The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1903-07-24
MOB KILLS Three IN JAIL
NORTHWESTERN WYOMING u
SCENE OF LAWLEssNEss.


Cattle and Sheep Men Are in
Range Feud Near ThermopoIis.
Red Lodge, Mont, July 2O.-A state
of lawlessness that beggars descrip-
ton now prevails in northwestern
Wyoming, as result Of which all law
and order seems to have been abol-
ished.
From President L. L. Moffett OF the
Montana & Wyoming Telephone COM
pany, who is now making tour OF In
spection of his company's lines, comes
the news of bloody lynching OF two
men which occurred at Basin, Wyo.,
lust across the Wyoming line. News
also comes of an appeal for help from
Sheriff Fenton of Big Horn county,
who has arrested number OF proml-
nent cattlemen near Thermopolis and
has appealed to the governor OF the
state for assistance Of the militia IN
getting his prisoners to the Basin jail.
The lynching resulted in the killing
of two condemned murderers and also
in the shooting of deputy sheriff,
C. E. Price, who died instantly. The
murderers were Jim German, who
killed his brothers wife, and prison
er named Walters, travelling man,
who killed a widow named Hoover at
Thermopolis hot springs two years
ago because she refused to marry
him.
Sheriff Did His Duty.
It was reported to Sheriff Fenton
last Wednesday morning that mob
was coming up to Basin, along the Big
Horn river from Hyattsville and Ten
sleep, for the purpose Of lynching Cor
man and Walters. AS a measure OF
precaution the sheriff took the two
men and a horse thief out of the jail
and secreted them in a gully near
town under guard Of Deputy Sherifs
Felix Aston and G. e. Price. German.
who has exceptionally small hands,
managed to slip his handouts and
make his escape. Deputy Price fired
one shot at the fugitive as he disap-
peared in the brush, but the bullet
went wild. German swan the Big
Horn river and made for the noun
tains. A posse of seven men quickly
organized and German was recaptured
early yesterday on Trapper creek,
about SO miles from Basin.
Mob's Work..
Last evening a mob of about 80 men,
unmasked and in perfect order. rode
I'D the east bank of the Big Horn, dis
mounted, tethered their horses and
compelled the ferryman to carry them
across the river. They made no dem
onstration until they entered Basin,
when five shots were fred as a warn
ing. The mob proceeded at once to
the building which is courthouse
and Jail combined, and fired volley
into the jail. Deputy Price and Spe-
cial Deputy George s. Meade were
guarding the prisoners at the time.
One bullet grazed Meade's shoulder
and entered Prices heart, killing him
instantly. Members of the mob then
quickly procured telephone poles and
battered the Jail doors down.
was crouched on his cot piteously
begging for mercy. No needless tor
ture was rssorted 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
o'clock in the morning, when he died
A still more alarming state Of affairs
is reported from the vicinity of Their
mopolis. About six weeks ago, as 9
result of the range feud that has beer
SO bitterly waged, a sheepman, Bel
Minnick, was killed by cattlemen
Sheriff Fenton, it is claimed. had cap
tured the murderers, who are al
prominent cattlemen and whose
names have been withheld on accoun
of threats made against him. Sheriff
Fenton is unable to get his prisoner,
to Basin. 1t is claimed the same mol
that lynched German and Walters arr
sympathizers and have declared tina
Sheriff Fenton will never get out o
the locality alive with his prisoners
Sheriff Fenton has wired the COVER
nor of Wyoming for permission to U.s.
the state militia at Landers and ais
sent telephone message to Cody, Ba
sin, Meeteetse and other Wyomin
towns asking for volunteers to assis
him in UNFOLDING the law. Every
where hardy westerners are respond
ing to the call, arming themselves an
Fastening toward Thermopolis.
1t is probable that the militia wi
be ordered to the scene and that
bloody battle will be fought. The coul
try about Thermopolis is wilc an
lawless one. A message received 9