Author Topic: Tom Horn. (Read 9652 times)

SAWgunner · « **on:** August 17, 2003, 11:21:20 AM »

I thought some of you might find this very interesting. As I have stated in some earlier posts, I married into a Cattle ranching family. The family ranch is right on the border of Platte and Laramie Counties in Wyoming. The area has alot of history behind it, and the family ranch (supposedly) has the very first stone houses built in Wyoming in the 40 Bar pasture and a few miles away in the Seap. They were built by a couple of brothers that were Irish stone masons. Anyway, back to the story at hand. If you follow the 40 Bar, which is a huge meadow pasture south towards Laramie County, the terrain becomes rough, and mountainous with scrub pine and buckbrush everywhere. Anyway, down south on the family friend/neighbor's Ranch is where Tom Horn allegedly shot young Willie Nichols. The stone marker is still there where Willie was shot, so is the old Nichol house and the neighbor still lives in the old Miller House. The ranchers around this area claim that it was actually the Millers that shot young Willie in retribution to their son dying in an accident, which they blamed on the Nichols. The neigbors have totally re-done the old Miller household, and it is very nice. They still have an old elk from around that time mounted in the barn.

All of this land was part of the old Swan Cattle and Co. monopoly way back when. The fact that Tom Horn worked for them as a hired gun, and the fact that the Nichols were sheep hearders (Tom was hired by Swan Cattle and Co. to run off homesteaders and sheep hearders) is the reason everyone in WY thinks he was set up. The Swan Cattle and Co. headquarters is still standing near Chugwater (the nearest town to the family ranch), along with the Diamond Guest ranch, which has been around forever.

I hope you enjoyed this, and I will post more when it comes around. I love this place, so if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask, I will be happy to reply. The area around the ranch has a rich history, and I will write about it when I learn more.

Thanks,

SSG G.

Capt Hamp Cox · « **Reply #1 on:** August 17, 2003, 12:46:15 PM »

SAWgunner,

Interesting post - enjoyed reading it.

What is your take on Tom Horn's involvement in the Nickell boy's killing? Was he set up, or did he do it?

Hamp

SAWgunner · « **Reply #2 on:** August 17, 2003, 12:52:16 PM »

Honestly, I think that the Millers did it. Mr. Nichols was too small of a sheep herder for Swan Cattle & Co. to worry about, plus Tom was involved with a Rustler case at the time. The only evidence was from the Sheriff (also Tom's friend) that supposedly got him drunk at the time of the "confession". Tom Horn was the last man hung in Wyoming, and they have a festivalevery year in Cheyenne on the anniversary of his hanging. The festical includes a mock trial with real defense attorneys, and he is proven innocent every year. In my mind, I really don't think he did it.

Holiday · « **Reply #3 on:** August 18, 2003, 09:01:45 AM »

One account I have seen on the History Channel claims that Nichols senior was suspected of rustling. Apparently he did have a criminal past. At the time of the shooting, the elder Nichols had been watching his field and had stepped in to rest. Willie Nichols put on his fathers hat and coat to go out and relieve his father for a spell. This is when Tom Horn supposedly shot him, thinking he was the boy's father. This is a short account of what the History Channel had to say. I'm not sure what really happened, but I do feel that Tom Horn was rail roaded. He did a lot of good work for the government as a Military Scout. What he supposedly did doesn't fit in with what I have heard of his past.

Cheyenne · « **Reply #4 on:** August 21, 2003, 04:16:23 AM »

In the "confession" Horn was asked point blank if he shot the Nichols boy, to which he replied, something to the effect of, "If I had, it would have been a dirty trick"....I admit I'm real familiar with Horn, but it was an ambiguous statement and would not be allowed in court as prima facia evidence by today's standard......but, it doesn't prove him innocent either. :roll:

williamlayton · « **Reply #5 on:** September 05, 2003, 04:29:59 AM »

tom horn---wonderful story of a real man that made some very bad decisions. he intreagues- somebody spell this-- me,has for awhile. his decisions in life leave me with questions, sorrow, puzzelment and almost unbelief. he was almost amoral.
nothing else to this conversation.
blessings

snattlerake · « **Reply #6 on:** November 17, 2006, 07:09:08 PM »

As a kid I knew some folks in the Iron Mtn area: John Bell, his foreman Floyd, the Hanna's, and further north Mick Miller (now deceased). I suppose you've been to Willie's grave site? I've been told Tom Horn did hang around the country where Hwy 34 courses through the hills between Wheatland and Bosler but cannot verify that story. Most of these old timer's are gone and into the history books now.

snattlerake

CowboyEngr · « **Reply #7 on:** November 22, 2006, 09:00:55 AM »

I've long been interested in Tom Horn too, but a lot of people are. A huge part of Tom Horn's eventual problem was the fact that he tended to s-t-r-e-t-c-h reality into something more, in order to enhance his reputation as a dangerous man. It was good for business, but got him hung in the end. I have no doubt that he was truly something of a heroic figure during his Arizona days, but when he moved to Colorado and Wyoming his binge drinking and braggadocious style got out of hand. He was an easy target for someone bent on making political points during Wyoming's developing early days.

Even though Horn bragged up his abilities, he was always vague about specific situations and was careful to only barely imply connections and guilt. He certainly was able and willing to kill for money and undoubtedly did so during this period. He was a killer for hire, but I doubt that the Millers could have afforded him. Even though Kels Nichols was difficult and not well liked, the Millers were likely the only ones that actually disliked Kels Nichols enough to kill him, or try to have him killed.

As far as anyone has ever determined, Tom Horn's killings were "clean and professional" and it seems unlikely that he would have botched a job as badly as he supposedly did the Nichols situation. To me it seems ludicrous that he killed Willie Nichols, but his bragging, drinking, and lack of judgement certainly got him hanged for it.

Dee · « **Reply #8 on:** December 29, 2006, 02:24:07 PM »

Tom Horn is indeed an interesting character. I would also doubt his participation in a senseless dry-gulching of a small time sheep rancher or his son. Have any of you guys checked out THE WYOMING TALES AND TRAILS web site. There is a lot on Horn and many others there. I have read most of it. Good stuff.

Sam Bass · « **Reply #9 on:** May 06, 2007, 02:50:03 PM »

Howdy folks. I'm a new guy here. I found this thread fascinating and old west threads in general. I love the old west legends, but am stuck in a city in the mid west. I'd love to visit the ranch areas of Wyoming someday. The last time I was able to visit was Colorado, then the Cheyenne area way back in 1983.

John Henry Holliday · « **Reply #10 on:** May 06, 2007, 03:08:07 PM »

removed

Wyo. Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #11 on:** April 01, 2009, 08:20:13 AM »

Saw, again this is an old thread, but Horn was a fascinating character. I for one am convinced he did not kill the Nickel kid. The Nickels as you said were too small and outfit for Horn to worry with. They were not from what I gather rustlers. It was also felt that by bringing Horn to he gallows he would tell who employed him rather than hang. But he was too brave for that. Someone in my reading has suggested that like the character Tom Horn as portrayed by Steve McQueen, Horn really committed a kind of suicide. McQueen says in the movie as they are going to hang him, I guess this is like committing suicide because he had to step on a water activated device to actually hang himself. One of the authors I have read, said Horn in a way let himself be hung. He could have told on his employers and gotten off, but he didn't. The author felt Tom had lived though much of the very exciting time of the west. The Apache wars lasted I believe 10yrs after Horn was involved. Then Horn came north, the hunting of theives was small potatoes after the Apaches, but better than nothing. Plus due to Tom's background in religion there was nothing worst than a thief so killing rustlers was ok. Tom saw tremendous changes in his life time, cars, electric lights, telegraph, telephones, cars, etc. He saw so many changes the author felt he really didn't want to cope with the new age of the 1900's. So rather than talk, he was hung. As far as him killing the Nickel kid, a one time I met the grandson of the man that owned the old Iron Mt. Ranch. After a bit of visiting, I politely ask if it was the place Tom Horn worked. Silence!!! Then the old fellow kind of opened up with some general remarks, and said," Tom Horn was not a thug, he was a professional. He carried a pair on 10 power Zeiss Binoculars, and knew exactly who and what he was shooting at. He did not kill the Nickel kid."
Then someone walked up to our table and no more was said. Interesting.

kitchawan kid · « **Reply #12 on:** April 01, 2009, 09:36:52 AM »

I always have to laugh when some of the storys have him,at the time of his short jail break,being caught because he couldn't find the saftey on the gun he grabed.Then they show him with a colt single action.

Oldshooter · « **Reply #13 on:** April 01, 2009, 09:49:51 AM »

Good post! Enjoyed the read! A pleasant change from politics!

Thats (intrigues) William!

Wyo. Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #14 on:** April 01, 2009, 11:25:10 AM »

Oldshooter, thanks, I enjoy the Horn story. Have another or two if I can locate the information. He is to have killed 2 rustlers on Cold Spring Mt. in NW Colo. A noted rustler Queen was sure Horn killed two of her best thieves.

SAWgunner · « **Reply #15 on:** April 01, 2009, 03:40:54 PM »

I agree, Wyo Coyote Hunter. I have personally seen the rocks where the shot was to have taken place, and it is close enough to the gate that you could easily identify your subject if you knew them.

Wyo. Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #16 on:** April 01, 2009, 04:48:38 PM »

SAWgunner, That is a place I would like to see. I have never made the trip to the spot were Nickel was shot.

Rex in OTZ · « **Reply #17 on:** May 22, 2009, 10:58:43 AM »

Back in 1988 i was attending Cheyenne Aero Tech on weekends as being a Nebraskan Sandhills kid freshly off a forclosed Holt county Ranch
I loved driveing the back roads of that hard ground country anything beat the hell outta living in town when your from a rural place like we were (3 holt county Nebraska Boy's), We wanted to take a sunday drive to get the hell outta town for a bit (gas in Cheyenne was .73 cents a gallon self serv) we started out skirting the Missle base and ended up on blacktop market road that louped round from southwest Cheyenne to the northwest there was a sign showing the Iron mountain turnoff we had a half assed idea maybe there was a sign of the Nickel place location but we never asked anybody bout it, we bypassed the Iron Mountain turnoff and wanted to see where the road led, it peterd out into gravel road angleing back round to the North and the east and after awhile less inproved dirt raod till we crossed a cattle guard, must of been a unmaintained acess road we kept to it some grass growing up the middle is patches like sectionline roads crossed a county type bridge (lots of refecters), ended up passing a old abandoned ranch house (Box shaped 2 story) machine shed and correls and cattle shed, we dident see much else, we ended up on the blacktop that was north outta cheyenne the road signs read left to Chuggwater (We associated with the Chuggwater Chilie mix we seen back in town)
passed right through there and great sceanery, nice folks too
We had burgers in a Chuggwater establishment run by some back east pilgrims I remember the cats out front the building all had distemper.
I know Im rambling but was neat passing through that historic country

bilmac · « **Reply #18 on:** May 22, 2009, 07:25:22 PM »

I read a book that theorized that Horn was expecting to be rescued by his employers up until the last minute, is the reason he never talked. But then maybe he didn't do it.

williamlayton · « **Reply #19 on:** May 26, 2009, 12:38:14 AM »

Tom Horn was not the problem it was what he was employed to do that was the rub.
The untouchables were clean and no proofs existed too establish any evidence. Tom horn however was well known to enforce the desires of the large cattle companies.
Cutting him off would effectively cut off their source of power. The times were achangin and the old powers once held by the cattle co's. were being removed by law.
Tom horn was railroaded for an act he did not commit for acts that he did commit.
This little subject has hung on for awhile now and it is fun to read the new post.
Blessings

jlwilliams · « **Reply #20 on:** May 26, 2009, 01:47:31 AM »

Even at the time Horn was hung, it was widely believed that he hadn't Killed Willie Nickols but he had surely killed others so it all evened out.

I recall reading that many years later, one of the Millers who had been around Willie's age at the time confessed to the killing. I believe that some years later he told a teacher that he had done it. Of course it's just as possable that the teacher in question was making it up. Kind of a; "Well, I know what REALLY happened....." tale. I can believe it if only because the boy in question was angry well beyond words over the death of a brother, and teens are prone to act without a true grasp of consequences. He lived a long life and if he did kill and see another man hanged for his crime, the gravity of it surely dogged him to his grave.

The Tom Horn case is one of those most compelling stories in American history. He was a figure worthy of the best fiction authors, but he was real. He lived a note worthy life in an epic time and he died under enigmatic circumstances. The stuff of legends, in real life.

dogsoldier0513 · « **Reply #21 on:** September 16, 2010, 05:26:26 AM »

I was suprised to learn that Tom Horn favored a Winchester M1894 in .30-30. I always thought he used a Winchester M1876.

Dee · « **Reply #22 on:** September 16, 2010, 03:26:38 PM »

Nope! Model 94 Winchester 3030 RIFLE, not carbine. Wish mine was a rifle instead of carbine.

Wyo. Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #23 on:** September 17, 2010, 05:23:37 PM »

The rifle Horn used was a 30-30 rifle...but it had a half magazine...it is around Cheyenne somewhere in a private collection...in one of my gun books I have a photo of it...for a while I think it was on display, but when I went to see it no luck...

bilmac · « **Reply #24 on:** September 18, 2010, 12:24:10 PM »

The rifle Nate Champion was carrying when he was gunned down in the Johnson County wars is in the museum in Douglas. don't know my Winchester Levers all that well, but memory says it was a model 73 in something like 38-55.

dogsoldier0513 · « **Reply #25 on:** September 20, 2010, 07:31:28 AM »

I may be mistaken, but I don't believe the 1873 could handle the .38-55. IIRC, it was originally chambered in the M94. If not in .44-40, the '73 you saw was most likely chambered in .38-40.

saddlebum · « **Reply #26 on:** September 20, 2010, 02:33:23 PM »

http://www.wyomingtalesandtrails.com/horn.html

http://www.tom-horn.com/

Tommie D · « **Reply #27 on:** November 28, 2010, 04:32:22 PM »

Quote from: snattlerake on November 17, 2006, 07:09:08 PM

As a kid I knew some folks in the Iron Mtn area: John Bell, his foreman Floyd, the Hanna's, and further north Mick Miller (now deceased). I suppose you've been to Willie's grave site? I've been told Tom Horn did hang around the country where Hwy 34 courses through the hills between Wheatland and Bosler but cannot verify that story. Most of these old timer's are gone and into the history books now.
snattlerake

New Guy here,
Man I really like reading these stories. I was reading this thread and something sounded really familiar and I could not figure it out till I lifted my coffee cup again. The one that's from the Wheatland Inn that I got about ten years ago when my son and I were on vacation. I wish I would have knew more about Mr. Horn back then as we would have stayed longer in the area and checked everything out.

lee1954 · « **Reply #28 on:** August 11, 2012, 03:12:39 AM »

The Boy was shot with a 30-30 but not by Tom Horn. Tom carried a 45-65 !
Mr. Horn killed many settlers in eastern Wyoming -- the boy Tom Horn was hung for killing - well he was setup --- But he had killed so many, and none could be proven ... Tom needed to be stopped. --So a 30-30 cartrage was planted on Tom Horn...

Well - I'm not saying I'm right -- you have the right to your opinion..
I live in the area - Tom Horn killed in.. I have talked to people that lived here ---but mostly the U of Wyoning did a study and they found ----- Tom Horn didn't kill the boy -- he was killed with a 30-30........
The real story is - Big Money wanted Wyoming to be open range, free grazing, the settelers needed to be ran off / killed if that is what it took --The cattlebarons paid killers leftover from the Civil war to run off homesteaders. Tom Horn was not the only killer working ..

Wyo. Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #29 on:** August 11, 2012, 06:25:08 AM »

While most of what you have to say is certainly correct...Horn did have a special ordered model 94 in .30-30...It had a half magazine and either a 24 or 26 in barrel..I believe it was given to one of the men who sang at Horn's execution...It was in a private collection around Cheyenne the last time I heard...