
blooded.
Th~;n (.s->