The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-07-21
WYOMING MOB SHOOTS DOWN
TWO MURDERERs AND A DEP.
uTY SHERIFF.
LAwLEssNEss is SUPREME
ALARMING STATE OF AFFAIRS RE.
PORTED FROM VICINITY OF
THERMoPoLls.

Butte, Mont. July .O.-A special
from Red Lodge. Mont, to the Miner
says: Jim German, who killed his
brother about a year ago and ran of
with his brothers wife, and a man
named Walters, who killed a widow
named Hoover at the hot springs two
years ago because she refused to mar
nv him, were lynched at Basin, Wyo.,
early Sunday. c. E. PIERCE, a deputy
sheriff, was killed during the attack
on the Jail.
A state of lawlessness now prevails
in Northern Wyoming as a 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 raaking a
tour Of inspection of his company's
lines. comes the ncws of the lynching
and Of an appeal for help from Sheriff
Fenton Of Big Horn, who has arrested
a 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 Warming.
1t 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 q horsethief out
of the Jail and secreted them in a gull
ley near town under guard of Deputy
Sheriffs Felix Aston and G. E. Pierce.
German managed to slip his hand
cuffs and make his escape. He swan
the Big Horn river. ar unprecedented
feat. and made for the mountains. A
posse of seven men quietly organized
and German was recaptured early Sat-
urday morning about fifty miles from
Basin.
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 we're
fired as a warning. The mob pro.
ceeded at once to the county Jail and
Fired a voIley 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 cell
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 a range feud that has been
so bitterly waged, a sheepman. Ben
Minnick. was killed by cattlemen. The
sheriff. 1t 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.
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 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 upholding 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 otthe scene and a
bloody battle may be fought. The
country about Thermopolis is a wild
and law!ess one. The last message
from Sheriff Fenton. which was re.
ceived Sunday morning, said he still
held the prisoners and that he believ.
ed he could hold out until reinforce
ments came.