The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-12-17

pie and highly respected in the
neighborhood. Over at Mondak,
Mont, there was a bitter feeling
against Culbertson, and he had been
there but a short time before coming
to North Dakota and to the peaceful
home of the billions. near Ray, which
he wrecked inc whose occupants he
murdered for reasons no one has been
able to discover.
Men Separated.
A visit to the scene Of the crime and
locality near it yesterday convinced
the authorities that the mob was
made up Of two parties and that haV-
ing completed their work, they separ-
ated, some going in the direction OF
Ray and others towards Montana. Not
a. man in Williston today has been
found who can give much if any in
formation, at least such has been the
experience of the authorities in their
investigation.
The Tragic Details.
It was between the hours of $3.50
and I a. m. that a crowd OF men, evil
! IDENTIFY thoroughly understanding their
part in the plan of vengeance before
them, c~Ongregated at the Jail. and with
q battering ram broke in the door.
forcing their way into the cell of the
prisoner n after a hand to hand
fight with him, overpowered him and,
dragging him to the Jail yard, quickly
placed a moose over his neck and,
with two autos, started for the bridge
across the Little Muddy. where he
was swung to his death.
Brutal Treatment.
The condition of the mans body in
dicates that he was subjected to al
most every abuse imaginable on that
tourney, as he half stumbled, ran. and
was dragged behind the machines and
finally landed, pleading for mercy. on
the bridge.
That Culbertson pleaded for mercy
, most piteously is evident from the
story Of Sheriff Erickson n others
who were helpless to save their pr1s-
oner from the Infatuated mob.
Threats Made,
Threats Of mob violence were made
soon after the verdict was announced
i. and the man sentenced to life impris-
: onment, but the authorities did not
take these seriously and when a party
:, Of men came to town the day follow
ing the sentence, their mutterings
1 were given little heed.
Culbertson was to have been AXE
to Bismarck yesterday, following his
formal sentence Monday.
Culhertson Had Bad Record.
Culbertson had a bad record previ-
. Gus to the time that he was arrested
9 in this county, as recent Investigations
= have shown. He was wanted by the
mounted police of Canada on q
charge of horse stealing, preferred by
c C. S. Buck Of Wilcox. Sask.
t Buck recently identified Culbertsor
f in the county jail at Williston as the
q wanted horse thief. and he also claim
ed that Culbertson had attacked his
, wife. The attack was made just pre-
Iious to the horse theft, and Culbert,
son had threatened Mrs. Buck witt
, death if she told of the affair before
he got away.
From Wilcox Culbertson went tt
- Plentywood, Mont, and he was TRACED
& from there to Divide county, AM
: thence across Williams county to thu
o Dillon farmstead, where he wound vi
his career of crime by killing thu
Dillon family.
a Tried to Kill 5urdick.
n Culbertson's attempted attacks OF
lie States Attorney Burdick during tn,
l. course of his trial were sensations
Is features Of the case. Culbertson ais
lie was thwarted in an effort to suicide.
= Fifth in State.
re The lynching is the fourth or fit
~ in the history Of the state, the las
previous lynching taking place abou
of a year ago at Steele, Kidder county
when a wife murderer was taken iron
the Kidder county Jail and hanged.
About eight months & a murdere
20 was lynched at Mondak, Mont, jus
=. across the line from this state.