In July of 1889, five rich Wyoming cattle barons set out to kill what they viewed as the biggest threat to their corporations: Ella Watson. Its true, a middle aged woman, known to some as Cattle Kate, had established a small ranch on the Sweetwater in Natrona County in the hopes of making s meager living raising a small heard of cattle. The local cattle, of course, wanted control of all resources and land. The accused her of larceny, rustling, and of course in their vile way, prostitution. The five men, led by Albert Bothwell, broke into her ranch house and abducted her and her partner, Jim Averell. Five miles from her ranch, they hung her from tree near the Oregon trail.
Bill Long told lots of stories about Cattle Kate. The details he shared were too intimate to discount the idea that he knew her personally--even down to the very words she said to her partner while they were tying a noose around her neck. Ellen "Liddy" Watson and James Averill were hung on July 20th, 1889. Later, they five cattle barons were arrested, but were later released and never convicted despite each boasting confessions of the crime.
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