The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-04-10
Murder Uas 1*is Trade.

Disappointed love made desperate of
Tom Horn and by gradual stages he has
descended into the abyss of crime until
now he is what might be called a profess
sional murderer. For the paltry sum of
$500 he will agree TO take the life OF any
man, even though he may have no per-
sonal grievance TO redress, no motive
other than gain to serve Horn is now
in Jail at Cheyenne, Wyo., charged with
having wantonly taken the life of lad
OF H. named Willie Nickel, and there is a
good prospect that he will pay for his
many crimes with his life. He is be-
lieved TO have killed at least six men,
although he has succeeded in destroying
all evidence of those deeds that would be
sufficient to convict him In q court of law.
Horn Is a handsome mana fine speci-
men of the hardy frontersman. Some
years ago he was chief of scouts for
party of Americans travelling in Northern
Mexico. In n small town I'm this region
he met the woman who turned the entire
course OF his life and made of him an
outlaw tit only To adorn scaffold.
The woman In the case was the beau
tiful daughter of "A wealthy Spaniard
who resided In the town. 1t was a case
promptly threw over a young second
lieutenant i'm the Mexican army to whom
she was engaged. The lieutenant and
Horn met In the public square of the VIII
laee one afternoon and the officer prompt
ly slapped Horns face. The scout
whipped out his six-shooter as quick as
a wink and shot the officer dead.
Horn fled TO the mountains. where
aided by friendly Indians, he made his
way out across the border to Eagle Pass.
Tex, where he was Joined "A month later
by his senorita. The couple were to have
been married, but upon the day set for
the nuptials the girl received word that
her mother was dead and she hurried
away 10 her home TO attend the funeral,
side OF n month.
The scout waited one month, two
months, and year sped by. but his
senorita never returned and gradually
Horn drifted TO the plains OF Wyoming.
since the deay when he realized that the
beautiful Mexican would never return 10
him the scout had probably pursued as
deliberately villainous career as any
criminal that ever lived
Because of Horns exploits there has
been a reign OF terror among the ranch
ing districts for more than II years.
During this period many murders have
been committed on the plains of Wyo-
braska and southern Montana. The vic
Tins have I'm each case been small ranch
men or men suspected OF 'rustling' cat
tie or branding stray mavericks.
The murderer performed each bloody
Job in exactly the same manner and
each time the officers OF the law were
completely baffled as he left no trail
for them 10 follow.
The alleged "rustlers" were shot from
ambush, the assassin using rifle OF
Small bore. and the first bullet fired do
ing it's deadly work showed that tho man
behind the gun was a crack shot and his
aim certain.
But not until July rs last. when little
Willie Nickel. an innocent lad who had
never harmed a living soul. was cruelty
murdered did the people Of Wyoming
really wake up and demand that the as
sassin be run down and punished. The
previous killings had not aroused 80 much
feeling for the reason that the victims
were poor maverick hunters. and as the
cattle barons said. it was the only way OF
putting n stop To- "rustlnr."
The story OF the long list OF murders
on the Wyoming plains. which eliminated
in the killing OF little Willie Nickel, t.
AZ follows:
During the early SOS large number
OF alleged "rustlers were arrested and
tried, but very few were convicted. Nu-
merous murders were committed on the
ranges during the late SOS and early