Name/Title
ManuscriptEntry/Object ID
2014.1126.5.2Scope and Content
A collection of years of research on James (Jim) Averell and Ellen (Ella) Liddy Watson (called Cattle Kate after the hanging) using source documents from various legal sources, correspondence, and newspapers. Ella and Jim were lynched July 20, 1889. Not all of the documents are listed in the following cataloged files.
FILE 1- Jim Averell, Cattle Kate (Ellen Liddy Watson), Legal File
Includes handwritten notes of major players: Lynchers, Witnesses to lynching, Neighbors, Creditors, Dockets, Livestock, Mortgages, Brand Applications, Marriages, Non-Marriage; copies of legal documents: LU brand sold to Ellen Watson by John M. Crowder; Manuscript critiqueing George Hufsmith's book (2); Hand drawn map of locations of homesteads, and major events; correspondence (2 copies) correcting errors in a published article by Candy Moulton, attached.
FILE 1 (cont'd)
Non-Marriage proof; probate of Ella Watson, Names of Ellen Liddy Watson (actual name), copy of a finalized marriage license to prove that Jim and Ella were not married; George Durant appointed estate administrator, brought suit for Bothwell and Durbin stealing cattle from Ellen Watson after her death; inquisition report by J. A. Bennett, Coroner and Jurors, 7/23/1889; excerpt from "Tragedies of Natrona County;" origin of LU brand; Lists of brand in effect and allowed, 4/1/1901; E. W. Sharai and LU brand; Affidavit of George W. Durant that cattle of Ella Watson sold at auction at Bothwell to William Granger, 8/1889; Ellen Watson's application for citizenship, 5/25/1887; Correspondence proving Ella Watson's cabin was moved to Bothwell's ranch for ice house;
Mortgage documents of James Averell to J. W. Hugus for supplies, etc.; Legal documents: Attorneys for Albert J. Bothwell and John H. Durbin want George Durant, Administrator, to separate actions, 1/10/1890; Warranty deed in which James
DONOR'S FILE 1 required a second folder to house documents,
Title is the same with notation, File 1 cont'd.
Averell grants water rights to A. J. Bothwell, 5/14/1888; Correspondence showing dates of demeaning Ella Watson; Newspaper clipping regarding Big Ben Carter and his hanging; Topographic map showing Sweetwater Rocks, Ordway Pocket, Savage Peak, ranches, Oregon Trail, etc.; Bothwell death data; copied photos of Ella Watson and James Averell; Gene Crowder; Indictment against Albert J. Bothwell, Earnest McLean, Robert B. Connor, Tom Sun, Robert M. Galbraith and John Durbin for murder of James Averell, signed Isaac C. Miller, foreman of the Grand Jury, 10/24/1889;
Legal document, "Amended Petition , 10/11/1889. George W. Durant vs. A. J. Bothwell and John Durbin; Chronology of lawsuit initiated by Administrator, George W. Durant vs. Bothwell and Durbin for stealing Ella Watson's cattle (41) after her lynching (2 copies); Indictment against Albert J. Bothwell, Earnest McLean, Robert B. Connor, Tom Sun, Robert M. Galbraith and John Durbin for murder of Ella Watson, signed David H. Craig, County and Prosecuting Attorney, 10/14/1889.
Map showing the Watson Water Ditch hand drawn on a section map, 12/22/1888; Legal Statement of proposed ditch, signed James Averell, 10/17/1887; Ellen L. Watson's statement of proposal for water ditch, shows her birth name, confirmation of homestead description, etc.; Averell sells Buffalo property to Henry B. Robertson, 3/24/1881; Proposed irrigation ditch of James Averell, water to be taken from Kate's property on Horse Creek (Sec 22, T30N, R85W); Excerpt from "History of Natrona Couny, "Tragedies of Natrona County," Obituary of Gordon Sanford, 9/2008; William M. McIntosh, obituaries (married to Virginia Beebe); Letter detailing ownership of James Averell's property. Copy of Stock Laws, 1887; Letter from Dan Meschter to Rans re: brands;
Legal documents of James Averell selling first homestead 2/26/1884 to Butlers and Horton (Bill McInosh Ranch today); Noes on Deed and chattel Mortgage Books concerning James Averell and Ella Watson; Plat of Townsite of Bothwell, 8/27/1888; Mining Deed of James Averell; Renewal of Mortgage between James Averell and J. W. Hugus Bank, 10/20/1887, signed by J. C. Davis.
FILE 2-CATTLE KATE
Compilation of major players in the story of Cattle Kate and James Averell, (copy is also in file 1); Ella's name in legal documents; newspaper clippings and handwritten notes re: Cattle Kate; excerpt from book, Hufsmith; excerpt from book, "As I Remember," Ethel Helms Sanford, 1977 (bought Bothwell's brand); Stan Sanford, obituary; sources for proving James Averell and Ella Watson were not married; fake letter from man claiming to be Ella and Jim's son; Excerpt from "The Outlaw" re: James Averell; Correspondence between Ray Ring and Dr. T. A. Larson; Probate of James Averell and Ella Watson's property by Ray Ring; Probate Docket #503 of Ella Watson; Probate Docket #504 of James Averell.
FILE 2-cont'd
Correspondence between Ray Ring and Larry K. Brown re: DeCory name; Documents relating to the eyewitneses to the hangings: Frank Buchanan, Ralph Cole, John DeCory (DeCorey), Gene Crowder; Origin and Evolution of the Ella Watson LU brand;
Letter from Ray Ring to Dan Meschter re: publishing Sweetwater Sunset; Livestock mortgaged to J. W. Hugus by James Averell; Copy of Bill of Sale of James Averell horse from estate; First purchaser of James Averell's homestead; LU brand information; Miscellaneous handwritten notes; More LU brand information; Letter to Rans Baker re: ceramic clay.
FILE 3-Cheyenne Ridge Skeleton
File relates to body found 4/4/1996 in Sand dunes on Cheyenne Ridge in sec 32, T25N, R86W, 21 1/2miles as crow flies NNE of Rawlins on the apparent Rawlins-Fort McKinney Trail (The route to Casper was: Rawlins, Brown's Canyon, Stone Ranch, Cheyenne Ridge, Ferris, Sand Creek, Sweetwater, Alcova, Bessemer, and Casper).
Ray Ring was suspicious that the skeleton was that of Frank Buchanan the only direct eye witness to the hanging of Ella Watson and James Averell. He documents facts of this in a manuscript to Dan Meschter.
Letter from Dan Meschter concerning the body and other facets of Ella Watson and James Averell.
Study of skeleton by Doctor George W. Gill, Forensic Anthropologist.
Clippings on various men skeletons found. Notes on Frank Buchanan; Letter on various murders in 1890; Notes on George Henderson; Notes on who skeleton could be;
Woman's skeleton found in Snowy Range; Notes on John Randolph Bothwell (A. J. Bothwell's brother); Ray Ring letter to Meschter re: livestock of Ella and James, the Cheyenne Ridge skeleton;
Notes on Cheyenne Ridge skeleton; Maps of the Sweetwater Claims; Skeleton is not Meldrum's. Clippings on found skeletons; May 18, 1996 edition of Daily Times with article on long buried gunshot victim.Collection
Permanent Collection