New-York tribune., 1903-07-20
WYOMING LAWLESSNESS.
MOB LYNCHES TWO MEN.
Il Deputy Sheriff Killed at Basin
Sheriff Wants Militia.

Butte. Mont. July ia dispatch to The
Miner" from Red Lodge, Mont says that "Jim"
German. who killed his brother about year
ago and off with his brothers. wife and
man named Walters who killed a widow named
Hoover at the Hot Springs two years ago be-
cause she refused to marry him. were lynched
at Basin, Wyo., to-day. c. E. Pierce, deputy
Sheriff. was killed during the attack on the jail.
state of lawlessness now prevails in North
ern Wyoming as result of which all law and
order seems to have been abolished From
President Moffett of the Montana and Wyoming
Telephone Company. who is making tour
of inspection of his companys lines, comes the
news of the lynching and of an appeal for help
from Sheriff Fenton of Big Horn County, who
has arrested number of prominent cattlemen
near Thermopolis and has appealed to the Gov
ernor of Wyoming for the assistance of the
militia in getting his prisoners to the Basin.
1t was reported to Sheriff Fenton last
Wednesday morning that a mob coming
up to Basin from Hiattsville and Tonslip to
lynch German and Walters and the Sheriff
took these two men and horse thief from jail
and secreted them in gully near town under
guard. of Deputy Sheriffs Aston and Pierce.
German managed to slip his handouts and
make his escape. He swan the Big Horn
River Can unprecedented feat), and made for the
mountains. A posse quickly organized.
ana GOrnan was recdptured early yesterday
morning about fifty miles from Basin.
Last night mob of about fifty unmasked men
rode up the east bank of the Big Horn and
compelled the ferryman to carry them across
the river. They made no demonstration until
they entered Basin, when five shots were fired
as a warning. The mob proceeded at once to
the county jail and fired volley into the jail.
Deputy Sheriff Pierce and Special Deputy
Sheriff Meade were guarding the prisoners at
the time. One bullet grazed Meade's shoulder
and entered Pierces heart. Members of the
mob then tore up the telephone poles and bat
tered the jail doors down They first came to
Walters, who was crouched in his CELL beg
gng piteously for mercy. No needless torture
was resorted to. Walters was shot instantly.
The mob next found German, whose body was
pierced by five bullets and was left presumably
dead. He fingered however until this forenoon.
A still more alarming state of affairs IS re-
ported from the vicinity of Thermopolis About
six weeks ago, as a result of the range feud
that has been so bitterly waged, sheepman,
Ben Minnick, killed by cattlemen. The
Sheriff, it is asserted, has captured the murder
ers who are all prominent cattlemen, and whose
names have been withheld owing to threats
made against the Sheriff. Sheriff Fenton is un-
able 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 tele-
graphed to the Governor of Wyoming for per
mission to use the State militia at Lander, and
has also sent telephone message to Basin and
other towns asking for volunteers to assist him
in upholding the law. Everywhere hardy West
erners are responding to the CALL arming them
selves and Fastening to Thermopois. 1t is prob
able the militia will be ordered to the scene. and
a bloody battle may be fought. The country
about Thermopolis is a wild and lawless one
The last message from Sheriff Fenton, which
was received this morning said he still held the
prisoners and that he believed he could hold out
until reinforcementS