Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-12-02
TOM HORN IS HANGED.
Wyoming BAD Man Executed Despi
Threats Of Reseue.

Threats Of Reseue.
Tom Horn, the Wyoming bad man,
was hanged in Cheyenne Friday. The
| threatened attempt 5y cowboys TO rescue
the condemned man did not materialize,
and the execution passed off quietly.
For years Horn had been a detective
Tor the so-calied cattle burons. and this
/ business resulted in the commission OF
| many heinous crimes. 1t was to the cat
! tlemen. or 10 persons under their control,
| that the D.. h..c pointed as those most i'm
! teresied in saving Horns neck Even
/ Gov. ChattertOn WAS threatened. 1t is
/ said that he was Informed that should
/ Horn pay the penalty OF his crime he
| (Chattertonj would not long survive
| For weeks disturbing reports came
! from throughout the cattle region that
| Horn would never feel the rope, that his
tends would rescue him, even il he
| were standing on the scaffold. and il was
I these reports that caused Cheyenne to be
! placed practically under martial law.
Hundreds Of militia guarded the county
Jail and rapid-fre guns froHned from
the windows and ramparts Of the prison
on the various approaches The sheriff
and scores of deputies also were alert
and appreheusiye.
There was one man apparently more
determined than all others that Horn
should not escape the galiows. This
man was William Nickel, the aged faith
er Of the victim SO saYagely shot down
by Horn. Night and day for two weeks
the sturdy old cattleman paraded before
the prison. declaring that it was only
over his dead body tia Horn should be
liberated. and he staid until the body II
the assassin was brought from the gal
lows.
While Horn. it is claimed was guilty
Of many cold-blooded murders, the crime
for which he was hanged was the ki.ing
Of William Nickel. aged IL, in Blue
Springs valley, Wyoming, last July.
Nickelfs father owned land that as
alleged, the cattle barons wanted, and,
finding il impossible 10 make the old
man relinquish his claim decided that
the murder of his son might possibly
drive him from the country. Horn was
hired to do the job. and though il earlier
days the older Nickel bad befriended
him, lie eagerly undertook the desperate
contract. He secreted himself about 300
yards from Nickei's house behind a pile
OF brush. and when the young boy APP
peared took careful aim and fired The
bullet made a fearful wound, but not
sufficient TO uuhorse the victim. who
turned toward home and with his re-
naming strength urged his horse to a
gallop. Horn followed with desperate
speed. 4 wire fence a few yards from
the house prevented the escape OF the
wounded youth He threw himself from
tie horse to unfasten the gate, but was
en- re D. In
much time The gate finally yielded. but
passing through it, Nickel tripped on
the wire and fell Before he could re-
cover the heartless murderer was upon
him. The defenseless boy made a gal
liant struggle but it was useless. Horn
fred again with his rifle almost at the
ear Of the victim, and virtually blew his
head of. Then he turned and coOlIy rode
away
Tom Horn was long renowned as
scout and Indian fighter. friend of Gen.
Miles aud Buffalo Bill, and one Of the
most noted figures of the mountains and
the plains. NicbelFs murder was the
last in a series Of crimes. largely charg
ed 10 Horn. who was one Of the most
active fighters in behalf Of the eattlernen
against the sheep raisers.
Horn made q fall confession to Deputy
Marshal I.afers. He said that he came
to- Wyoming in 1891 with fifty Texan
desperadoes. ard for years took fore
most part in the bloody wars between
the sheep and eattlemen. killing many Of
the opposing faction, and Staying several
nnchmen cold bloodefIy for Il fixed price,
paid by cattle kings. When brought to
trial, the ease was bitterly fought. The
State spent $4,000 TO convict Horn, and
his friends as much to clear him. After /
his CONVICTION, the cattlemen swore he
should never be hanged, ana mustered
In force 10 rescue him. keeping up their
threats and show Of attack until the day
OF execution.