Kansas Charley Hanged

Kansas Charley Gets New Execution Date

For three days and nights Kansas Charley and his two older companions, after escaping form the Laramie County Jail on New Year's Eve of 1891, struggled through deep snow, attempting to make they way to Nebraska. One man finally gave out a mile from their intended goal. The other man fled on his own, leaving Charley freezing and without food. Throughout that frigid night Charley huddled next to the failing body of the dying outlaw. By morning, when he was rescued, he discovered he was cuddled in the arms of a corps. He was nursed back to health in the county hospital before being returned to jail. This second jailbreak served to show that if Charles Miller was given a life sentence more jailbreak attempts could be expected. Six weeks after the second jailbreak the Supreme Court of Wyoming refused to grant Charley a new trial and upheld the original decision of the lower court and jury. Kansas Charlie's new date of execution was set for April 22, 1892. It was now up to Acting Governor Barber as to whether Charley would hang or live. He sent letters to Charles Miller and his brother Frank on March 23. There would be no stay of execution for Kansas Charley.

Johnson County War

As Kansas Charley waited for his execution another event made national headlines. It was an outbreak of armed violence between the cattle barons and the homesteaders, or cattle rustlers as the barons called them. It came to be historically referred to as the Johnson County War.

On April 5, a special train left Cheyenne for Casper, Wyoming. Aboard was a mixture of men that included owners of some of the largest Wyoming cattle ranches and twenty-two hired gunfighters from Texas. Acting Governor Barber knew what was to happen, as well as others in high places. All looked the other way.

U. S. Troops Step In

After the vigilantes committed some murders, on April 11, they were met by two hundred armed men. A bloodbath erupted. Then on April 13, nine days prior to the date that Kansas Charley was to be hung, U. S. Army troops put a final halt to the killings.

Judge Dismisses Charges Against Killers

The hired killers from Texas were arrested and hauled off to jail, to be tried in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Two fur trappers who had witnessed what the killers had done were quietly removed from the state. Judge Richard Scott, the man who had sentenced Kansas Charley to death, dismissed all charges against the Texas gunfighters, who returned to their home state.

Acting Governor Amos Barber, who had been in on the cattle war, now needed a means to show the public his upstanding devotion for law and justice. And, as Barber well realized, he had at present the exact incarcerated tool to utilize; serving justice on one Charles Miller, known as Kansas Charley.

Governor Barber Determined to Hang Kansas Charley

April 22, 1892, the last day that Charley would spend alive was quickly approaching. Even in the short time between the Johnson County War events and the date of Charlie's execution petitions were still being circulated and signed, urging the governor to grant clemency. Letters came pouring into the governor's office and personal appearances were made in an attempt to convince Barber to halt Kansas Charlie's hanging. Acting Governor Barber never wavered in his decision.

Kansas Charlie's Execution Nears

Kansas Charley, as his day of execution quickly approached, now dined upon restaurant food. Newspapermen were nearly constant visitors to the Laramie County jail, scribbling down his every word. When he realized his time close and true to his generous nature Charley began giving away his small collection of coins to those he felt could use them. It is said that he became religious in those final days. The day before he was hanged he said: "I feel that my sins are forgiven in heaven, and that I can die game."

All Dressed Up to Die

April 22, 1892, the day that Kansas Charley was to die, finally arrived. He was provided with a new pair of shoes, a dark-blue shirt, and a black tie. Best of all, perhaps, of his new attire was a cutaway suit jacket. At last, Charley could dress in style, just as he had always wanted to do.

Sheriff Kelley came to lead Charley from his cell to the scaffold. Charley had converted to Catholicism and now walked arm-in-arm with Father McCormack to the platform.

Upon the platform the noose was placed around Charlie's neck. A black hood was settled over his face. And then-Charley Miller, the Boy Murderer who called himself Kansas Charley, was hanged. Of all the spectators who witnessed Charlie's last moment neither his sister Carey nor his brothers Frank or Willie had come to be with their brother-all that was left of the family Kansas Charley had so loved.

Previous: Death Sentence for Kansas Charley

Sources:

Brumberg, Joan Jacobs. Kansas Charley. Viking Penguin, London, England, 2003.

Tanner, Ogden. The Ranchers: The Old West. Time-Life Books, Alexandria, Virginia, 1977.

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