The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1913-12-18

at the bridge, one end of the rope was
quickly secured and the man hurled
to eternity. The mob then surround
ed the body and many shots were
fired, eleven of the bullets taking
effect. Many shots missed, as can be
seen by the splintered bridge tim
bers.
Sheriff Gets Body.
Sheriff Erickson and deputies went
out after the body as soon as it was
learned where it was. The remains
were taken back to Williston and
placed in Hamre's morgue. Culbert-
son was buried Wednesday afternoon,
without a friend or relative attend
ing. His father, j. w. Culbertson, of
Evanston, Wyoming, who visited his
son in the Williston Jail short time
ago, was wired Of the lynching. He
ordered the remains buried at Willis
ton and said he'd pay the expenses.
Culbertson's wife and son at Dor
cester, Neb., have been notified of the
lynchtng. So
5s Burdick Will Make Arrests.
States Attorney Burdick will ar
rest any parties implicated in the af-
fair, but the party was 80 well organ
lied that it is freely predicted that
the members of the mob will never be
known to anyone but themselves. The
coronor's jury rendered a verdict find
ing that Culbertson came to his death
at the hands of a mob.
1t is believed that there were others
besides citizens of Ray and vicinity
implicated. Probably some were from
Mondak and Plentywood, Mont. 1t is
believed that some even came from
Canada, where the people were great
ly incensed at Culbertson for crimi-
nally assaulting Mrs. Buck, wife Of
farmer living near Wilcox, Can, a
week before he killed the Dillon fam
lily.
WillistOn is Aroused.
A few minutes after the mob start
ed its work, thousands of Williston's
citizens were on the streets, and most
of them visited the jail to inspect the
work of the masked men. While it is
generally conceded that Culbertson
got about what he had coming, yet
hundreds are incensed because the law
was not allowed to take its course.
If any arrests are made charges Of
murder in the first degree will be filed.
Had Gotten Life Sentence.
Culbertson was sentenced to the
penitentiary for life, Judge Fisk pass
ing sentence Monday. Sheriff Erick-
son intended to take the prisoner to
Minot on No. 2 Tuesday, pick up
Editor j. A. Corbett, special deputy
at Stanley, and place Culbertson in
the Ward county Jail that night, leav-
ing the following morning for Bis
marck.
Erickson Given Credit.
Sheriff Erickson is given great
credit for the manner in which he de-
Tended his prisoner. He showed that
he was a brave man and that he re-
nlembered the oath of his Office. He
gave in only when he was overpOWer-
ed.
After cutting down Culbertson's
body, the brain was removed by doc
tors and pronounced normal.
Governor Hanna was notified of the
lynching. He said that he would do
all in his power to see that the mem
-bers Of the mob are punished, and II
necessary will secure the services OF
the attorney general.
Fifth in State.
The lynching is the fourth or fifth
in the history Of the state, the last
previous lynching taking place about
"a year ago at Steele, Kidder county,
when a wife murderer was taken
from the Kidder county Jail and
hanged.
About eight months ago a murder
.er was lynched at Mondak, Mont,
just across the line from this state.
Fought for Life.
Cleve Culbertson fought the crowd
desperately in the narrow confines of
his cell, as was indicated by the COM
dition of his hands, revealed by ex-
aminations made by physicians today.
Culbertson's knuckles were bruised
and battered, and he gave the gang
|of lynchers that entered his cell
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