New-York tribune., 1901-04-27
RETCRUH'S HEAD TORN OFF.
ROPE BREAKS AT THE TRAIN ROBBERS
EXECUTION-AN ANTE-MoRTEM
CONFESSION.

Clayton y NJ. April 2s.-Thomas E. Ketchum
alias Black Jack" the train robber, was hanged
here l u p. m. to-day. The rope broke. but the
fall jerked Ketchums head of.
Ketchum talked for hour in the morning
with visitors cooler than any who met him. He
declared death preferable to Imprisonment he
told of roboeres in which he was concerned but
declared that he had never killed man and had
shot only three. He said that he was not BLACK
Jack" and that that bandit is still at liberty
Besides giving a full account of the STEMS Pass
robbery, eXonerating the men who were convicted
of that crime Ketchum said Bud Cpshaw was
innocent of the murder of A P. Powers. IN Iexas
of which he is accused This killing. Ketchum
said was the result of a conspiracy TO which he
was party. Twenty deputies guarded the jail
throughout the night. Hundreds of armed men,
many Of them cowboys from the surrounding
country. arrived in the morning. but no demon
stration occurred.
Ketcham had been the mos noted desperate Of
the Southwest for many years and. although cred
tied with having taken the lives OF many reno"
beings. his execution was for an attempted tram
robbery. in which nobody was killed rms crime
was committed Folsom. y. NJ, August H.
1899. SingIe-handed. ketChum held up Colorauo
and Southern passenger train lie ordered the
engineer and fireman to uncouple the engine ana
leave the train. The conductor and man agent
opened fire. Ketchum received the contents OF
double barreed shotgun in his right arm, nut
quickly changing the rifle TO his left shoulder ne
succeeded i'll wounding both conductor ana man
agent He captured the next daN' ulvu anu
received the extreme penalty He is said to nave
been the leader of a band of outlaws who commit
ted many train robberes and other raids in Texas
New-Mexico and Arizona. This band has been
scattered since his arrest. seven or eight having
been killed.
Ketchum mailed letter TO President MCKINNEY
this morning. in which he said:
Standing in the presence of death. where no
human aid can reach me. desire TO commune
TO YOU some facts which NAV. perhaps, oe lhe
means of Iiberatiug innocent men. There are now
three men in Santa Fe Penitentiary serving sen,
tences for the robbery of the United states man
at Stems Pass Ariz.. in 1897. viz: Leonard Al
bertsou Walter Huffman and Bill Waterman
and they are innocent Of the crime as an un,
born babe. The names of the men who commitISTtni Tti
the crime are Dave Atkins. Ed Bullin, VIII,
Carver. Sam Ketchum. "Broncho Bit and myseiI.
have given my attorney N Clayton means Oy
which articles taken in said robbery may De found
where hid them. and also the names OF WIZ
nesses who live in that vicinity who VIII teStify
that myself and gang were in that neighporhood
both Immediately before and after the ronoery-
The fact that these mel are innocent ana are
suffering mpelS to make thtS confession. w ME
you cannot help me- and. while realize that all
efforts to to Communication or my sem
tenCe have sgnally failed. wish 70 DO TINS Huch
in the interest of these innocent men, who. so Tar
as | know never committed cr1me IN their HVeS;
make this statement. fully realizing that my END
is fast approaching and that must soon meet my
Maker.