The Legacy and Murder of Sheriff William Withers

Send a message to Monica and Olivia!

This episode is the second in a series of three covering a wild time in the history of Lane County, Oregon. Be sure to start with the previous episode, "Claude Branton and Courtland Greene - A Murder at Isham's Corral."

Sheriff Withers was, by all accounts, the most beloved sheriff in the history of Lane County. He was known for being honest, fair, and kind. Even before executing Claude Branton, he was thanked by the condemned man for having treated him so well while he had been in the sheriff's custody.

Only two men were ever executed on the grounds of the Lane County jail; one was executed for murder by Sheriff Withers, and the other was executed for the murder of Sheriff Withers. This episode takes a brief look at some of the most exciting and gut-wrenching cases that crossed Withers's desk in his short time as sheriff and also takes a look at the criminal career of his murderer—Elliott Ellis Lyons.

Here's the website about the Bohemia Mines that was mentioned in the episode:

https://westernmininghistory.com/towns/oregon/bohemia/

Vintage ads featured were for: 

• N. T. Wilson Grocers (Their phone number was really 911—phone numbers back in 1903 were just 3 digits in length.)
• Willamette Market