The Elk Mountain pilot., 1902-01-28

Cheyenne, Wyo., Jan. 23.-Tom
Horn, the stock detective, who was ar
rested January 18th, charged with the
murder of Willie Nickel, fourteen
year-old son of Kcls L. Nickel, an iron
Mountain ranchman, who was assas-
sinated near his fathers home July
IS, 1901, was to-day bound over to the
District Court of Larimie county with
out bail by Justice Becker, on q charge
of murder in the first degree.
The testimany upon which the ac-
cused murderer was held was that of
Deputy United States Marshal Joe lie
fors, Deputy Sheriff l.. Il. Snow and
Stenographer Charles j. Ohnhaus, all
afternoon session of the court today
and which created big sensation,
both in the court room and throughout
the city, when the nature of their evil
dence became known.
Lefors, Snow and Ohnhaus testified
that they secured a statement of guilt
from Horn, Lefors questioning him
while Snow and Ohnhaus, the latter n
stenographer, We're concealed in an adj
joining room, beside an open door near
which Horn sat, Ohnhaus taking down
the accused mans words in shorthand.
The attorneys for the defendant
We're taken entirely by surprise, for
they did not have so much as an ink
ling of what was coming, and as for
the prisoner himself, he simply sat
still, his blanched cheeks and staring
Eyes showing plainly the tumult that
was raging within him as the witnesses
repeated the words of his own confess
sion of the awful murder of little VIII
lie Nickel. William Powell and Charles
7 nf n
statements of Horn himself, We're his
victims.
Joe Lefors was called. Horn moved
uneasily in his seat, his face took on
whittier hue. and it was plainly to be
seen that he was greatly disturbed.
He had until this time supposed the
deputy marshal to be one of his best
friends.
Lefors stated that he told Horn he
had secured for him a position in Mon
tana and wanted Horn to come to the
marshars office and talk the matter
over. Horn visited Lefors Sunday
morning, January 18th. They occupied
the outer office and the door connect
ing with the private Office of the mar
shal remained closed.
rlorn said he wanted TO learn more
about his new job in Montana and
W
told Horn that all he had to do was TO
20 in there and get the confidence of
the people and he would be all right.
Horn asked If the people objected to
shooting and Lefors informed him that
they did not. meaning Horns prospect
i've employers.
Lefors led Horn 10 think that he was
familiar with all the work he (Horn)
had been engaged in and stated: Tom
I know all about all of the killings you
have been in
Little by little Uorn's confession was
brought out and every detail of the
killing of Willie Nickel exposed.
How about the murder, Tom?" in
quired Lefors. II have kept track of
you on the other cases, but / must con
fess that after working on this case for
n long time l could not ascertain how
you came to kill that boy"
well, | suppose Ii was like this" re-
piled the detective THE kid was prob
ably coming up the draw that empties
into the creek back of Nickel's house.
and when he saw the man that was
there to do the killing he tried to get
back to the ranch. The man. realizing
that the kid would create II disturb
ance. got back behind pile of rocks
and as the kid came along, gave it 20
him"
But. Tom" continued Lefors, "tow
did you get across there without lcav-
ing n trailf'
81 never leave trail. | go barefoot
ed"
but. Tom. didn't it hurt your feet TO
run across the prairie? l could not do
It,"
"Ycs. but did not mind it, usually
have ten days to rest up after job of
that kind"
How far away We're you when you
shot the lddf"
about 300 yards
"What kind of gun did you use?"
"a 30-30. I like it better than any
other 1t carries true to the mark. I
thought once that the kid was going to
get away from me. but | nailed him.
1t was the finest shot | ever made in
my life and the drtiest job l ever
done"
Don't you get hungry when you are
our on these hunting expeditions?r
"Yes. but l get used to it. | get so
hungry sometimes ! would kill my
mother for some grub"
did you leave any shells bchind?"
"You can bet your life | didn't"
Icfors testified that this conversa-
ton took place in the presence of no
one. He says he then left Horn, the
two agreeing to meet again at the mar
shal's office in the afternoon for the
purpose. as Horn explained. of learn
ing more about the position in Mon
tana. 1t was then that Deputy Sher-
iff Snow and Stenographer Ohnhaus
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