Gilpin observer., 1903-07-23
TWOLYNCHEDB BY MOB
POPE LEO NOW LIES IN A STATE
OF COMA.
State of Lawlessness Exists In Big
Horn County and Militia is Ordered
Out-sheriff Fenton Has More
Trouble on His Hands.


out-sherif Fenton Has More
Trouble on His Hands.
Red Lodge. Mont. July 20.-Jin:
German. who killed his brother about
year age and ran off with MS broth
ers Wife and a man named Walters
who killed a widow named Hoover
at the Hot Springs two years ago be-
cause she'refused 10 marry him, were
lynched at Basin. Wyo c. E Pierce
a deputy sherir, was killed during
the attack on the Jail.
A state OF lawlessness now prevails
in northwestern Wyoming as result
of which ali law and order seems to
have been abolished. From Presiden.
Moffett OF the Montana and Wyoming
Telephone company. who is now max
ing tour OF inspection of his com.
pany's lines. comes the news of the
lynching and of an appeal for help
from Sheriff Fenton of Big Horn coun.
ty. who has arrested a number Of
prominent cattlemen near Thermopc-
lis and has appealed to the governor
of Wyoming for the assistance of the
militia in getting his men to the Ba-
sin. II was repoNed to the sheriff last
Wednesday that mob was coming up
TO Basin from Hyattsville and Tonslip
| for the purpose of lynching German
| and Walters AS @ measure Of pre-
| caution the sheriff took these two
men and horse thief out of the jail!
and secreted them in a gulley near
town under guard OF Deputy Sheriff
Felix Alston and C. E. Pierce. Cor
an managed to slip his handouts and
make his escape. He swan the Big
Horn river, an unprecedented feat.
and made for the mountains. A posse
OF seven men quickly organized and
German was recaptured Saturday
morning about fifty miles from Basin.
| That night a mob of about fifty un-
masked men rode up the bank of the
Big Horn and compelled the ferrymar
! TO carry them across the river. The
mob proceeded at once to the county
jail and fired volley into the jail
Deputy Pierce and Special Deputy
Meade were guarding the men at the
time. One bullet grazed Meade'a
shoulder and entered Pierce's heart
Members OF the mob quickly procured
two telephone poles and battered the
Jail doors down. They first came C
Walters. who was crouched in his
cell, piteously begging for mercy. Nc
needless torture was resorted to
Walters was shot instantly.
The mob next found German. whose
body was pierced by five bullets ant
| Los al He li-7O
however, until morning.
still more alarming state of at
fairs is reported from the vicinity o.
Thermopolis. About six weeks ago
as result of the range feud that hai
been SO bitterly waged, sheepman
Ben Minnick. was killed by cattle
men. The sheriff. 1t is asserted. cap
tured the murderers. who are all prom
inent cettlemen and whose names
have been withheld. owing to threat!
made against them. Sheriff Fenton Il
unable to get his prisoners to Basin
II is said that the same mob tha
lynched German and Walters are sym
pathizers and have declared tina
Sheriff Fenton will never get out o
the locality alive with his prisoners
Sheriff Fenton has wired the governo
for permission to use the state militii
at Lander. and has sent telephone
message to Basin and other place
asking for volunteers to assist him II
upholding the law. Everywhere hard.
westerners are responding to the call
arming themselves and hastenini
toward Thermopolis. 1t is probabl
that the militia will be ordered to tn
scene and a bloody battle may b.
fought. The country about Thermor
OILS is a wild and lawless one. TIL
last message from Sheriff Fentor
which was received this morning. sal
he still held the prisoners and that h
believed he could hold out until reir
forcements came.