On This Day In Wyoming History: Tom Horn Breathes His Last Breath!

This is the day, in 1903, that the infamous Tom Horn was hung for the murder of Willie Nickell. Was Horn justified, or was he wrong in shooting the son of his intended target?

Tom Horn, originally from Missouri, found himself as a scout with the U.S. Cavalry, when he was 16 years old. One of his notable tours was searching for the Apache Chief Geronimo.

During the hunt of the Indian Chief, Horn honed his hunting and tracking skills and soon found himself being hired as an enforcer in 1895. The last track and hunt he did, eventually cost him his life.

Horn was charged with hunting and "dealing justice" to horse and cattle thieves in and around the Front Range area. One man he was going after was named Kels B. Nickell, who was accused of stealing cattle.

Tom Horn had located the ranch and, after watching Nickell's daily routine, waiting with his 30-30 Winchester, to gun down the thief.

Unfortunately, on the early morning of July 18, 1901, he was waiting in what is called the Iron Mountain Region in Wyoming he spotted what he thought was his intended target. Tom Horn, ready and alert, saw a man approach the ranch gate and dismount off of his horse and he shot him. Come to find out, that the target was not Kels after all, but was his 14 year old son Willie, dressed with his dad's hat and overcoat.

Even though there were not witnesses, Lawman Joe LeFors did some premium investigating and tricked Horn into confessing here in Cheyenne. On November 20, 1903, Tom Horn died by a proper hanging in Cheyenne, Wyoming.