Chapter2TheMurderofLawmenBobWiddowfieldandTipVincent(1878)

TheCarbonminerssoughtrevengeforthemurderoflawmenBobWiddowfieldandTipVincentbytheoutlaws"DutchCharlie"Burrisand"BigNoseGeorge"Parrott.Theminerswerealsoangrythattheoutlawswereaftertheirminepayroll.ThemurderoflawmenBobWiddowfieldandTipVincentin1878isalongandcomplicatedstory.Itstretchesoversixtyyears.

ThemurderoflawmenBobWiddowfieldandTipVincentSaturdayAugust17,1878,twodaysbeforethemurderAgangofoutlaws,whichincluded“DutchCharlie”Burrisand“BigNoseGeorge”Parrott,attemptedtorobaUnionPacifictraineastofCarbonnearComoLake.Theirattempttorobthetrainwasabandonedwhenasectioncrewworkingonthetracksdiscoveredtheirplans.Infearofbeingcaught,thegangheadedwesttowardElkMountainpassingafewmilesnorthofthetownofCarbon.CarbonCountySheriffRobert"Bob"WiddowfieldandUnionPacificRailroadSpecialAgentH.H.“Tip”VincentsetoutaftertheoutlawsandtrackedthegangtotheRattlesnakeCanyonatthebaseofElkMountain.Thelawmenwerespottedcomingandwhentheyarrivedattheircamptheoutlawsopenedfireandmurderedthem.FridayAugust23,1878,fourdaysafterthemurdersWiddowfieldandVincentdidnotreturnfromthesearchfortherobberswhenexpected,somenweresentouttosearchforthem.ThetwomenwentoutlastFridayinsearchofthetwoscoutsreturnedonSundayandreportedhavingmetsomesurveyorswhotoldthemaboutseeingapartyofhorsemenenterthecanyonatElkMountain,andsoonafterthetwomenfollowingthemin.Theyheardsometwentyshotsfiredinrapidsuccessionsoonafter.(LaramieWeeklySentinel,Aug.31,1878)MondayAugust26,1878,sevendaysafterthemurders.RespondingtothereportsthatasurveyingpartyspottedsomeridersandheardgunshotsnearElkMountainearlierintheweek,aposseheadedbysheriffLawryofRawlinswasformedoverthatweekendtocheckitout.Onthefirstdayofthesearchthepossecameupempty.SheriffLawry,ofRawlins,organizedapartyoftwentymen,andwentoutearlyMondaymorning.Nothingwasfound.(LaramieWeeklySentinel,Aug.30,1878)TuesdayAugust27,1878,eightdaysafterthemurders.Ontheseconddayofthesearch,JohnFoote,arancherintheElkMountainareawhoknewthemountainterrainwell,wasaddedtotheposse.WithFoote'shelp,thebodiesofWiddowfieldandVincentwerefoundintheRattlesnakeCanyonatthebaseofElkMountain.Ontheseconddayofthesearch,WiddowfieldandVincentwerefound.Thebodiesweremuchdecomposed,andtheyweredoubtlesslymurderedaweekagolastMonday,whenthesurveyorsheardthefiring.Thebodieshadbeendraggedintoadrycreekbedandsomebrushandgravelthrownoverthem,partlyburyingthem.Theyappearedtohavebeenallshottopieces,withasmanyassevenbulletholesbeingseenintheheadofWiddowfield.Thesescouts,whentheyweresentout,weredirectedto

playthemselvesforstockmen,andiftheysucceededincomingacrosstheoutlawsnottoattempttheircaptureoranyinterference,buttocomebackandreport.Everyeffortwillbemadenowtohuntdownandkilltheseoutlaws,andnolabororexpensewillbesparedtothatend.Itisunfortunatethatthissearchforthemissingscoutswasnotundertakensooner,asthemurderershavenowsometendaysheadstartinwhichtomaketheirescapeoutofthecountry.(CheyenneWeeklyLeader,Aug.29,1878)ThursdayAugust29,1878,twodaysafterbeingfoundatElkMountainandtendaysafterbeingmurderedThebodieswerebroughtintoFortSteeletoday,andWiddowfieldwastakentoCarbonandVincenttoRawlins,forburial.(LaramieWeeklySentinel,Aug.31,1878)SatudayAugust31,1878,fourdaysafterbeingfoundandtwelvedaysafterbeingmurderedBobWiddowfieldwasburiedintheCarboncemeteryandTipVincentintheRawlinscemetery.September26,1878,thirty-eightdaysafterthemurdersTheUnionPacificRailroadsubscribed$200.00toaidintheerectionofamonumenttoWiddowfieldandVincent,whowerebothkilledbytherobbers.(CheyenneWeeklyLeader,Sept.26,1878)

ROBERTWIDDOWFIELDMONUMENTINTHECARBONCEMETERY

(WHILEFAMILYCOLLECTIONFROMBOBLEATHERS)

TIPVINCENTHEADSTONE,RAWLINSCEMETERY(WHILEFAMILYCOLLECTION)

"DutchCharlie"Burris

Wednesday,December31,1878,fourmonthsafterthemurders.DutchCharlieBurriswasarrestedinGreenRiver.HewastransportedfromGreenRivertoLaramie,thehomeoftheTerritorialPrison,bytrain.Severalaccountsofthearrestwereprintedinthelocalnewspapers.JohnLefevercapturedoneoftheVincentandWiddowfieldmurderersthisweekatGreenRiver.HegiveshisnamesometimesasBatesandsometimesasDavis.Hisisknownas"DutchCharley"andwasoneoftheworstofthegang.PositiveevidenceisinpossessionoftheauthoritiesthathewasoneoftheactiveparticipantsinthemurderofVincentandWiddowfieldlastsummeratElkMountain.(LaramieSentinel,January3,1879)AssistedbySheriffDykins,Bates[DutchCharlie]wasarrestedlastTuesdayatGreenRiver,bytwodetectivesfromLaramieCity,Hewasstandinginasaloonwhentheofficersenteredandcalledtohimto"throwuphishands"andsurrender,whichhedid.HewastakentoLaramieonthesameday.(CheyenneDailySun,Jan.6,1879)"DutchCharlie,"whohasbeenforalongtimeplyinghisvocationnearFortMcKinneyasaroadagent,isinlimboatGreenRiver.Heisoneofthehardestcustomersinthebusiness.(CheyenneWeeklyLeader,Jan.9,1879)SundayJanuary5,1879,fivedaysafterhewascapturedandfourmonthsafterthemurdersAfterashortstayintheLaramiejailafterhisarrestinGreenRiver,DutchCharliewasononhiswaytoRawlinsfromLaramieontrainNumber3tostandtrialforthemurderofBobWiddowfieldandTipVincent.HewasinthecustodyofLaramieDeputySheriffEdKerns.HewasforciblytakenoffthetraininCarbonandlynchedbythecitizensofCarbon.Lastnightat9:25o'clock,whenpassengertrainNo.3stoppedatthisstation,apartyofmaskedmen,composedofminersandcitizens,brokeopenthedoorofthebaggagecarandtookChas.Bates,alias"DutchCharlie,"outandhunghimtoatelegraphpole.Thetrainwasdelayedonlythirteenminutesbytheoperation.DutchCharliewasoneofthemurderersofBobWiddowfieldandT.P.VincentonElkMountainlastfall.TheprisonerwasarrestedatGreenRiversometimesinceandwastakentoLaramieCity,whenhewasonhiswayfromLaramieCitytoRawlinsfortrial.HewasunderchargeofanofficernamedKern.DutchCharlie,justbeforehewashung,confessedhisguilt.Heimploredhiscaptorstoshootinsteadofhanghim.(CheyenneWeeklyLeader,Jan.9,1879)"DutchCharlie"wastakenuptoCarbononNo.3lastSundayforexamination.Theminersinterviewedhim,andhe"nowsleepsinthevalley."(LaramieSentinel,Jan.10,1889)EverygoodcitizenofWyomingwillendorsethesummarypunishmentof“DutchCharlie”atCarbononSundaynight.Letthegoodworkcontinue.(TheCheyenneWeeklyLeader,Jan.9,1879)DutchCharliedidn'thaveabadreputationonlyinWyoming,hewaswellknowninotherpartsofthecountryforhiscrookedwaysaswell.CouncilBluffs:"DutchCharlie,"whowastakenfromaUnionPacifictraininWyomingtheotherdayandleftdanglingfromatelegraphpole,wasoncearesidentofCouncilBluffs,andwastheauthorwhilehereofnumerouscrimes,rangingfromforgerytomurder.Hewasa"badcitizen"inthestrongestsenseoftheterm,andthoughwemightnotbeabletoapprovethemeansofhistakingoff,itcannotbesaidthathemeritedanylessawfulfate."(CheyenneDailySun,Jan.11,1879)ThetwopartiesEdBeerupandJamesNelson,recentlyarrestedonsuspicionofhavingstolenthehorses

ofMaers,OrrandMarkham,weredischargedfromjaillastnight,ithavingtranspiredthattheyarenottheguiltyparties.TheSheriffatSidneytelegraphedCarryesterdaythathehadarrested"DutchCharlie,"whoconfessedthathimselfandanotherpartyweretheonesthattookthehorses.(CheyenneDailySun,July2,1878)WednesdayJanuary8,1879,fourmonthsafterthemurdersandthreedaysafterhewaslynchedDutchCharliewasburiedinanunmarkedgravenear,butoutsidetheCarbonCemetery.ThebodyofDutchCharliehasbeencutdown,andaninquestheld,theVerdictwasdeathfromhanging,bypersonsunknown.ThebodywasburiedWednesday.(CheyenneWeeklyLeader,Jan.16,1879)DutchCharlie'sburialafterhewaslynchedinCarbonisacontroversialsubject.Somehistoriansbelievehewasneverburied,butwasthrownfromatrainbetweenCarbonandRawlinsandleftforwildcritterstodevour.Othersthinkhewascutdown,throwninacoalcarandsenttoRawlinstobedealtwithbytheauthoritiesthere.RichardFisher,longtimeMedicineBowresidentandCarbonhistorianadamantlybelievesDutchCharliewascutdownafterbeinglynchedandburiedneartheCarbonCemetery.Hemaintainsthecurrentfencedidn'texistthen,butwhenthefencewaslaterplacedaroundthecemeteryitseparatedDutchCharlie'sgravefromtherestofthecemeteryleavinghimontheoutsideofthecemeteryonthenorthsideofthefenceinthesagebrush.DuringaCarbonRestorationDayMay,2003,Mr.FisherdiscussedthemurderofBobWiddowfieldandTipVincentwithagroupofrestorationworkerswhoatthetimehappenedtobeworkinginfrontoftheWiddowfieldburialmonument.Hetalkedaboutthemurders,thehangingofDutchCharlieandBigNoseGeorge,themonumentplacedonElkMountainbyhisgrandfatherandofthegravesiteofDutchCharlie.Tothegroup'ssurprise,hepointedoutthelocationofDutchCharlie'sgraveandsharedwhyheknewitwasthere.Mr.FisherpointedoutthegenerallocationofDutchCharlie'sfinalrestingplace.DutchCharliewashunginCarbonjustoverthehill(pointingsouthofthecemetery).WhenIwasakidmyfamilywouldtalkaboutthemurdersandwanderovertowhereDutchCharliewasburied.DutchCharlie'sgraveisjustoutsidethefence,overthere(pointingnorth).Rightacrossfromthatpinetree.Yearsagotherewasapileofrocksthere.(AtRichard'sinvitationapartofthegroupwalkedaroundthefenceandupthehilltothespothehadpointedout)."Itwasrightinheresomeplace."(RichardFisher,CarbonCemetery,May2003)RichardFisher'sgreatunclearrivedinCarbonshortlyafterthetownofCarbonwasstarted.HisgrandfatherJamesFisherarrivedinabout1874.BothofthemwerelivinginCarbonwhenBobWiddowfieldandTipVincentweremurderedandwhenDutchCharliewastakenoffthetraininCarbonandlynchedbythecitizensforthemurders.ItwasRichard'sgrandfatherandseveralotherCarbonfolksthatplacedamonumentatthesiteofthemurdersonElkMountain.ItonlymakessensethattheFisherfamilywouldknowifthemurderousoutlawDutchCharliewasburiedneartheCarbonCemeteryornot.InadditiontoMr.Fisher,severalotherWyominghistorians,likethewell-knownandrespectedauthorLoriVanPelt,believesDutchCharliewasburiedneartheCarbonCemetery.DutchCharliewasburiedneartheCarbonCemetery.HewasnotconsideredworthyofburialintheCarbonCemetery,whereDeputyWiddowfieldwaslaidtorest.DutchCharley’sunmarkedgraveislocatedsomewhereinthesagebrushoutsidethecemeteryboundaries.(BigNoseGeorge:AGrislyFrontierTale,LoriVanPelt,WyoHistory.org.)

RichardFisher’sremembrancesofDutchCharliewerehonoredrecentlywhenamarkerwasplacedatthesiteofwhereRichardsaidDutchCharliewasburied.

LateJanuary1879,fivemonthsafterthemurdersor8daysafterthelynchingCarbonCountypaidtherewardof$2000.00forthecaptureofDutchCharlie.HalfoftherewardwastobepaidbytheUnionPacificRailroadandhalfbyCarbonCounty.StatementofWarrants:IssuedsinceJuly7,1879,showingthepurposeforwhichwarrantswereissuedandthetotalamountofthesame:Electionexpenses$484.20Coroner'sexpenses$104.00RewardonDutchCharlie$2000.00Salaryofsuperintendent$218.00Sherifffees$1,988.68(CarbonCountyJournal,Jan.24,1880)LateAugust1879,elevenmonthsafterthemurdersor6monthsafterthelynchingTheUnionPacificRailroadreimbursedCarbonCountyfortheirshareoftherewardpaidoutforthecaptureofDutchCharlieBurris.TheU.P.R.R.officialshavefaithfullyfulfilledtheiragreementwithourcounty,inpayinghalftherewardofferedfortheapprehensionofDutchCharlie.Theiragenthere,Mr.J.R.Adams,receivedandpaidintotheCountyTreasurythismorningthesumof$1000.00,thatbeinghalfoftheamountofferedforCharlie'scapture.(CarbonCountyJournal,1880)

BIGNOSEGEORGEPARROTT(CARBONCOUNTYMUSEUM)

ThursdayJuly15,1880,oneyearandtenmonthsafterthemurdersAuthoritiesinMilesCity,MontanaarrestedbigNoseGeorge.SheriffJimRankinwasnotifiedandwenttoMontanatoreturntheprisonertotheWyomingTerritory.HepickedupBigNoseGeorgethentraveledfromMilesCitytoOmaha,Nebraska,thenontoCheyenne,Laramie,andthentoCarbon.ThefinaldestinationwasRawlinsfortrial,butthetraincouldnotavoidastopatCarbon.SaturdayAugust7,1880,oneyearandelevenmonthsafterthemurdersThecitizensofCarbonreceivedwordthatBigNoseGeorgewasheadedtoRawlinsonthetrainandwouldcomethroughCarbon.HealmostmetthesamefateashisfellowgangmemberDutchCharlie.BigNoseGeorge,inthecustodyofSheriffJimRankin,wasforciblytakenoffthetrainatCarbonbyagroupofcitizensandthreatenedtobelynchifhedidn'ttellallheknewaboutthekillingofBobWiddowfieldandTipVincent.Hewasbadlyscared,buteventuallyhemadeafullconfessiontothegroupthatabductedhimandwasreturnedtothetrainandthecustodyofSheriffRankin.OnSaturdayeveninglastthefunlovingpublicofthisplacewerecongregatingforadancetobegivenbythemule-driversofCarbon.No.3pulledinontimeandtoafewcitizensitwasknownthat“BigNoseGeorge,”oneofthe

Widdowfield-Vincentmurderers,inchargeofSheriffRankin,wasonthetrain.Assoonasthetrainstoppedashrillvoicewasheard,callingoutnumbersfromonetoaboutfifteen,andinresponsetothecallaboutasmanyarmedandmaskedmenboardedthecarinwhichthesheriffandhisprisonerwereseated.Assoonasthesheriffsawthefirstofthemobenterthecarhehastilydrewhisrevolverandorderedthemtostandback.Theyclosedinandorderedhimtoputuphishandsanddeliveroverthekeythatunlockedthechainthattheprisonerwassecuredtothecarseatwith.Thesheriffrefusedthekeyandcalleduponseveralinthecartohelpkeepthemobawayfromtheprisoner.ThenowimpatientmobseizedanaxeandbrokethefasteningandatthesametimearopewasdexterouslythrownaroundtheneckofBigNoseGeorge,whouptothistimeappearedperfectlycoolandcollected.Hewasthenquicklyhustledoutofthecarandtakentoacorralandplacedunderanominouslookingbeam.BeforeleavingthecarhesaidhewasnotinthecrowdthatkilledWiddowfieldandVinson,butthatifhehadtodieanditlookedlikeit,hewouldliketobeshotandnothung.Assoonasheknewhewasunderthebeamheweakenedandsaid:“Idonotwanttodiewithalieinmymouth,andIwilltellthetruth,sohelpmeGod,butgivemealittletime.IamsobadlyscaredIcanhardlytalk.”Hewastoldhecouldhaveallthetimehewantedandasnearascanbelearned,hetoldthefollowing:“IwasinthepartywhomurderedWiddowfieldandVinson.ThepartyconsistedofFrankToule,Mack,DutchCharlie,JackCampbell,ThomasReed,SimWanandmyself.MynameisGeorgeFrancisWarden.Idon’tknowwhokilledWiddowfield.WhenWiddowfieldgotoffhishorsetoexaminetheplacewhereourcampfirewasandsaid:“It’shotash_ll,we’llcatchthembeforenight.”Somebodyinourcrowdsaid“fire”andourgunsbeinginposition,wefiredalmostsimultaneously.Idon’tknowwhogavethecommandtofire.Itwasalmostimpossibleforustomissthembecauseweweresoclose.IthinkweallfiredatVincent.Thehorsesthatbelongedtothedeadmenwetookalong,theywerekilledandotherwisedisposedof.”Q:“Whydidyoukillthosemen?”A:“Ontheprincipalthatdeadmentellnotales.”Q:“Doyouknowwherethebalanceofthepartyisthatwerewithyouonthedayofthemurder?”A:“Idonot.Weseparatedthesamefall.IheardthatDutchCharliewashung.FrankToulewaskilledintheHillsandMackdiedoffeverintheYellowstonecountry.”TheprisonerwasthentoldthatthiswastheplacewhereDutchCharliewashungandhealmostbrokedown.Theleaderofthemobthenorderedthembackandturnedtheprisonerovertothesheriff,andBigNoseGeorgebreathedfreer.Whenhewasseatedinthecarhesliddownbetweentheseatsandburstintoahystericalfitofweeping.No.3pulledout,thewholeperformanceoccupyingabout30minutes,andeverybodytookinthedanceafteraslightintermission.SeveralpartiesherefeelbettersatisfiedsincelearningforafactthatDutchCharliewasnothunginnocently.TheonlywonderisthatBigNoseGeorgedidnotclimbthegoldenstairviathatroute.Ignoramus.(TheCarbonJournal,Aug.10,1880)SundayAugust8,1880,thedayafterhewasalmostlynchedinCarbonBigNoseGeorge,afterthescareofbeinglynchedinCarbonthenightbefore,arrivedinRawlinsandwas

placedinjailbySheriffJimRankin.(CarbonCountyJournal,1880)MondaySeptember13,1880,oneyearandelevenmonthsafterthemurdersBigNoseGeorgewasarraignedinRawlinsforthemurderofBobWiddowfieldandTipVincent.HepleadedGUILTY.(CarbonCountyJournal,1880)OnMondayGeorgeParrot,aliasBigNoseGeorgewasarraignedonanindictmentcharginghimandotherswiththewillfulmurderofWiddowfieldandVinson,nearElkMountaininAugust,'78.Inanswertothequestion"Areyouguiltyornotguiltyofthingshereincharged?"Heanswered,"Guilty."TheJudgesaid:"BeforeacceptingyourpleaIdeemitmydutytoexplaintoyoutheconsequencesofyourplea,althoughyourattorneyhasnodoubttoldyouthesethings,insoseriousamatterweshouldleavenoroomfordoubtormisunderstandings.Accordingtothelawofthisterritorythepenaltyformurderinthefirstdegree,ofwhichyouarechargedinthisindictment,isdeathbyhangingbytheneck,andsuchwillbetheconsequenceofthepleayouseektomake.InviewofthesefactsIaskyouagainGeorgeParrot,areyouguiltyornotguiltyofthethingsthereincharged?"Heanswered,"Iamguilty."Tearsfilledhiseyesandrandownthechecksoftheprisonerashepronouncedthesewordsandresumedhisseat.Thesceneandtheextremelyunusualspectacleofamanpleadingguiltytomurderinthefirstdegreevisiblyaffectedthecourtandallpresent.ThejudgeinstructedtheprosecutingattorneytoproducesomeevidencesincourtthatVinsonandWiddowfieldwerereallymurderedbeforehewouldpasssentenceontheprisoner.(CarbonCountyJournal,September18,1880.)ProbablythemostaccuratedescriptionofthemurdersatElkMountaincomesfromtheconfessionofonethegangmembers,GeorgeFrancisWardenbetterknownasBigNoseGeorge.Hedidn'thavemuchofareasontoliebecauseheconfessedandpleadedguiltytoparticipatinginthemurders.AJournalreporter,incompanywithSheriffRankin,visitedthejailWednesdayafternoonandinterviewedBigNoseGeorge,orGeorgeFrancisWarden,ashegiveshisname.Warden,weshouldjudgeisamanabout35yearsold,fivefeetteninchestall,rathersparebuiltandwillweighabout100pounds,darkcomplexion,blackhairandbeard,sharp,ratherpiercingblackeyesandaveryprominentRomannose,andreallynotasbadalookingfellowasonewouldexpect.HewasarrestedatMilesCity,Montana,Julythe15th,andarrivedhereSundaymorning.Warden'sstoryisasfollowsasnearaswecangiveitfrommemory:Ourparty(consistingofFrankToule,Mack,DutchCharlie,JackCampbell,ThomasReed,SimWanandmyself)wepulledthespikesthatheldtherail,butthecrowbarbeingashortonewecouldnotpryouttherail.Welaidalldayinagullynearbyandwatchedthesectionmenatwork.Theydidnotdiscovertherailhadbeentamperedwithuntiljustastheywereabouttoleaveintheevening.TwoofourpartywentintoMedicineBowstationandpurchasedprovisions.WhenweleftweproceeddirectlytoElkMountain.ThefirstwesawofWiddowfieldandVinson,theywereaboutamileoff,butweshortlymadeoutthattheyweremenandweremakingdirectlyforourcamp.Afterahurriedconsultationitwasdecidedtohideourstockinthebrushandconcealourselvesandletthemenpassshouldtheynotbeofficers,andtokillthemshouldtheybesuch,asweexpectedtheywouldsaysomethingtogiveusanideaastowhotheywere.Theyrodeupthetrailtoourcampfire,whenthelargeman(Widdowfield)gotoffofhishorseandstuckhishandintothefire,remarking,"Itishotash_ll,theyhavebeenhereandwewillcatchthembeforelong."Oneofourpartyhadalamehorseforwhichhehadbeenfixingapairofshoes,andWiddowfieldpickedupthecorks,whichhadbeencutoff,sayingtheywereheadsofrailroadspikes.FrankToule,oneofourparty,thensaid,"Let'sfire,"andloudenoughforalltohear,partofusshootingatthemanonthe

groundandpartatthemanonthehorse.Ifiredatthemanonthehorse.Afterourvolleythehorsesandriderranaboutfiftyyardswhenthelatterfelloffhishorse,andattemptedtogetup,holdinghisguninhishands.Sometwentyshotswerefiredathimandfiringonlyceasedwhenwewerecertainhewasdead.JackCampbelltookWiddowfield'sbootsandDutchCharliethebestsaddle.Aftertakingwhatvaluablestheyhad,wegotscaredanddidnotknowwhattodowiththebodies,butfinallyconcludedtocarrythemdowninthebrushandcoverthemupwhichwedid.Weimmediatelybrokecamp,camedownthecanyonthesamewaywewentupandstartednorth.WecrossedtherailroadatCarbonandthePlatteRiverabouttwomilesabovethemouthoftheMuddy.SimWanwastheleaderoftheparty,hebeingacquaintedwiththecountry.Oneoftheparty,calledMack,whowaswithus,claimedtoheoneoftheJamesbrothers,IleftthepartyonGooseCreekwhereitbrokeup.(TheCarbonCountyJournal,Aug.7,1880)FridaySeptember17,1880,fourdaysafterpleadingguiltytothemurdersBigNoseGeorgechangedhispleatoNOTGUILTY.November8,1880,onemonthand26daysafterpleadingguiltyBigNoseGeorgefiledamotionforchangeofvenue,whichwasdenied,bythecourt.TuesdayNovember16,1880,twomonthsand3daysafterhewasarraignedandpleadedguiltyAspecialgrandjurycalledforbyJudgeBlairforBigNoseGeorge,wasconvened.ThecourtwasscheduledtoconvenedonMondayasannounced,butthecaseofTerritoryvs.MartinAinsley,amanchargedformisbrandingahorse,tookallofthecourttimeavailableonMonday.ThecaseforBigNoseGeorgewasthenmovedtoTuesday.WednesdayNovember17,1880,thedayafterthespecialgrandjurywascalledCourtconvenedattheusualhour,andtheforenoonwasconsumedinthediscussionofsometriviallawpoints,dilatorymotions,etc.AttheafternoonsessionJudgeMerrellcameforwardandtookchargeoftheprosecution,thewitnesseswerecalledandswornandonmotionofthedefense,wereseparated.Theafternoonwasconsumedintheexaminationofwitnesses,allofwhichtestimonywastoshowthatamurderhadbeencommittedonthe20thdayofAugust1878,atElkMountainandthatWiddowfieldandVinsoncametotheirdeathsatthatplacebyreasonofgunshotwounds,andthefindingofthedeadbodies.Mr.Leach,U.P.detective,wascalledtoproveBigNose'sconfession,whichwassubstantiallythesameasthatpublishedintheJOURNALtwomonthsago.(CarbonCountyJournal,November20,1880)December15,1880,twoyears,3monthsand26daysafterthemurdersBigNoseGeorgewasfoundguiltyofmurderofBobWiddowfieldandTipVincent.Hewassentencedtobe"hangedbytheneckuntildead"onApril2,1881.Hewouldhangbetweenthehoursof10a.m.and4p.m.March22,1881,threemonthsandsevendaysafterbeingfoundguiltofthemurdersBigNoseGeorgetriedtoescapefromjail.HesawedthroughtherivetsonhisshacklesandwhensheriffRobertRankincametocheckonhim,BigNoseGeorgehithimintheheadwiththeshacklesandranforit.SherriffRankin’swife,Rosa,bringingamealtotheprisonerdiscoveredtheattemptedjailbreakandmanagedtogetthejaildoorshutandlocked.Whenthegeneralpublicwasalertedtotheattemptedjailbreak,amobcamerunningtohelp.

ThemobgainedcontrolofBigNoseGeorge,tookhimfromthejailtothestreetsofRawlinsandlynchedhim.

HANGINGBIGNOSEGEORGEONMAINSTREETINRAWLINS(CARBONCOUNTYMUSEUM)

ItisnotclearifDr.OsborneorDr.MagheewasatthehangingofBigNoseGeorge,butitisclearthattheyclaimedthebodyafterward.ThomasMaghee,adoctorfortheUnionPacificRailroadclaimedthebodyformedicalstudy.Magheestudiedtheoutlaw’sbrain.BigNoseGeorge’sskullwascutintotwohalves.Magheegavethetophalforskullcaptohisnurse,LillianHeath,wholaterbecameWyoming’sfirstfemalephysician.Thelowerhalfoftheskullwasburiedinawhiskeybarrelwiththerestofhisbones.Overtime,Dr.MagheeestablishedaprofessionalrelationshipwiththepeopleofCarbon.Hewasafrequentvisitortotreatthesickandtreatseriousmineinjuries.Carbonwaswithoutadoctoruntilabout1882.Dr.Osbornewantedtheoutlawforexperimentalstudies.HemadeadeathmaskofBigNoseGeorgefromplasterofparis.Healsohadtheoutlawskinnedandapairofshoesandaphysiciansbagmadefromtheskin.Itwasalsorumoredthathehadthetesticlesmadeintoatobaccopouch.

DEATHMASKOFBIGNOSEGEORGE

(CARBONCOUNTYMUSEUM)

January7,1881,twoyearsandfourmonthsafterthemurdersorfivemonthsafterBigNoseGeorgewasarrestedWilliamSchmalsleandWilliamH.Irvinewereeachgiven$1000.00asarewardfortheapprehensionofBigNoseGeorge.In1890,twelveyearsafterthemurdersJamesFisher,brother-in-lawtoBobWiddowfield,erectedamonumentatthespotBobWiddowfieldandTipVincentwerekilledonElkMountain.

JamesandotherserectedastonememorialatthesiteofthemurderofRobertWiddowfieldandwassaidtovisiteveryAugust19.(DanKinnaman,Carbon)

MEMORIALMONUMENTATTHEBASEOFELKMOUNTAINFORROBERT"BOB"WIDDOWFIELDANDH.H."TIP"VINCENT,TAKENOCT.1926BYMURIELKITCHING.(HANNABASINMUSEUM)Theletteringonthetwostonesisnotclearinthepicture,butreads:

RobertWiddowfieldofCarbonWyoandTipVincentofRawlins

MurderedhereAugust19,1878

ERECTEDBYJAMESFISHERCARBONWYO

18901892,elevenyearsafterBigNoseGeorgewaslynchedJohnOsborne,Rawlinsphysician,woretheshoesmadefromhisskintohisinauguralasWyoming’sgovernor.

DR.JOHNOSBORN(CARBONCOUNTYMUSEUM)

SHOESMADEFROMBIGNOSEGEORG’SSKIN(CARBONCOUNTYMUSEUM)

1928,fiftyyearsafterthemurdersDr.OsbornedonatedthelegshackleswornbyBigNoseGeorgeatthetimehewaslynchedtotheUnionPacificRailroadmuseuminOmaha,Nebraska.May11,1950,sixtynineyearsafterBigNoseGeorgewaslynchedConstructionworkersbuildinganewfoundationforanewbuildingatthecornerofEastCedarandFourthStreetuncoveredawhiskeybarrelcontainingtheremainsofBigNoseGeorge.ThelocationwasnearthebuildingthatbelongedtoDr.Maghee.

BONESOFBIGNOSEGEORGEFOUNDMAY11,1950(CARBONCOUNTYMUSEUM)

DR.LILLIANHEATHINHEROFFICEHOLDINGTHESKULLCAPOFBIGNOSEGEORGE

(CARBONCOUNTYMUSEUM)

Osbornepickledhis[Parrot’s]bodyinalcoholanduseditfordissectionpurposesuntilhefinallyburieditinthealleybackofhishouse.Ikeptthebandit’sskulltophereforalongtimeasamementoofmytrainingdays.(HubertTapedInterview)

InJune1884,MissLillieE.HeathwasteachinginNo.5mineschoolinCarbon.ShewasthedaughterofWilliamHeathwhoarrivedinRawlinsin1877.Lillian(1865-1962),rememberedthatwhenthefamilyarrivedin1877,therewasnotapublicschoolforhertogo,soshewasenrolledinaprivateschoolforashorttime.Shewasteachingschoolatage16atCarbonandatPassCreekandsubstitutingatRawlins,graduatingfromhighschoolin1888attheageoftwenty-three.ShestudiedmedicinewithDr.ThomasMagheeforfiveyears,wenttoBouldertostudyforayearandthenIowaforthreeyears,graduatingasaphysicianin1893.ShereturnedtoRawlinsandpracticedforfifteenyears,withtheofficeinthefamilyhome.ShemarriedLouJ.Nelson(1874-1986)in1898inOmaha.Lilianwasalsonotedasateacherinthe1910Carboncensus.(Kinnaman)

DR.BENSTURGIS,CARBONCOUNTYCORONERANDLOUNELSON,HUSBANDOFDR.LILIANHEATH

(CARBONCOUNTYMUSEUM) ItwasLouNelson,thehusbandofDr.LillianHeaththatbroughttotheworksitethetoppartoftheskullandhelpedDr.Sturgismatchthetwoparts.Fiveyearslater,in1995,GeorgeGill,awellknownanthropologist,andWyomingStateArcheologistMarkMiller,onceagaincomparedthehalvesofBigNoseGeorge’sskullwhentheyworkedonastudyoffrontierviolencewithUniversityofWyominggraduatestudentKristiMcMahan.ThestudyconfirmedonceagainthatthetwopartsmatchedandalsotheskinonOsborne’sshoeswasindeedhuman.TheskullcapandshacklesareondisplayattheUnionPacificRailroadMuseuminCouncilBluffs,Iowa.

Thelowerhalfoftheskull,theplasterdeathmaskandtheshoesareondisplayedattheCarbonCountyMuseuminRawlins,Wyoming.