Thomas Edward Ketchum, known as
Black Jack Ketchum (October 31 1863–April 26 1901), was a
cowboyA cowboy is an animal herder who tends cattle on ranches in North America, traditionally on horseback, and often performs a multitude of other ranch-related tasks. The historic American cowboy of the late 19th century became a figure of special significance and legend. A subtype, called a wrangler,...
and cattle driver who later turned to a life of crime. He was hanged in 1901 for attempted
train robberyTrain robbery is a type of robbery, in which the goal is to steal money or other valuables being carried aboard trains.-History:Train robberies were more common in the past than today, and often occurred in the American Old West. Trains carrying payroll shipments were a major target...
.
First train robberies and murders
Tom Ketchum was born in
San Saba CountySan Saba County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 6,186. Its county seat is San Saba. It is named for the San Saba River, which flows through the county....
,
TexasTexas is the second-largest U.S. state in both area and population, and the largest state in the contiguous United States.The name had wide usage among native Americans, meaning "friends" or "allies"...
. He left Texas in 1890, possibly after committing a crime. He worked as a cowboy in the
Pecos RiverThe Pecos River or Rio Pecos, as it is sometimes known in New Mexico, arises near Pecos, New Mexico, United States, and flows for through the eastern portion of that state and neighboring Texas before it empties into the Rio Grande near Del Rio...
Valley of
New MexicoNew Mexico is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. Inhabited by Native American populations for many centuries, it has also been part of the Imperial Spanish viceroyalty of New Spain, part of Mexico, and a U.S. territory. Among U.S...
, where by 1894, his older brother, Sam Ketchum, had joined him. Black Jack and a group of others were named as the robbers of an
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe RailwayThe Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway , often abbreviated as Santa Fe, was one of the larger railroads in the United States. The company was first chartered in February 1859...
train that was en route to
DemingDeming is a city in Luna County, New Mexico, United States, located 60 miles west of Las Cruces. The population was 14,116 at the 2000 census. Deming is the county seat and principal town of Luna County.-History:...
,
New Mexico TerritoryThe Territory of New Mexico was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from September 9, 1850, until January 6, 1912, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of New Mexico....
in 1892 with a large payroll aboard. The gang supposedly robbed the train just outside of Nutt, New Mexico Territory, a water station twenty miles north of Deming. Black Jack and his gang would often visit the ranch of Herb Bassett, near Brown's Park, who was known to have done business with several outlaws of the day, having supplied them with beef and fresh horses. Herb Bassett was the father of female outlaws
Josie BassettJosie Bassett was a female rancher. She and her sister "Queen" Ann Bassett are known for their love affairs and associations with well known outlaws, particularly Butch Cassidy's Wild Bunch.-Early life:...
and
Ann BassettAnn Bassett , also known as Queen Ann Bassett, was a prominent female rancher of the Old West, and with her sister Josie Bassett, was an associate of outlaws, particularly Butch Cassidy's Wild Bunch.-Early life:...
, who were girlfriends to several members of
Butch CassidyButch Cassidy , born Robert LeRoy Parker, was a notorious American train robber, bank robber and leader of the Hole in the Wall Gang.- 1880-1887 — first incidents, becoming a robber :...
's
Wild BunchThe Wild Bunch, also known as the Doolin–Dalton Gang, was one of the names of a group of outlaws based in the Indian Territory, that terrorized Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma Territory during the 1890s—robbing banks and stores, holding up trains, and killing lawmen. They were...
gang. One of Ann Bassett's boyfriends and future Wild Bunch gang member,
Ben KilpatrickBen Kilpatrick was an outlaw during the closing days of the American Old West.He was a member of the Wild Bunch gang led by Butch Cassidy and Elzy Lay.-Early life:...
, began riding with Black Jack's gang about that time. Outlaw
"Bronco Bill" WaltersWilliam Walters, also known as "Bronco Bill" Walters was an outlaw during the closing days of the Old West. He is best known for the legend of his "lost treasure", allegedly located in the area of Solomonville, Arizona....
, later noted for the legend of his "hidden loot" near
SolomonvilleSolomonville is a small unincorporated community in Graham County, Arizona, United States. It is part of the Safford Micropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
,
ArizonaThe State of Arizona is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. The capital and largest city is Phoenix. The second largest city is Tucson, followed in size by the four Phoenix metropolitan area cities of Mesa, Glendale, Chandler, and Scottsdale.Arizona was the 48th and...
, is also believed to have begun riding with the gang at this time.
The second major crime attributed to Tom was the murder of a neighbor, John N. "Jap" Powers, in
Tom Green County, TexasTom Green County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. It is part of the San Angelo Metropolitan Statistical Area. Tom Green County's population was 104,010 as of the 2000 census. Its county seat is San Angelo.-History :...
, on December 12, 1895. However, information at the Sutton Historical Society in Texas, says that
Will CarverWill Carver was an outlaw during the closing years of the Old West, and a member of Butch Cassidy's Wild Bunch.-Early life, outlaw life:...
and Sam Ketchum were the ones actually accused of killing Powers in
KnickerbockerKnickerbocker is an unincorporated community in southwestern Tom Green County, Texas, United States. It lies along FM 2335 southwest of the city of San Angelo, the county seat of Tom Green County. Its elevation is 2,051 feet , and it is located at...
, Texas. Fearing the law, they closed their joint saloon and gambling venture in
San AngeloSan Angelo is a city in and the county seat of Tom Green County, Texas, United States, in West Central Texas. As of 2009 according to an estimate published by the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total population of 91,880....
, and hit the outlaw trail. Within six months, Mrs. Powers and her lover, J. E. Wright, were arrested for the murder, but it was too late for Carver and the Ketchums.
By late 1895, outlaw Kid Curry and his brother Lonnie Curry were members of Black Jack's gang. However, in early 1896, a dispute concerning their share of robbery loot prompted the Currys to leave the gang.
It is alleged that Ketchum was involved with the February 1, 1896, disappearances and murders of
Albert Jennings FountainAlbert Jennings Fountain was a lawyer, Indian fighter, and Republican politician in Texas and New Mexico.-Biography:...
and his son Henry Fountain of
Las CrucesLas Cruces is a city in Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 74,267. The population was estimated at 91,865 as of July 1, 2008, making it the second largest city in the state. Las Cruces is the center of an agricultural region...
, New Mexico. In early June 1896, after working for the famed
Bell RanchThe Bell Ranch originated with two Spanish land grants to Don Pablo Montoya in 1824. Lying along LaCinta Creek near the Canadian River, the historic Bell Ranch is bordered by present day Conchas Lake in San Miguel County, New Mexico about 30 miles from Tucumcari...
in New Mexico, Tom and Sam Ketchum, and possibly others robbed a store and post office at Liberty, New Mexico, northwest of present-day
TucumcariThis article is about the city in New Mexico, USA. For other uses see Tucumcari .Tucumcari is a city in Quay County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 5,989 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Quay County. Tucumcari was founded in 1901...
. According to contemporary histories, the two Ketchums arrived in Liberty on June 12 and purchased a few supplies. Later in the evening, a thunderstorm began so the two men returned to the store of Morris and Levi Herzstein where they were invited to take shelter.
Arriving in the morning to open the store on June 13, 1896, Levi Herzstein found that both the store and post office had been burglarized. After gathering a
possePosse comitatus or sheriff's posse is the common-law authority of a United States county sheriff to conscript any able-bodied male older than 18 to assist him in keeping the peace or to pursue and arrest a felon; compare hue and cry...
Herzstein set out on the outlaws' trail. The posse, composed of four men, took the two outlaws by surprise in the Plaza Largo
arroyoAn arroyo , also called a wash or draw, is a usually dry creek bed or gulch that temporarily fills with water after a heavy rain, or seasonally. As such, the term is similar to the word wadi. Arroyos can be natural or man-made. The term usually applies to a mountainous desert environment...
where a shootout occurred. It was only a matter of seconds before Levi Herzstein and Hermenejildo Gallegos lay dead in the arroyo. After seeing his two comrades fall to the ground, Anastacio Borgue shifted his horse and rode out of the arroyo. Placido Gurulé, the fourth member of the posse, gave an account of the shooting. In the exchange of gunfire, Gurulé said he had been struck with a 30-30 bullet that knocked him from his horse. He hit the ground with a blow that knocked the wind out of him. He lay in a semiconscious state as Black Jack emptied his shells into the bodies of Levi Herzstein and Hermenejildo Gallegos. In relating the story to his children and grandchildren, Gurulé added, "I knew if I moved a muscle I would be a dead man." Black Jack and Sam Ketchum were never caught or tried for the murders at the Plaza Largo, but according to stories, Morris Herzstein was present in Clayton, New Mexico Territory on April 26, 1901, for the hanging of Black Jack Ketchum.
Morris Herzstein moved to Clayton shortly after the killing in Liberty, and ultimately into the "
Texas panhandleThe Texas Panhandle is a region of the U.S. state of Texas consisting of the northernmost 26 counties in the state. The panhandle is a rectangular area bordered by the state of New Mexico to the west and the state of Oklahoma to the north and east...
" area. This business expansion is memorialized by the inscription on a shoe brush:
Herzstein's Clayton, New Mexico -- Dalhart, Texas. If it's from Herzstein's it's correct. Morris was the father of Albert Herzstein, who became one of the founders of Big 3 Industries in
HoustonHouston is the fourth-largest city in the United States and the largest city within the state of Texas. As of the 2008 U.S. Census estimate, the city has a population of 2.2 million within an area of 600 square miles . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of...
, and is the man who helped the museum in Clayton to become a reality years later.
Joining the Hole-In-The-Wall gang
Following this event, Thomas Ketchum joined other outlaws of the
Hole in the Wall GangThe Hole-in-the-Wall Gang was a gang in the American Wild West, which took its name from the Hole-in-the-Wall Pass in Johnson County, Wyoming, where several outlaw gangs had their hideouts. The Gang was not simply one large organized gang of outlaws, but rather was made up of several separate...
and continued a life of crime, focusing on train robberies, although when not robbing trains they worked for several ranches in New Mexico and Texas. Several other notable outlaws operated out of Hole In The Wall, which was a hideout for numerous outlaw gangs which operated separately. The famous
Wild BunchThe Wild Bunch, also known as the Doolin–Dalton Gang, was one of the names of a group of outlaws based in the Indian Territory, that terrorized Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma Territory during the 1890s—robbing banks and stores, holding up trains, and killing lawmen. They were...
gang, led by
Butch CassidyButch Cassidy , born Robert LeRoy Parker, was a notorious American train robber, bank robber and leader of the Hole in the Wall Gang.- 1880-1887 — first incidents, becoming a robber :...
and
Elzy LayElzy Lay was an outlaw of the Old West best known as being a member of Butch Cassidy's Wild Bunch, gang, operating out of the Hole-in-the-Wall Pass in Johnson County, Wyoming...
, operated out of there. One Wild Bunch gang member, Kid Curry, along with his brother Lonny Curry, had previously ridden with Black Jack Ketchum and his gang. He and Ketchum did not like each other, and Ketchum avoided Curry as much as possible, as Curry was well known to be the most dangerous of the Wild Bunch gang, and would kill nine lawmen over the course of the next eight years.
During this time, "Black Jack" Tom Ketchum was once identified mistakenly as "Black Jack" Christian, another outlaw, and that became his nickname as well. Three of the train robberies that the gang committed were near the same location, between Folsom and Des Moines, New Mexico Territory. This was at the point where the old Fort Union wagon road crossed the Colorado and Southern Rail Road tracks near Twin Mountain.
On September 3 1897, they committed their first robbery at
Twin MountainTwin Mountain may refer to:*Twin Mountain, New Hampshire, a village in Grafton County*The Twin Mountains , a pair of summits in the White Mountains:**South Twin Mountain **North Twin Mountain...
. Then, on July 11 1899, the gang, without Black Jack, robbed the train again at Twin Mountain. After the robbery, Sam and several unknown gang members, in addition to Wild Bunch gang members Will Carver and William Ellsworth "Elza" Lay, headed for the mountains southwest of
Raton, New MexicoRaton is a city in Colfax County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 7,282 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Colfax County. The city is located just south of Raton Pass.-Name:...
Territory. The next day, a
possePosse comitatus or sheriff's posse is the common-law authority of a United States county sheriff to conscript any able-bodied male older than 18 to assist him in keeping the peace or to pursue and arrest a felon; compare hue and cry...
consisting of Sheriff Ed Farr of
Huerfano County, ColoradoHuerfano County is one of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county was named for the Huerfano Butte, a local landmark. The county population was 7,862 at U.S. Census 2000. The county seat is Walsenburg.-Geography:...
, special Agent W.H. Reno of the Colorado & Southern Railroad, and five deputies found their trail and tracked them into Turkey Creek Canyon near
CimarronCimarron is a village in Colfax County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 917 at the 2000 census.Philmont Scout Ranch, an extensive "high-adventure base" operated by the Boy Scouts of America, is located just west of Cimarron...
, New Mexico. There, the posse engaged them in a gun battle. Sam Ketchum and two deputies were wounded seriously, and the gang escaped.
Sam Ketchum's wounds slowed the intended escape, and they made it only a short distance from the initial shootout. Several members of the posse cornered the Ketchum gang a few days later, still in the same area of the Territory. Deputy
W.H. Love and Sheriff
Ed Farr engaged the outlaws in another gun battle, resulting in both Farr and Love being killed, while the posse wounded at least two unknown members of the gang. Sam Ketchum escaped, but was found a few days later by Agent Reno at the home of a rancher, where he was arrested.
Sam Ketchum was taken to the Santa Fe Territorial Prison, where he died from his gunshot wounds. He was buried in the Odd Fellows Cemetery, now the Fairview Cemetery on Cerrillos Rd. in Santa Fe.
"Elzy" or "Elza" (William Ellsworth) Lay was born November 25 1868, Mt Pleasant, Ohio. Lay had come out west to Denver, and became an outlaw after mistakenly believing he had killed a man. Jailed for life after the killing of Sheriff Farr after the Folsom robbery, he was released in 1906. He returned to
Alma, New MexicoAlma is an unincorporated community in Catron County, New Mexico, United States, north of Glenwood and south of Reserve.-History:Sergeant James C. Cooney was transferred to Fort Bayard, near Silver City, New Mexico in 1870. While scouting for the 8th U.S. Cavalry north of Mogollon and east of Alma,...
Territory and lived there for two years. He stayed with Louis and Walter Jones, who in 1904 had built a large merchandise store at Alma. Elzy died aged 65 in
Los AngelesLos Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the municipality of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123.445 inhabitants...
, on November 10, 1934.
Capture and death
On August 16, 1899, Tom Ketchum, supposedly knowing nothing of the July 11 hold-up which ended in the death of his brother Sam, single-handedly attempted to rob the same train again at the same place and in the same way that he and Sam and others had robbed it just a few weeks earlier. The train conductor, Frank Harrington, saw Tom approaching the moving train. He recognized him, grabbed a shotgun, and shot Tom in the arm, knocking him off his horse. The train continued, and the next day a posse came out and found Tom beside the tracks, badly wounded. He was transported to medical facilities at
TrinidadThe historic City of Trinidad is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Las Animas County, Colorado, United States...
,
ColoradoColorado is a U.S. state located in the Rocky Mountain region of the United States of America. It may also be considered to be part of the Western and Southwestern regions of the United States. Colorado entered statehood in 1876 and was nicknamed the “Centennial State”...
, and his right arm had to be amputated. He was nursed back to health and then sent to
ClaytonClayton is a town in Union County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 2,524 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Union County. Tourists heading from Texas to Colorado often pass through Clayton, which is located in the northeast corner of New Mexico.Clayton is named for a son of...
, New Mexico Territory, for trial.
At the trial, Ketchum was convicted and sentenced to death. He was the only person ever hanged in Union County, New Mexico Territory (now Union Co., NM). He was also the only person who suffered capital punishment for the offense of "felonious assault upon a railway train" in New Mexico Territory (which did not become a state until 1912). Later, the law was found to be unconstitutional.
Ketchum was executed by hanging in Clayton. The rope was too long, and Ketchum had gained a significant amount of weight during his time in jail. Additionally nobody in Clayton had any experience in conducting hangings. Hence Ketchum was decapitated when he dropped through the trap door.
His last words were: "I'll be in Hell before you start breakfast, boys. Let it Rip"
A popular postcard was made showing the body. Afterwards his head was sewn back onto the body for viewing, and he was interred at the Clayton Cemetery.
Western
actorAn actor or actress is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
Jack ElamWilliam Scott "Jack" Elam was an American film actor best known for his numerous roles as villains in Western films.-Early life:...
portrayed Ketchum in an episode of the 1954-1955
syndicatedIn broadcasting, syndication is the sale of the right to broadcast radio shows and television shows to multiple individual stations, without going through a broadcast network. It is common in countries where television is scheduled by networks with local affiliates, particularly in the United States...
television series
Stories of the CenturyStories of the Century is a Western television series that ran in syndication through Republic Pictures between January 23, 1954, and March 11, 1955.-Synopsis:...
, tales of the American West starring and narrated by
Jim DavisMarlin "Jim" Davis , was an American actor, best known for his role as Jock Ewing in the CBS prime-time soap Dallas, a role which he held up until his death in April 1981.-Biography:...
.
See also
Jeff Burton,
Dynamite and Six-Shooter: The Story of Thomas E. 'Black Jack' Ketchum, Sunstone Press, Box 2321, Santa Fe, NM 87504-2321, 2007
External links