In Wyoming's Prison Hungry Men May Become Vicious Men 1901-1981
byDuane Shillinger
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Four state prisoners, during the period 1890 to 1903, had been executed at county jails by county sheriffs.Tom Horn, hanged at the LaramieCounty jail in Cheyenne in November, 1903, was the last state prisoner sentenced to be executed at a county jail.After that execution, legislative laws required that all future executions be carried out at Rawlins.Following Tom Horn’s execution, the hanging apparatus that was used to expiate his alleged victims was moved to the penitentiary at Rawlins where it was used as the center piece in eight additional hangings before the gas chamber became the preferred method of execution.
Prior to Horn’s execution, county sheriffs relied upon their own understanding of how a gallows should be constructed.In some cases local architects designed a gallows that would be constructed by the sheriff. When Leroy Donovan was hanged in Rawlins on January 18, 1884, as the first legal territorial execution, the Carbon County Journal gave brief description of the gallows arrangement. “…An enclosure 18’ high and 14 x 16 foot square has been erected on the East side of that portion of the Court House known as the jail building, from which a tall paling fence 14’ in height is to be erected to the door of the jail which, we are informed, will effectually (sic) conceal all view from the outside…” The trap was apparently opened manually by some member of the sheriff’s department.
In the case of Benjamin Carter, hanged as a territorial prisoner on October 26, 1888, in Rawlins, the gallows had been constructed so that the sheriff, according to the Carbon County Journal, “…was concealed in a sentry box arrangement behind the trap…the preconcerted (sic) signal was given and Sheriff High…cut the cord that kept the trap in place, and Carter plunged through the aperture into eternity…”
A Laramie newspaper gave greater description of the gallows used to execute George Cook on December 12, 1884.“…It was found that a temporary board structure had been attached to the rear of the building.It was twenty feet in height and of the same dimensions in length and breadth.Eight feet above the ground the inclosure (sic) was nearly equally divided above and below by a platform.This platform was reached by a flight of ten steps, while in the opposite direction a covered passage way led to a basement door in the jail through which the condemned man was to pass.Immediately in the center of the platform, which, of course, was inclosed (sic) from public view on all sides, stood the sinister looking scaffold.This was formed of two heavy upright pieces of timber, with a cross-beam ten feet overhead…from it was a rope, three-quarters of an inch in diameter, heavily greased so that it would work easily and unfailingly.Directly underneath the noose was the fatal trap…[when Cook stood upon the trap] the death-like stillness was suddenly startled by a clang and clatter as the trap door banged against the uprights below…”
On November 20, 1903, the Laramie Boomerang made mention of the gallows used to execute Horn. “…Horn’s nerves yesterday afternoon were put to the severest test, but he never so much as flinched, nor did any of the color leave his cheeks.Shortly after 4 o’clock Architect Julian and the carpenters were admitted to the jail bearing the mechinism (sic) of the gallows, together with the timbers which had previously been fitted.The work on the gallows was commenced immediately, the carpenters joining the braces and timbers together as rapidly as possible, and not caring how much noise they made about it either.Large spikes were driven to hold the timbers in place, while the trap doors were raised and lowered many times and slammed in a careless manner to see if they would work readily…”Horn’s gallows had been designed so that a bucket containing water would serve as a counter weight.When the bucket reached the proper weight it would fall, releasing a pin that held the trap door.The Laramie Boomerang described the event as follows:“…Two stalwart assistants stepped forward; grasped Horn firmly and lifted him upon the fatal trap…not a twitch, not a movement betrayed emotion or feeling as the trickling of the water running from the counter-weight into a shallow pan before the scaffold marked the passage of the last seconds of the murders’ earthly existence…”
In 1888, Wyoming’s legislature appropriated funds to build a prison at Rawlins, Wyoming. Thirteen years later, on December 12, 1901, the first prisoners were transported from Laramie to their new home. Using news articles, governmental records, recollections of ex-employees, and his own experiences, the author takes the reader through the difficult period of prison occupancy, the eras of industry and agriculture, the use of prisoner work crews, and the era of rehabilitation programs. Included in the narrative are chilling accounts of Wyoming’s executions and a selection of prison tales.
Management of the prison changed to meet the needs of the state, while national trends to improve prisoner treatment stirred reformists both within and external to the prison. Wyoming’s prisoners were hungry for change.
About the Author
Duane Shillinger, an Arts and Sciences graduate of the University of Wyoming, began employment at the Wyoming State Penitentiary in 1967 as a counselor. He was promoted to administrative assistant; then to deputy warden; and in 1979, Governor Ed Herschler appointed Duane as warden.
Employed for 28 years at the prison, Duane was the last person to serve as warden of the old prison and first warden of the new prison. Throughout his prison employment, he maintained an active role in the daily prison routine. He often pitched-in to assist correctional officers and he mingled with and knew the name of each inmate.
Following retirement, Duane set a course to capture in writing Wyoming’s fading territorial and early state prison history.
