The Truth About Tom Horn, "King of the Cowboys" (ePub)

"The Truth About Tom Horn...is a defense of Tom, known as king of cowboys, who was arrested and tried for the murder of a young boy, and subsequently convicted and hanged. Mr. Coe believes the evidence shows Tom was 'framed' by his enemies. That is as it may be. The story will be of interest...to many Arizonians as well as other old timers of frontier days." -Arizona Republic, Jan. 15, 1928

Was Tom Horn a cold-hearted killer or a kind-hearted helpful cowboy who liked to tell tall tales and falsely take credit for every murder in Wyoming whenever he got drunk?

In 1927, Captain Charles Henry Coe (1856-1954) would include a short 47-page section on Tom Horn in his book "Juggling a Rope." This section of the book was titled "The Truth About Tom Horn, 'King of the Cowboys.'" It is this short, 47-page section that has been republished here for the convenience of the interested reader.

Thomas Horn Jr., (November 21, 1860 - November 20, 1903) was an American scout, cowboy, soldier, range detective, and Pinkerton agent in the 19th-century and early 20th-century American Old West. Said to have committed 17 killings as a hired gunman throughout the West, Horn was convicted in 1902 of the murder of 14-year-old Willie Nickell near Iron Mountain, Wyoming. Willie was the son of sheep rancher Kels Nickell, who had been involved in a range feud with neighbor and cattle rancher Jim Miller. On the day before his 43rd birthday, Horn was executed by hanging in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

While in jail, he wrote his autobiography, Life of Tom Horn: Government Scout and Interpreter, which was published posthumously in 1904. Numerous editions have been published in the late 20th century. Horn has since become a larger-than-life figure of western folklore, and debate continues as to whether he was actually guilty of Nickell's murder.

About the author:

Captain Charles Henry Coe (1856-1954) was born in Torrington, Connecticut, on February 3, 1856, to William Henry Coe (1824-1879), who founded the town of Glencoe, and Deborah Little Archer Coe (1824-1912). In 1874, his family migrated to Jacksonville, Florida, due to his father's poor health. At age 18, Coe began working for the Jacksonville Tri-Weekly Union. In 1875, Coe moved to New Smyrna Beach and started his first newspaper, The Florida Star. Coe was appointed Deputy Collector of Customs for the port at New Smyrna in 1879, after his father died. In 1880, Coe moved to Glencoe and began producing photographs. Seven years later, he moved to back to Torrington, where he met and married Emma Sopia Johnson (1846-1931). The following year, Coe moved to Asheville, North Carolina, and then later to Highlands, where he established The Highlands Star. In 1889, he moved to Washington, D.C. to work for the Government Printing Office (GPO).

Coe published Red Patriots: The Story of the Seminoles, a book about the plight of the Seminole tribe. A copy of Red Patriots was given to every member of Congress.