The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-07-22
LYNGHING IN WYOMING.
TIVE Murderers Killed by a Mob
at Basin, Wyoming.

Butte, Mont, July ia speial to
the Miner, from Red Lodge, Mont,
says:
jim German, who killed his brother
about year ago and ran off with his
brothers. wife, and man named
Walters, who killed a widow named
Hoover, at the Hot Springs, two years
ago, because she refused to marry
him, were lynched at Basin, Wyom-
ing, today. G. 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 seems to
have been abolished. From President
Mofett, of the Montana and Wyoming
Telephone Company, who is now max
ing tour of inspection of his COM
pany's 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 Governor OF
Wyoming for the assistance Of the
militia in getting his prisoners to Ba-
sin.
It was reported to Sheriff Fenton
last Wednesday morning that mob
was coming up to Basin from HATS
vile and Tonslip, to lynch German
and Walters, and the sheriff took
these two men and horse thief from
Jail and secreted them in gulley
near town under guard of Deputy
Sherifs Aston and Pierce.
German managed to slip his hand
cuffs, and make his esaIe He swan
the Big Horn River ian unprecedent-
ed feat) and made for the mountains.
A posse was quickly organized and
German was recaptured 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
shot were fred as a warning. The
mob proceeded at once to the county
jail and fred volley into the jail.
| Deputy Pierce and Special Deput6
Meader were guarding the prionsers
at the time. One bullet grazed Mead
er'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 Walters, who was crouched IN ms
| cell begging piteously for mercy. No
| needless torture was resorted to. Wal
ter 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 this forenoon.
/ A still more alarming state Of affairs
reported from the vicinity OF
Thermopolis. About six weeks ago, as
a result Of the range feud that has
been SO bitterly waged, sheep man,
named Minnhick, was killed by cattle
men. The sheriff, it is asserted, has
captured the murderers, who are al
prominent cattle men and whose names
have been withheld owing to threats
made against the sheriff.
| Sheriff Fenton is unable to get his
prisoners to Basin. It is said the
same mob that lynched German ano
Walters are sympathizers and have de,
clared that Sheriff Fenton will never
get out of the locality alive with his
prisoners. Sheriff Fenton has wlreo
the Governor of Wyoming for per.
mission to use the State militia a,
Lander, and has also sent telephone
message to Basin and other towns
asking for volunteers to assist him il
upholding the law. Everywhere
hardy Westerners are responding te
the call, arming themselves and hasten
ing to Thermopolis. It is probable
the militia will be ordered to the
scene and bloody battle may b.
fought. The country about Thermo
polls is avid and lawless one. The
last message from Sheriff r'enton
which was received this morning, saie
he still held the prisoners and tina
he believed he could hold out unit
reinforcements came.