Johnson County, Wyoming

FOUR JOHNSON COUNTY, WYOMING COURT DOCUMENTS

(Wyoming - Johnson County) 1. The STATE OF WYOMING, Plaintiff, vs. Phil Cohn, Defendant SUPENA On the part of State.

“The State of Wyoming, County of Johnson, SS. To W.J. Hom (?), T.P. Hill, P.A. Gatchell, Albert Cullavau and Mrs W.H. Halland…..”November A.D. 1899. On the verso is written “State of Wyoming, County of Johnson. “I hereby certify that I received the within subpena on the 16th day of November 1899 and served the same on W.J. Hom (?), Mrs. W.H. Halland, P.A. Gatchell, and Albert Cullavau on the 16th day of November 1899 and on J.P. Hill on the 17th day of November at 9 o’clock A.M. Said service was by reading the within to the above named parties.”

John __ Round

Special Deputy Sheriff

Johnson Co. WY

J.P. Hill was a prosecuting attorney.

W.J. Thom became a director of the First National Bank of Wyoming in 1888 which was at that time the 3rd bank in the Territory of Wyoming. Later he would become its vice-president and than a state senator. He wrote an article titled EARLY DAYS IN BUFFALO ARE RETOLD. W.J. Thom Deals With Johnson County of 50 Years Ago in Interesting Article Prepared for Historical Society which was reprinted in The Sheridan Press, 24 December 1922.

1 pg. 7 x 8 ¼ inches, folded, vg cond.

2. The People of the State of Wyoming vs. Phil Cohn….

A BENCH WARRANT issued on Nov. 17, 1899 by J.M. Peterson, Clerk charging Phil Cohn “with the crime of Larceny of One head of meat catttle of the value of $5.00 & upward, ownership unknown. You are therefore commanded forthwith to arrest the above name Phil Cohn.” On the verso is written “State of Wyoming – County of Johnson. I have by Certify that I received the with in Bench Warrant on the 17 day of November, 1899 and I Served the Same by bringing The with in named Phil Cohn before the District Court of Johnson Co. on the 17 day of November 1899 in Johnson Co.”

____ ____ Lane Sheriff

Johnson Co.

Phil Cohn was sentenced for stealing livestock on Nov. 29, 1899 and thus became prisoner #465 in the Wyoming Penitentiary.

A little more than one year before, on May 8th, 1898, at the age of 24 he had married 17 year old Letha A. Taylor.

1 page 7 x 8 ¼ inches, folded, vg cond.

3. STATE OF WYOMING, Plaintiff, VS. AL SMITH, Defendant On The Part of the State. “The State of Wyoming, County of Johnson, SS to L.A. Hall…. Verso reads State of Wyoming, Johnson County. “I certify that I received the within Subpoena on the 8th day of April 1896 at 9 O’clock a.m. and served the same by reading to the within named L.A. Webb on the 8th day of April 1896. O.A. Sproal, Sheriff By Thos. G. Smith, Deputy.

Al Smith and his brother George were cattle rustlers that worked out of their cabin which later became known as the headquarters of the famous Hole In The Wall. Al was involved in 1897 in the Hole In The Wall fight between “rustlers”, a U.S. Marshall and men from the CY ranch led by Bob Devine,the CY foreman.. Al fled on horseback with a bullet wound to his right hand which caused him to drop his gun. Interestingly enough years later the gun, a Colt single action Army 45 caliber revolver was found and now can be viewed at the Wyoming State Museum.

Single sheet, 7 x 8 ¼ inches, folded, vg cond.

4. IN JUSTICE COURT. H.J. . Purcell, JP – Johnson County CRIMINAL COMPLAINT. THE STATE OF WYOMING VS. Frank (?) Tims. WITNESSES D.V. Bayne. Filed this 14th day of December 1894. H.J. Purcell – Justice of the Peace.

Verso: “….I, D.V. Bayne do solemnly swear that on or about the 3rd day of December 1894, in the Vicinity of Crazy Woman Hill and Near the Muddy in the County of Johnson and State of Wyoming Frank (?) Tims did unlawfully, willfully and maliciously steel and take away the following described Goods and chattels from the wagon of Dr. Bayne 250 lbs Reliance Flour Value $12.50, 50 lbs Lard Value $10.00 10lbs Raisins Val $2.00 5 lbs Teas Val. $2.75, 2 Boxes Axle grease Val 40 cts 3 wagon ____ Val. 90 cts – 6 wagon spokes 2 ½ inch Val 90 cts 1 axe handle Val. 50 cts 2lb Climax Tobacco Val $1.10 1 Rod 5/8 Inch Iron Val $1.00 1 20 lb pail of AB Bremen Jelly Val $2.00. D.V. Bayne” contrary to the form of the statute in such case made and provided and against the peace and dignity of the State of Wyoming.

Sworn to before me and signed in my presence this 14th day of December A>D> 1894. H.J. Purcell – Justice of the peace. Johnson County.

1 sheet 8 ¼ x 11 inches, triple folded, vg cond.

Sources: Wyoming State Archives. Wyoming Penitentiary Inmate Records

First National Bank of Wyoming

Wyoming State Museum

Thom, Early Days in Buffalo Are Retold…