Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-19


the Pecos"
stewart set out for Trinidad with Reno in
order to identify Ketchum IN che flesh. News
of his identification, however, raced ahead of
the two officers, and when they arrived it was
learned chat the bandit had attempted to COM
NIT suicide by twisting q bed-sheet round his
neck, ana had been saved only through the
vigilance of q guard.
Stewart walked straight into Ketchum,s room
in the hospital. "Hullo, Toni" he cried.
Retchum became very nervous-probably for
the first time in his career your face looks
familiar" he stammered but I don't know
you
Cant you remember Cicero Stewart? You
used to punch COWS with me-"
Ketchum shook his head and turned sullen.
That day he was removed to the penftentiary
at Santa Fe. The prisoner asked Stewart to &C
company the guards, and during the train
journey he became quite laxative He spoke
reminiscently OF old cow-punching days and
frankly admitted that he was Tom Ketchum.
But he had never, he declared, been known as
BLACK Jack" who was another person alto
gether He stoutly refused to believe that his
brother Sam was dead, until, arrived at the
penitentiRry, he was shown Q photograph of
Sam taken after death. The sight of it greatly
affected him.
X ETCHUM was placed IN the prison hospital
But Eupt. Holm 0. Bursum soon discover
ed that he was planning to escape In the hos
pital lavatory the guards found wooden pis-
toll, covered with tin-foil as to look like a
real one, while clock spring, ingeniously made
into saw, was uncovered in the bandage on
Ketchum's arm. He had hoped, one night, to
knock his nurse on the head, saw a hole in the
hospital floor and scramble out through it until
he encountered the guards. Then he meant to
flourish his dummy pistol and overcome them
seize their weapons and SO fight his way 10
freedom. When the daring plot was revealed
the prisoner broke down and wept like a dis
appointed child.
The day Tom Ketchum was incarcerated in
the penitentiary, he begged Cicero Stewart to
return ten days later 1--WE got something to
tell you that's Of great interest to both Of u.s."
he declared, earnestly. eff don't die within
the next few days you shall know all about it.
but fancy I'm going to de-" He was still
very sick man from blood poisoning Somewhat
impressed Stewart duly kept the appointment
After the discovery of Ketchum's escape plot
he had been removed to the death cell, which
was absolutely impregnable. In the death cell
was another prisoner, one Bill Hall, awaiting
executhm, who was taken outside while Stew
art interviewed the bandit.
Nov, listen to me-" began Ketchum. Go to
Bisbee, Arizona, and then forty miles north to
Turkey Track horse camp In the Chiricahua
Mountains About a quarter of mile below the
ranch house there's a big CANYON that runs
into the creek. Go mp that canyon until it
boxes; there you'll find a large Pile Of ashes
where the gang once hid up after a robbery
About nfty feet from the ashes, due SOUTH at
the roots Of a juniper tree, you'll find eighteen
hundred dollars IN gold buried"
Where did this money come frUm?" asked
Stewart, doubtfuHy.
Il made It in Old Mexico" answered Ketch-
UNI.
Thinking he might possibly find other mem
bers OF the gang somewhere near the treasure
cache, Stewart made special trip to the lone
~ canyon in Arizona. He was accompanied by
Deputy Steve Roup Of Bisbee. They discovered
the box canyon, the pile of ashes and the Jun
tper tree, exactly as described-but not q trace
Of any money, nor q single bandit.
Meanwhile, Bill HaIEKetchums mate in the
death ceE-faad obtained rehearing Of his
case and had been sentenced to HE irnprison-
ment instead of execution. Halls new trial took
place at Lincoln, and from that place he was
returned to the penitentiary Sheriff Stewart
being one Of the guard that brought hin back
On the way Han said to the sheriff:
Stewart, do YOU remember the day Tom
Ketchum asked you to take me cut of the
death cen SO that he could talk to you private
ly? Well, when was put back. found Ketch-
UNI dancing jig. He said: III learn that fell
low TO punch cows with me and then come to
Trinidad to identify mel II he goes into that
canyon and the gang happens to be there
they'll I'LL his hide fun of leadF
The reason he delayed ten days before tell
ing You his yarn was because he thought at
first that he was going 10 die; If he lived and
you were killed, he wanted to have the thrill
Of reading about 1t. Every day after you set out
he watched the papers for news of your mM-
der"
Tom Ketchum was tried and sentenced to
hang at Clayton on April 26, 1901. The night
before his execution he was guarded by no
fewer than twenty deputies, the authorities be-
ing determined to prevent a last-minute
rescue by the rest Of the "Black Jack" gang,
who were believed to be only waiting a chance
to strike.
The execution was to take place about noon,