The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-20
LYNCHED TWO.
A Montana Mob Refuses to Wait
for the Law.

Red Lodge, Mont. July 20.-A state of
lawlessness now prevails in North
western Wyoming, as a result OF
which all law and order seems to have
been abolished. From President Mof-
felt, OF the Montana and Wyoming tel
ephone company. who IS now making
a tour of inspection of his company
lines, comes the news of a bloody
lynching which took place at Basin.
Wyo.. and Of an appeal for help from
Sheriff Fenton of Big Horn county,
who has arrested a number of cat
tlemen near Thermopolis and has APP
pealed to the governor of Wyoming for
assistance of the militia in getting his
prisoners to BASIN.
The lynching resulted in the killing
of two condemned murderers and also
in the shooting of a deputy sheriff. c.
+. Pierce, who died instantly.
The murderers were Jim German.
who killed his brother about year
ago and ran off with his brothers wife.
and a man named Walters who killed
a widow named Hoover at Hot Springs
two years ago because she refused to
marry him
1t was reported to Sheriff Fenton
last Wednesday morning that a mob
was coming up to Basin from Hiatts>
Vile and Tonslip for the purpose of
lynching German and Walters AS o
measure of precaution the sheriff took
these two men and horse thief out
of the Jail and secreted them In a
ty Sheriff Felix Aston and c. E.
Pierce.
German managed to slip his hand
cuffs and make his escape. He swan
feat, and made for the mountains. A
posse of seven men quickly organized
and German was recaptured about fif~
ty miles FROM Basin.
A mob of about fifty unmasked men
rode up the east bank of the Big Horn
and compelled the ferryman to carry
them across tie river. They made no
demonstration until they entered Basin,
when five shots were fired as a warning
The mob proceeded at once to the coun-
ty Jail and fired volley into the Jail
Deputy Pierce and Special Deputy
Meade were guarding the. prisoners at
the time. Oae bullet grazed Meade's
shoulder and ent-red Pierce's heart, kill
ing him instantly. Members of the mob
then quickly procured telephone poles
and battered the Jail doors down. They
first came to Walters, who was crouch
ing in his cell. piteously begging for
mercy. No needless torture was resort
ed to. Walters was shot instantly.
The mob next found German, whose
body was pierced by five bullets and he
was left presumably dead. He fingered
however, until o'clock this morning,
when he died.
A still more alarming state of affairs
is reported from the vicinity of Their
mopolis. About six weeks ago, as a re-
suit of the range feud that has been so
bitterly waged. a sheepman, Ben Min
nick was killed by cattlemen.
The sheriff. it is claimed, has cap
tured the murderers, who are all prom
inent cattlemen and whose names have
been withheld owing to threats made
against him. Sheriff Fenton is unable
to get his prisoners to Basin. 1t is
claimed the same mob that lynched Col
man 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 permis-
sion 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
law. Everywhere hardy westerners are
responding to the call, arming them
selves and Fastening toward Thermop-
oils 1t is probable the militia will be
ordered to the scene and it may be
bloody battle will be fought. The
country about Thermopolis is wild
and lawless one. A message received at
Cody this morning from Sheriff Fenton
stated that he will hold the prisoners
and thai he believed he could hold out
until reinforcements came