By Mark Holtsberry
Here is a person with a story that always caught my attention as a child, Tom Horn. No, he is not from Paulding County, but, I was drawn to the story of his life. Here it goes.
Tom Horn Jr. was an American scout, cowboy, western lawman, World Champion Steer Wrestler, soldier in the Spanish American War. Range detective and Pinkerton agent in the 1890’s- early 1900’s of the American old west, he was believed to have committed seventeen killing’s as a hired gunman throughout the west. He was convicted in 1902 of the killing of fourteen year old Willie Nickell near, Iron Mountain, Wyoming.
Now for the rest of the story: Thomas G. Horn Jr. was born November 21, 1860 in Scotland, Missouri, son of Thomas G. Sr. and Mary Ann Maricha (Miller) Horn. One of eleven children born to Thomas G. Horn Sr. was born January 15, 1825 in Mt. Vernon, Knox County, Ohio and died November 20, 1891 in Ladner, British Columbia, Canada. Mary Ann, born January 22, 1831 in Mt. Vernon, Knox County, Ohio, died November 26, 1908. Both are buried in Surrey Centre Cemetery, British Columbia, Canada.
Tom’s childhood was marked by the death of his dog, Shedrick, at the hands of two boys Tom had gotten into a fight with. The boys beat up Tom and shot his dog at age sixteen, Tom headed southwest, hired as a U.S. Cavalry civilian scout, packer, and interpreter during the Apache Wars. Tom proved himself worthy, time and time again, Known for his lone reconnaissance missions and helping track down Geronimo’s major chief of scouts. On September 4, 1886, Tom was present at the surrender of Geronimo, where he acted as an interpreter. Tom negotiated the surrender terms.
After that part of his life, Tom built his own ranch, but this idea was short lived, as cattle thieves stole his herd. I believe that is when Tom began his hatred for cattle thieves, which led to him entering the profession of range detective. By 1888, Tom wandered and took jobs as a prospector, ranch hand, and rodeo contestant. He was hired as a gun hand by numerous cattle companies to watch over cattle operations. Tom said, that he would shoot the thief and would not feel remorse.
His employment opportunity grew, as the Pinkerton National Detective Agency needed someone with tracking abilities. Killing seventeen men charging $500.00 for each rustler shot. Using his .30-30 Winchester Lever Action Buffalo Gun. His trademark was putting a rock under the dead man’s head. Hired between 1889- 1890, he handled investigations in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. In 1892, Johnson County War was out of control. Tom was a prime suspect in the killings of two ranchers.
In 1894, the Pinkerton Agency, was forced to have Tom resign. In the years of 1895 – 1896, his name was brought up in the killings of suspected cattle thieves. In 1897, Tom was a suspect in the disappearance of a known cattle rustler. In 1898, Tom Horn was serving as a chief packer, (supplies on mules being delivered to the troops) for Theodore Roosevelt’s, “Rough Riders”. Tom was in Cuba to watch the “Rough Riders” as well as the 9th and 10th Colored Cavalry units. As a packer, Tom never lost one pack supply even though, he and his unit was always under attack by enemy fighters. During his service, like many, he would catch, Yellow Fever, was bedridden and sent home.
In 1901, Tom returned to Wyoming and began working for a wealthy cattle baron named, John C. Coble. Coble belonged to the Wyoming Stock Men’s Association. This is where I believe the trouble starts for Tom. Cattle ranchers, Jim and Dora Miller, had a running feud with a sheep rancher, Kels Nickell. Accusations of trespassing by Nickell on Miller’s property brought things to a boiling point. July 18, 1901, Kels’ son, Willie Nickell, was found murdered, he was shot to death, also found with a rock left under his head. In August, Kels was shot and 60 head of sheep were killed. Kels’ two other sons saw two riders riding away from the scene on horses owned by Miller.
On January 1902, Deputy Marshall Joe Lefors, questioned Tom Horn about the Willie Nickell murder. Tom, still drunk from a night of drinking, and out of sorts, allegedly confessed to shooting Willie with a three hundred yard shot with his Winchester Level Action .30-30, Serial Number 82667, stating that this was the best shot he ever made, and also the dirtiest trick he ever had done. Tom Horn was arrested the next day. Tom Horn’s employer, John Coble, as well as the Cattle Men’s Association, provided money for Tom’s defense attorneys, but a half- hearted effort was provided.
A writer, Johan P. Bakker, believed the large cattle interests by this time, found Tom Horn, as expendable and the case provided a way to silence Tom in regards to the Cattle Men’s Association’s activities. Tom did escape from the Cheyenne Jail, and was recaptured. Tom’s trial started October 10, 1902, in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Tom’s statements were introduced, but with distortion. Two eye witnesses provided nothing but circumstantial evidence. One witness testified that Tom was twenty miles away from the scene of the murder an hour after it was committed. Tom Horn’s trial went to the jury, October 23, 1902, returning with a guilty verdict the next day. The Wyoming Supreme Court, upheld the decision of the District Court and denied a new trial. The Governor of Wyoming, received an affidavit from a school teacher named Glendolene Kimmel’, saying that Victor Miller was guilty of the murder. The contents appeared in the press, but the original document disappeared. The Governor refused to intervene in the case.
Tom Horn was given an execution date of November 20, 1903. Before his death, Tom gave his .30-30 Winchester to his friend, Charles B. Irvin. Tom Horn was hanged in Cheyenne. It was told that Tom braided the rope that he was hung with, but that is an old western tale. He never gave up the names of those who had hired him during the feud. He was buried in the Columbia Cemetery in Boulder, Colorado, December 3, 1903. Many considered Tom Horn wrongly executed for a murder because his confession was given while drunk. Even Geronimo, expressed his doubts about Horn’s charges during an interview.
To this day, mock trials, studying evidence, trial proceedings, show that fifty percent are still divided. In closing, remember that .30-30 Winchester Rifle, well the family of Charles B. Irvin estate sold this rifle at auction, January 15, 2015. Starting bid was $50,000.00, it sold for $130,000.00. I missed that auction! I rest my case.
Until Next Time!
