Imperial Valley press., 1937-06-13

the cattle owners themselves were the killers
The first Wyoming killing happened on the
SweetWater in Carbon County in the Spring of
1889. Here James Averill had bought a farm
and operated little grocery store. On another
ranch within few miles lived woman called
Cattle Kate"-whose real name was Ella Wat
son. Around these two ranches the country was
covered with cattle for many miles, and thou
sands of these animals owned by cattle
companies hundred miles distant. Hundreds of
head were drifters before storms and wind, pro-
tected only by their brand.
To Cattle Kate" cowboys and settlers brought
young cattle which she paid for willingly-with-
out demanding bills of sale or previous owner
ship. If the owners brand was too plain she
burned her own brand over it.
In these deals James Averill said to pro-
fit as her backer and advisor, and for this both
of them died
AS described by William Macleod Rane and
Will Barnes in Cattle" it was one of the Vests
most dramatic hangings.
"One day ten men rode up to Averills store
and without trial or ceremony of any kind took
him and Cattle Kate to the nearest cottonwood
tree and hanged them both The men were
known, and their names given to the next grand
jury but they were never brought to court. The
man who furnished the names and other infor-
heard of again"
Another rustler Tom Waggoner, who had
acquired over 100 horses within few months.
He was tall fine looking young man, and well
liked by all who knew him. When he was ar
rested it was by three men who said they were
deputy United States marshals. Waggoner was
working in his stable, and asked permission to
see his wife before they took him. This was re-
fused. The three men put him on horse and
tied his feet under him. A week later his friends
found him hanging to tree few miles from
\ his home.
Then came an organized raid by cattlemen,
a small army which was intended to clear
the countryside of cattle thieves 1t was an.
nounced that 25 men to be hung and sew
eral hundred more driven out. Agents of the
organization were rumored to be in Texas and
in Denver, selecting hired killers for the raid.
And the Denver Sun said
THE mysterious train which left the city yes
terday over the Union Pacific had very i'm
portant mission to fill-to get 40 detectives to
the northern part of Wyoming as rapidly as
possible. Cattlemen in Buffalo, Sheridan, Bonan-
"a, and Riverton have formed an organization
with the intention of discriminating the rustlers
and have called on a detective agency for
sistance. u. P. officials here when asked about
the train denied any knowledge of its having
left the city"
The Denver Republican had an interview
with member of the Wyoming Board of Live
stock Commissioners, board created by the
state legislature:
HE stated very frankly that party of about
sixty we'll known cattlemen of that state had
left Cheyenne for the region in which the cattle
rustlers had been operating with the full inten-
tion of taking such drastic action as would put
a stop to the lawlessness. He explained that the
army was under the command of well known
Wyoming cattle man, and equipped for any
emergencies, and carried with them a capable
surgeon"