Johnson County War 1892
- Created by: NHEESOMGREEN
- Created on: 07-06-18 16:56
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- Johnson County War 1892
- Tensions in Wyoming
- 1870: only 9,000 and Gov. land
- as pop. increased, wealthy, respectable cattlemen were appointed to all key positions in government
- winter of 1886-87 caused power and influence of the big ranchers
- smaller ranches did better: big ranches suspected them of rustling
- used their connection with the WSGA to ban the ranches they suspected of rustling from the spring round-up.
- smaller ranches did better: big ranches suspected them of rustling
- winter of 1886-87 caused power and influence of the big ranchers
- as pop. increased, wealthy, respectable cattlemen were appointed to all key positions in government
- ordinary people were tired of cattlemen taking everything for themselves
- when on a jury, they would almost never convict someone accused of cattle rustling
- cattlemen began to discuss taking the law into their own hands
- 1870: only 9,000 and Gov. land
- The killing of Ella Watson and Jim Averill
- farmed a 640 acre homestead in the middle of an open-range pasture used by cattleman Albert Bothwell.
- Ella and Jim owned the land legally, but Bothwell wanted them gone
- 1889: Ella obtained a small herd of cattle: she was accused of rustling them from Bothwell
- both were hung by Bothwell
- soon, he had their land and Ella's cattle
- both were hung by Bothwell
- more killings and murder attempts followed
- homesteaders and small ranchers made their own association and round up all the unbranded spring calves
- The invasion of Johnson County
- WSGA planned a full scale invasion of J.C.: to kill 70 men who 'deserved it' in full knowledge of Wyoming's governor.
- raised $100,000 and hired 22 Texan cattle men
- FAILED
- learned that Nate Champion and Nick ray were at KC Ranch, so they attcked there instead
- Nate held them off for a day, but his cabin was burned and he was shot
- word reached the sheriff: raised 40 men and angry citizens to go after the invaders
- fortified themselves at the TA Ranch, surrounded by angry residents, until the US 6th cavalry saved them.
- learned that Nate Champion and Nick ray were at KC Ranch, so they attcked there instead
- WSGA planned a full scale invasion of J.C.: to kill 70 men who 'deserved it' in full knowledge of Wyoming's governor.
- The trial
- powerful friends: the judge, marshals, senators etc.
- troops sent to the TA Ranch to prevent further deaths, then they were taken away from J.C.
- taken to Fort Fetterman to prevent lynchings
- best lawyers hired to defend them
- lawyers convinced judge to move trial to Cheyenne where they could have a fair trial. jury members would favor them more
- extended trial as long as possible so that the prosecution could no longer afford the trial costs, and the charges had to be dropped.
- lawyers convinced judge to move trial to Cheyenne where they could have a fair trial. jury members would favor them more
- troops sent to the TA Ranch to prevent further deaths, then they were taken away from J.C.
- powerful friends: the judge, marshals, senators etc.
- Significance
- vigilante justice had been central to Frontier solutions to problems of law and order for a long time
- reducing tensions
- fewer tensions when both farms and ranchers fenced off their land
- this happened after the winter of 1886-87
- fewer tensions when both farms and ranchers fenced off their land
- Tensions in Wyoming
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