The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-11-20
TOM HORN HANGED
No Attempt at Rescue Was
Made by His Friends.
He Made No Speech Nor Confess
sion on Scaffold.
MORTENGEN Is SHOT
MORTENSEN is SHOT.
Murderer of r. Hay Executed
at Salt Lake.
Four Bullets Penetrated Target
Over His Heart.

Cheyenne wyo., Nov. 2O.-Tom Horn
was hanged at II o'clock today. No at
tempt at rescue was made and the ex-
ecution passed off quietly.
Horn made no confession and no
speech on the scaffoId. He never lost
his nerve
The execution was witnessed by forty
persons including the guards, friends of
Horn and newspaper men. The specta-
tors were admitted to the Jail at 10:45,
one by one and searched for firearms.
Men armed with Winchesters stood at
the door watching Horns friends.
Horns neck was broken by the falling
of the trap and death was instantan-
eous.
Horn spent nearly all the morning
writing letters.
Tom Horn was born in Scotland coun-
ty, Missouri. November II, 1860. He
was a celebrated army scout, Indian
fighter and cattle detective. He was the
scout in charge of the party that cap
tured Geronimo and was chief of scouts
under General Miles in his Porto Rico
campaign. In 1892 Horn participated in
the raid against the cattle rustlers of
johnson county, Wyoming. Horn was
a self-educated man. He spoke Ger
man, Spanish, Apache and a number of
Indian languages huentIy.
Last summer he wrote a 10000 word
history of his career. This book he left
to his staunch friend John c. Coble of
Bosler, Wyo.
Horn was suspected of having COM
mitted several murders besides the one
for which he was hanged.
Governor Chatterton was aroused be-
fore O'Clock this morning by friends
of Tom Horn, who again sought a, re-
prieve for the condemned cattle detec-
tive, who is to be hanged today for the
murder of Willie Nickel. the 14-year-
old son of K. P. Nickel, an Iron Noun
tain ranchman. The governor listened
to the arguments of Horns friends for
some time and then said emphatically:
There is no use. gentlemen, this ex-
ecution will take place at the time set
by the law will not interfere in the
case. This is final
No less than a dozen attempts were
made during the afternoon of yesterday
and of last night to have the governor
delay the execution for even a few
days. He had but one answer for all
and that was that the law must take
it's course.
Horn has apparently been hopeful all
along that in some manner he would
escape the gallows, but last night he
wrote a farewell letter to John G. Coble,
manager of the Iron Mountain Cattle
company, by which he was employed
for ten years, his business being to pre-
vent rustling of thefts of cattle.
"If I go I want John to have this
letter." he said.
The letter was devoted to saying
goodbye to Coble and making a few re-
quests as to what should be done with
the personal property he should leave.
L. Is
Horns closest friends, renewed his ef
forts to see the condemned man early
today but admission to the Jail or even
to the court house was denied him by
Sheriff Smalley.
ssrIl be down in time for the execu-
ton. however, Irwin said. tI have an
invitation from Horn
It was reported that Irwin, failing
in his effort to see Horn alone, would
ask him on the gallows if he killed
Willie Nickel.
Sheriff SmalIey said that he would
not permit any of the spectators to
speak to Horn while he was on the gal
lows.
John C. Coble, who came to Cheyenne
last night was an early caller at the
iaiI. He did not ask to see Horn nor
did he speak to any one of the guards
who were standing in the doorway. He
soon departed toward the business CEN
ter of the town.
mingled among the police, sheriff and
militia at the Jail.
'I expected any moment to see a riot
started last night" he said. II can't
friends not attacking the Jail as plan
ned I guess their leaders decided that
it would be only courting death to at
tack the jail
Adjutant General Sitter, after
conference with Governor Chatterton
this morning, decided to place more
members of the military around the
iaiI. This was caused by the early ar
rival of the crowd. Even before day
light persons came to the vicinity of
the jail and took the best points Of OBJ
seryation Every second brought addi
tional arrivals until the vacant lots in
the vicinity were crowded with people.
Once more, Charles Irwin came to the
5ail this time in answer to a hurried
message. Horn had sent for Coble,
saving he wanted to talk with him be-
fore he died.
Il can't refuse him this request"
said JaiIor Proctor. But any one that
enters the Jail will be searched and
ence.
Irwin waited patiently for the arrival
of Coble.
II win make John let me go in in his
tell me more than any other person. L
must talk to Tom Horn before he dies.
Remember, I do not think he is guilty.
Coble came again to the Jail and was
permitted to see Horn He remained
with him only a moment.
Good bye Toms'' he said. in a chok-
ing voice. "Tom. I can't stay. I came
to say goodbye I'm sorry, Tom; but
die like the man I know you to be.
Tom. fate's against you. You must die.
Goodbye: God bless you, goodbye
Tom
'swen. John.' said Horn. I'm glad
you came -
.sCan't we shake hands /" pleaded
Horn of the keepers.
Sheriff SmaIley hesitated, then
opened the door OF the cell for the first