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Pale Horse Revelations #63 - Tom Horn: Old West Assassin

Hello readers and welcome back to Pale Horse Revelations. where we explore significant people, places, and events in Old West history. While I make no promises, don't be surprised if some of these places, people, or events find their way into future Pale Rider adventures.

Last week you were introduced to the controversial figure of Isom Dart. You learned that this alleged cattle rustler was gunned down by an unknown assailant. The official ruling was that Dart had been killed by a rifle shot at the hands of an unknown party.

This week we turn our attention to the hired gun that many believed to be responsible for the deaths of Dart and his friend Matt Rash. Like Dart, Tom Horne's story is so intriguing in part because of the controversy and debate that still surrounds the man's life and death. As usual, I will present all sides and leave it to you to arrive at your own conclusions.

Thomas Horn Jr., hereafter referred to as Tom (or simply Horn) was born in 1860 on his family's farm near Scottland County, Missouri. By his own account, Tom's life on the family's 600-acre spread was far from idyllic. Tom was the fifth of twelve children but allegedly enjoyed very little in the way of companionship as a child. If Tom's autobiography is to be believed, his only friend growing up was a pup named Shedrick. Tom reportedly got into a fight with two boys who beat him mercilessly before blasting Shedrick with a shotgun.

Not surprisingly, Tom left home at a young age (between 14 and 16 depending on the source). He made his way southwest eventually ending up in Arizona. At the age of 15 (or 16 according to some sources) young Tom found employment with the U.S. Cavalry as a civilian scout, packer, and interpreter during the Apache Wars. Horn was well respected for his work with the Army and rose quickly through the ranks.

I pause here to caution the reader that much of what we know about Horn's exploits as a scout come only from Tom's autobiography, which was written from prison while awaiting execution (more to follow on that). Nonetheless, it makes for interesting reading, and I'll leave you to decide how much (if any) of it to believe. In one instance, Horn reported that they were ambushed by Apache warriors while crossing Cibecue Creek in Arizona. The unsuspecting troops were caught off guard and soon found themselves leaderless and pinned down by the Apache, who held the high ground. Horn and a fellow scout were ordered to break away and return fire from a hill above the Apache. This turned the tide and enabled the beleaguered soldiers to repel the attack.

In another account, Horn claimed to have participated in the Battle of Big Dry Wash. Much like the previous account Horn and a fellow scout were able to slip through the banks opposite the Apache line. From there, the two men opened fire and killed a number of warriors, again saving the day.

Perhaps the most disputed claim made by Horn centered around his role in the pursuit and capture of Geronimo. According to Horn, he rose to the position of chief of scouts under Captain Emmet Crawford and played a significant role in tracking the renegade to his stronghold. Horn was present when Crawford's camp was mistakenly attacked by Mexican militia. During the attack Horn was shot in the shoulder and Crawford was killed. Horn claimed to have played a significant role in the eventual surrender of Geronimo, but many historians dispute this. According to most Tom was present only to serve as a Spanish-to-English interpreter. Following Geronimo's surrender, Horn was discharged from his duties as a scout and soon returned to Arizona. Again, the primary source for information about this time in the man's life is Horn's own autobiography.

In addition to his reputation as a lethal shot, Horn was also an accomplished wrangler. He won a steer-roping contest in July 1888 in Globe, Arizona. In 1890 Horn participated in a contest in Phoenix where he set a record time of 49.5 seconds.

Some sources indicate that Horn spent time mining after his service a s a scout. Another source indicates that he took the money saved during his years of service and established his own ranch near Aravaipa Canyon. His livestock included a herd of 100 cattle and 26 horses. Horn's time as a rancher was brief, however, due to the actions of rustlers. One night, a gang of cattle thieves allegedly stormed the ranch and stole every last animal. The result for Tom was financial ruin and bankruptcy. Some speculate that this incident propelled Horn down the dark path he eventually travelled.

After his failed attempt at ranching, Horn wandered the west taking odd jobs that included prospecting, working as a ranch hand, and participating as a rodeo contestant. But Horn soon found his calling as a hired gun working primarily for cattle companies watching over their cattle and killing any suspected rustlers. By all accounts this was a role Horn excelled at. He was purportedly paid $500.00-$600.00 for each suspected rustler he killed.

Horn had a reputation for warning those he suspected of rustling and giving them an opportunity to flee town. Horn had no qualms about gunning down those who declined to do so. Horn was reported to have said that he felt not "one shred of remorse" for shooting a man he thought guilty of rustling and who had been fairly warned. More famously Horn is quoted as saying, "Killing men is my specialty. I look at it as a business proposition, and I think I have a corner on the market."

Horn took part in the Pleasant Valley War between cattlemen and sheepmen in Arizona. Which side he fought on is unclear. However, both sides suffered killings for which no suspect was ever identified. Horn claimed that he was the "mediator" between the two sides while serving as a deputy sheriff under three well-known Arizona lawmen. Despite this claim Horn became a prime suspect in the disappearance of Mart Blevins in 1887. Nor did his role as a deputy prevent him from participating in the lynching of three alleged rustlers in August 1888.

While serving as a deputy sheriff, Horn caught the attention of the Pinkerton Detective Agency. He was hired by the agency in late 1889 or early 1900 to handle cases across the western states. He worked out of the Denver field office. Horn soon developed a reputation for being cool under fire and able to track anyone assigned to him. He also developed a reputation for violence, allegedly killing 17 men in the course of carrying out his duty.

During the Johnson County War Horn worked for the Wyoming Stock Growers Association in addition to the Pinkertons. The Pinkertons sent him to work undercover using the alias, Tom Hale. The Stock Grower's association allegedly paid him $500 for every suspected rustler he killed. During this time Horn became a prime suspect in the killings of Nate Champion and Nick Ray on April 9, 1892. A short time later Horn was named the primary suspect in the killings of ranchers John Tisdale and Orley "Roger" Jones. Although he was never convicted of either set of murders the Pinkerton's were forced to part ways with Horn to avoid public embarrassment.

Horn and the Pinkertons may have parted ways, but he continued to leave a trail of death in his wake. In 1895 Horn allegedly killed a known cattle thief named William Lewis near Iron Mountain, Wyoming. Six weeks later he was facing charges for the murder of Fred Powell. He was eventually exonerated for both crimes. In 1896 a ranchman with a large stash of cash was last seen with Horn. Later that year, Horn offered his talents in a letter to the marshal of Tucson, Arizona. The area was plagued by a gang of rustlers lead by William and Robert Christian. Horn offered his assistance in getting rid of the pair. Not surprisingly, William was killed by an unknown assailant in 1897 and Robert disappeared later that same year.

In 1900 Horn became involved in the Colorado Range War fought between big ranchers and newly arriving homesteaders. It was here that Horn crossed paths with Rash and Dart. Horn initially went undercover as Tom Hicks and took a job working for Rash. At Rash's ranch Horn uncovered evidence that Rash was branding cattle that didn't belong to him. That was enough for Horn. As was his habit, Horn left a threatening note on Rash's door giving him 60 days to leave town. Rash ignored the warning and soon wound-up dead. Horn allegedly showed up at Rash's home just as the man was finishing dinner and shot him at point blank range. With only unreliable accounts and rumors offered as evidence against him, Horn was never charged. Not long after, Isom Dart joined his friend in the afterlife.

As word of the deaths of Rash and Dart spread the remaining rustlers fled in fear. They were right to be afraid, because Horn tracked down each and every one of them, killing three. According to legend Horn pinned one of the dead man's ears to send a message to the remaining homesteaders.

Horn took a brief break from his role as a stock detective to serve in the United States Army during the Spanish-American War. Officially designated a non-combatant Horn and his men often came under fire as they delivered rations and ammunition to the front. Horn's stint in the military was cut short when he caught Malaria (or Yellow Fever by some accounts).

Upon his recovery, Horn returned to Wyoming and his killing ways. This would prove to be his final adventure. He became embroiled in a feud between cattle rancher Jim Miller and his rival Kels Nickell who had recently introduced sheep into the region. On July 18, 1901, the body of Kel's 14-year-old son, Willie, was discovered near their homestead gate.

A coroner's inquest was immediately initiated to investigate the heinous murder (and the subsequent acts of violence that would soon follow). On August 4, Kels Nickell was shot and wounded and 60-80 of his sheep were found slaughtered. Two of the Nickell children reported seeing two men leaving on horses known to belong Jim Miller. On August 7 Jim Miller and his two sons were arrested for shooting Kels Nickell but were released on bond the following day.

Meanwhile, Deputy Marshal Joe Lefors was convinced that Tom Horn was responsible for the murder of young Willie. He questioned an inebriated Horn under false pretenses in January 1902. Horn was led to believe that the marshal wished to hire him for a job. Under these dubious circumstances Lefors was able to gain a confession from Horn. Horn was arrested the next day.

Despite the circumstances Horn was found guilty on October 24, 1902, after just one day of jury deliberation. Several days later Horn was sentenced to death by hanging. His attorneys appealed to the Wyoming Supreme Court, but the higher court upheld his conviction.

While waiting for the sentence to be carried out, Horn took the time to write his autobiography. It is from this source that our knowledge of Horn's early life stems. That's why much of his early accomplishments are disputed by modern historians.

Horn's sentence was carried out on November 20, 1902, in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He was buried in Boulder, Colorado at the Columbia Cemetery in early December. Horn stubbornly refused to give up the names of the men who hired him, taking that secret with him to the grave.

The debate over Horn's guilt remains hotly debated among academics. One historian who extensively researched the trial concluded that while Horn could have committed the murder, he probably did not. He concluded that there was no physical evidence indicating that Horn had committed the crime. In addition, Horn had last been seen in the area the day before the murder and the prosecution made no effort to investigate any other suspects. Other historians have arrived at different conclusions. Some concluded that Horn did commit the murder but thought he was killing the boy's father. The one consensus is that regardless of whether Horn killed Willie Nickell, he certainly murdered many others. In that view, justice was served regardless.

This brings us to the end of another edition of Pale Horse Revelations. I hope you found it to be both interesting and entertaining. As usual, I have tried to provide some interesting historical information while trying not to bog the casual reader down with too much detail. I encourage anyone interested in learning more to dig in and do a little research of their own. And I would love to know what conclusion you arrive at.

  As a reminder, I would love to hear your suggestions for topics to focus on in future editions of Pale Horse Revelations. If there's a particular location, person, or event that you would like to know more about, please let me know. Just fill out the Contact form found on the "Contact the Author" page of this website and indicate your desired topic in the message box at the bottom of the form. I look forward to hearing from you all.

  Please be sure to check back next week for the next installment of Pale Horse Revelations and thank you for your continued interest and support.



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