The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1920-07-23
hickey TRIED FOR
KILLING |. WOODS
FRANK HICKEY GIVEN TRIAL AT
SCNDANCE, WYO.-DEAD MAN
KNOWN IN COUNTY

Sundance, Wyo.-"There is no
doubt in my mind as to Labe's fate.
Mrs. HiceyS confession corresponds
so closely with what seems to be un-
erring circumstances surrounding my
son disappearance, that it leaves no
question as to Hickey's guilt
Bending under the burdens of
more than three score and ten years,
Ephraim M. Woods, gave it as his
positive opinion that the Crook coun-
ty authorities have the right man in
the person OF Frank Hickey, charged
with the murden OF Laben NJ. Woods
nearly three months ago. Woods
was about % years old, the brother
of Frank M. Woods, formerly Of Pow
derville, and both we'll known thru
out this county.
The preliminary hearing of Hickey
! in Sundance brought out some SEN
sational features. The trial lasted
the greater part of three days. At
tOrneys were present from long dis
tances. The defendants sister, a
lawyer from the Pacific coast, as
sisted in the defence of her brother.
The county and prosecuting attorney
OF Crook county was assisted by e.
! G. Raymond OF Newcastle, formerly
F, Judge of the Seventh judicial district
of Wyoming.
/ Hickey is in Jail at Sundance for
the second time on this charge.
When he was arrested the first time
| it was apparent that there was not
sufficient evidence to warrant hold
ing him, and he was accordingly re-
leased from custody. In the mean
time, it appears, his wife told the
story of the killing of Woods. The
authorities again took up the case
and, it is said. secured signed
statement from Mrs. Hickey impli-
eating her husband.
Mrs. Hickey's story is substantial
ly that Hickey ordered Woods to
leave his premises, whereupon Woods
stated it was free country; that he
had done nothing for which he
should leave the country: that he
would not go till he got ready. Ac-
cording to Mrs. Hi"key's version of
that followed, a@.ake>t saif. that IDS
fingers We're itching 10 pun the trlg-
| ger; that he then shot Woods in the
stomach; that Woods clapped both
hands over the wound and eXclaim-
ed. My God, he shot me- AS
Woods reeled away Hickey took an
other shot, Mrs. Hickey stated, this
time bringing the victim to the
ground and to his death The wife
OF the prisoner further says that he
demanded that she assist him in dis
posing OF the body, and when she re-
fused he threatened her life ii she
| ever dared to mention the affair to
anyone.
Mrs. Hickey stated that her hus-
band had difficulty in getting the
body to the river, but threw it III
and returned to the house. 1t was
several weeks before anything was
heard Of the matter, However, on
| the discovery OF the body on the
! bank OF the stream near Hickey 5
house. Hickey arrest soon followed
1t is reported that Mrs. Hickey S
statement to the officers was to the
effect that Hickey took the body OF
| VI OOOS from III eriver and placed it
where it was found. 1t was a hor-
rible job, according to reports. The
! body had been dead severa! weeks
When Hickey is said to have moved
| 1t from the river to the bank. When
the oi1lcers first were called upon to
handle the body il was in such an
advanced state of decomposition that
1t was almost Impossible 10 hold it
together. Yet the physician found
the bullet hole in the back, and the
bullet was taken out OF the chest
having lodged just beneath the skin
Inc motive OF the crime is not ap.
parent. Woods married Hickey's sis.
ter few years ago. The Young wo
man died soon after the marriage
Woods went to war, was twice wound
ed on the battlehelds of France. re
turned to his native land after ths
victory was won, and received al
honorable discharge. He had located
a homestead near Hiclleys and wa
preparing to make it his home.
1t is stated tnat Mrs. Hickey atst
connected her husband With the kill
ing OF COW not belonging to him
that he cut out the portion OF the
hide bearing the brand, and threw
the hide on the roof of his house
partially covered it with manure
Hickey is a comparatively new Gomez
in that section OF Crook county, il j!
said.
Hickey was held without bail. Hi.
case is to come up at the Octobe
term OF the district court in Sun
lance