Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1903-07-24

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. or MuRDERERs AND ADEP.
I: t5... Va UTY SHERIFF. 4 =*'
General sLawIessness Prevails in the
Northern Part Of the State and an
Appeal for Military Aid Has Been
- Sent to the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Are
*Arminq and a Battle With Officers
+ Seems Probable. =
Butte, Mont, July 20.-A special
from Red Lodge, Mont, to the Miner
says: Jim German, who killed his
brother about year ago and ran off
with his brothers wife, and man
named Walters, who killed widow
named Hoover at the hot springs two
years, ago because she refused to mar
ry him, were lynched at Basin, Wyo.,
early Sunday. G. E. Pierce, deputy
sheriff, was killed during the attack
on the jail.
A state of lawlessness now prevails
in Northern Wyoming as result of
which all law and order seem to have
been abolished: From President Moi
fit of the Montana and Wyoming Tele-
phone company, who is now making
tour of inspection OF his company's
lines, comes the news of the lynchlng
and of an appeal for help from Sheriff
Fenton Of Big Horn, who has arrested
number of prominent cattlemen near
Thermopolis and has appealed to the
state authorities of Wyoming for as
sistance from militia in getting his
prisoners to Basin.
Sheriff Had Warning.
It was reported to Sheriff Fenton
last Wednesday morning that a mob
was coming up to Bason from Hats
vile and Tonslip, for the purpose of
lynching German and Walters. AS a
measure of precaution the sheriff took
these two men and horsethief out
of the jail and secreted them in a gull
ley near town under guard of Deputy
Sheriffs Felix Aston and c. E. Pierce
German managed to slip his hand
cuffs and make his escape. He swan
the Big Horn river, an unprecedented
feat, and made for the mountains. A
posse of seven men quietly organized
and German was recaptOred early Sat-
, urday morning about fifty miles from
Basin
: Saturday night mob of about so un-
masked men rode up the east bank OF
the 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
fired as warning. The mob pro-
ceeded at once to the county Jail and
Fired volley Into the Jail.
Deputy Pierce and Special Deputy
Meade were guarding the prisoners at
the time. One bullet grazed Meade's
shoulder and entered Pierce's heart.
Members of the mob then tore up the
telephone poles and battered the Jail
| doors down. They first came to Wal
tiers, who was crouched in his Gel!
| piteously begging for mercy. No
| needless torture was resorted to. Wal
| tiers was shot instantly.
The mob next found German, whose
| body was pierced by five bullets and
| was left presumably dead. He linger.
| ed, however, until Sunday forenoon.
A still more alarming state of affairs
| is reported from the vicinity of Their
| mopolis. : About six weeks ago, as a
! result of range feud that has been
| SO bitterly waged, sheepman, Ben
J Minnick, was killed by cattlemen. The
. sheriff, it is asserted, has captured
! the murderers, who are all prominent
cattlemen and whose names have been
| withheld owing to threats made against
| the sheriff.
Battle May Be Fought.
i Sheriff Fentop is unable to get his
| prisoners to Basin. It 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 permits
| sion to use the state militia at Lander
and also sent a telephone message to
Basin and other towns asking for vol.
unteers to assist him in UNFOLDING the
law. Everywhere, hardy Westerners
are responding to the call, arming
themselves and Fastening toward
Thermopolis. It is probable the mill
tia will be ordered to the scene and q
bloody battle may be fought. The
country about Thermopolis is wild
and lawless one. . The last message
from Sheriff Fenton, which was re-
ceived Sunday morning, said he still;
held the prisoners and that he believ
cd he could hold out until reinforce
| ments came.
NEGRO ESCAPES LYNCHING.