The Penn's Grove record., 1903-07-24
lANLESSNESS IN WYOMING
Jail Stormed, Two Murderers Lynched,
and an Officer Killed.
SHERIFF CALLED FOR MILITIA
Volunteers Rushed to Aid Him Against Cat.
tlemen. Who Threatened to Rescue His
Prisoners-At Basin the Mob Shot Two
Men Under Death sentence-Telephone
Poles Used as Gathering Rams.

Poles Used as Battering Rams.
Red Lodge, Mont.-Jim German. who
killed his brother about a year ago and
ran off with his brothers wife, and a
man named Walter, who killed a
widow named Hoover at the Hot
Springs two years ago because she re-
fused to marry him, were lynched at
Basin, Wyoming. c. E. Pierce. a Dep
uty Sheriff, was killed during the at
tack OF the Jail.
A state of lawlessness prevails in
Northern Wyoming, as a result of
which all law and order seem to nave
been abolished. From President Mof-
felt. of tn Montana and Wyoming Tele-
phone Company, who is making a.tour
of inspection Of his company's lines,
comes the news of the lynching and an
appeal for help from Sheriff Fenton, of
Big Horn County, who has arrested q
number of prominent cattlemen near
Thermopolis and has appealed to the
Governor Of Wyoming for the assist
ance Of the militia in getting his pris-
Oners to Basin.
It was reported to Sheriff Fenton
Wednesday morning that a mob was
coming up to Basin from Hiattsville
and Tonslip to lynch German and Wal
tiers, and the Sheriff took these two
men and a horse thief from jail and
secreted them in a gulley near town
under guard of Deputy Sheriffs Aston
and 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 was quickly organized and Cor
man was r%ecaptured about fifty miles
from Basin.
AT night. q mob of about fly I'M
masked men rode up the east bank Of
the Big Horn and compelled the ferry
man to carry them across the river.
They made nc demonstration until they
entered Basin, when five shots were
fired as a warning. The mob proceeded
at once to the county jail and fred a
vOlley into it. Deputy Pierce and Spe-
cial Deputy Meade were guarding the
prisoners at the time. One bullet
9AoACu NACnuC SuOulucI duu culefeu
Pierce's heart.
Members Of the mob then tore up
the telephone poles and battered the
Jail doors down. They first came to
Walters, who was crouched in his cell,
begging piteously for mercy. No need.
less torture was resorted to. Walters
was shot instantly.
The mob next found German. whose
body was pierced by five bullets, and
left believing he wa dead. He fingered,
however, until forenoon.
A still more alarming stata.oGaf
fairs Is reported from the vicinity OF
ThermOpolis. About six weeks ago. as
the result of the range feud that has
been so bitterly waged, a sheepman,
Ben Minnick, was killed by cattlemen.
Sheriff Fenton, 1t is asserted. has cap
tured the murderers, who are all prom.
inent cattlemen, and whose names have
been withheld. owing to threats made
against the Sheriff.
Fenton is unable to get his prisoners
to Basin. It is said the same mob thai
lynched German and Walters are syn
pathizers, and have declared that
Sheriff Fenton will never get out of the
locality alive with his prisoners. Fen.
ton has wired the Governor for per.
mission to use the State militia at Ian.
der, and has also sent a telephone mes
sage to Basin and other towns asking
for volunteers to assist him in up.
holding the law.
Everywhere hardy Westerners were
responding to the call. arming them
selves and fastening toward Thermop
oils. The country about Thermopolis Ii
a wild and lawless one. The last mes
sage from Sheriff Fenton said he still
held the prisoners, and that he believed
he could hold out until re~inforcements
came.