Original subtitles

[ BIRDS CHIRPING ]

MY NAME IS TOM HORN.

KILLING IS MY SPECIALTY.

TOM HORN WAS AN EFFICIENT ASSASSIN.

HIS M.O. WAS TO DO A CLEAN SHOT TO THE HEAD

AND BE DONE WITH IT.

HE WAS COMPLETELY COLD-BLOODED, REMORSELESS.

HE SAID THAT A BODY COUNT WAS WHAT REALLY TURNED HIM ON.

NO CURE, NO PAY.

IF I DON'T GET 'EM, COST NO ONE A CENT.

APPARENTLY, HE COULD RIDE WITH MEN,

GET TO KNOW THEM, EAT WITH THEM...

AND KILL THEM.

I WAS BORN TO HUNT.

IT'S IN MY BLOOD.

[ CLICK ]

[ HORSE WHINNIES IN DISTANCE ]

PUT THAT DOWN, AND LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS.

TALK ABOUT WHAT?

IN THE ARMY, I KILLED FOR A LIVING.

WHEN I LEFT, IT WAS ALL I KNEW.

I BECAME ONE OF THE HIGHEST PAID

AND BUSIEST ASSASSINS IN THE WEST.

MEN WOULD LEARN TO FEAR MY NAME.

BUT NO MAN HAS HEARD MY STORY LIKE THIS BEFORE.

I'M TOM HORN, AND I WAS BORN TO HUNT.

THE MORE HE GOT INTO IT, THE DARKER IT BECAME.

IT BECAME HIS HEART OF DARKNESS.

-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com

[ GUNSHOTS ]

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

[ GUNSHOT ]

WHAT KIND OF, UH, GUN HAVE YOU GOT?

THE 30-30 WINCHESTER.

I'M A BUSINESSMAN LIKE ANYONE ELSE,

BUT MY STOCK AND TRADE IS EXECUTION.

I LOOK AT IT AS A BUSINESS PROPOSITION.

I THINK I HAVE A CORNER ON THE MARKET.

ON THE JOB, I NEVER LET MY GUARD DOWN,

BUT OFF THE CLOCK, I'VE BEEN KNOWN

TO ENJOY MY SHARE OF SPIRITS.

AND IT WAS ON ONE OF THOSE OCCASIONS

IN A MEETING WITH A PROSPECTIVE CLIENT

THAT I SAID TOO MUCH AND SEALED MY FATE.

I LEFT NO DAMN TRAIL.

THE ONLY WAY TO COVER UP YOUR TRAIL IS GOING BAREFOOT.

THERE SEEMS TO BE A PARADOX IN TOM HORN'S LIFE.

WRITERS HAD A HARD TIME GETTING THEIR MINDS WRAPPED AROUND IT,

BECAUSE HE'S THE FAMOUS SCOUT IN THE SOUTHWEST.

HE'S THE MAN WHO IS INSTRUMENTAL IN BRINGING IN GERONIMO

AND ENDING THE APACHE WARS IN 1886.

THEN HE'S A PINKERTON DETECTIVE.

HOW CAN A MAN LIKE THAT

BECOME THE MOST NOTORIOUS HIRED KILLER

IN WESTERN HISTORY?

BUT THERE IS NO PARADOX.

TOM HORN WAS ALWAYS A KILLER.

BY 1900, THE WEST WAS A NEW WORLD.

THE INDIAN WARS I FOUGHT

HAD MADE THE FRONTIER SAFER FOR SETTLERS,

AND NOW THEY WERE COMING WEST IN DROVES,

BUT BIG BUSINESSMEN WERE MAKING A KILLING

RUNNING CATTLE ACROSS THE OPEN RANGE.

AND THEY WEREN'T FOND OF SHARING IT WITH HOMESTEADERS.

THE CATTLE BARONS COULDN'T STOP HOMESTEADERS

FROM SETTLING THE RANGE,

BUT THEY COULD REMOVE THEM FROM IT,

IF THOSE SETTLERS WERE FOUND TO BE STEALING CATTLE.

RUSTLING WAS COMMON IN THE WEST.

IN FACT, A LOT OF RANCHERS GOT THEIR START

BEING CARELESS WITH BRANDING IRONS

AND BEING CARELESS

WITH WHOSE CATTLE YOU WERE ROPING, THINGS LIKE THAT.

IT WAS PROBABLY A LOT EASIER TO GET AWAY WITH IT BACK THEN.

TO GO AFTER THE RUSTLERS,

ALL THE CATTLEMEN NEEDED WAS JUST CAUSE...

AND AN ENFORCER.

THE CATTLEMEN WERE MOSTLY EASTERN INVESTORS

DETERMINED TO CLEAR THESE PEOPLE OUT.

A MAN LIKE TOM HORN WAS A USEFUL INSTRUMENT,

A TOOL IN THEIR NEFARIOUS PLANS.

WHAT I OFFERED WAS A PERMANENT SOLUTION

FOR A PRIZE.

FOR THIS KIND OF WORK,

TOM HORN IS THE MAN THAT WE WANT.

IS HE EXPENSIVE?

YEAH.

$500 A HEAD.

$500 IN THOSE DAYS WAS BETWEEN

$5,000 AND $8,000 IN TODAY'S MONEY.

THAT WAS A LOT OF MONEY.

IT'S WORTH EVERY PENNY.

HE NEVER GETS CAUGHT.

HE FELT THAT WHEN HE MURDERED A RUSTLER,

IT WAS SOMETHING THAT HAD TO BE DONE

AND THAT JUSTICE HAD BEEN SERVED.

HE WAS A SELF-APPOINTED LAWMAN.

THE CATTLEMEN CONTROLLED THE GOVERNMENT OF WYOMING.

THEY WERE THE LAW.

AND SO TOM HORN THOUGHT HE HAD A PRETTY FREE HAND.

[ GUNSHOT ]

[ BIRDS CHIRPING ]

THAT WAS HIS JOB. HE WAS A HIT MAN,

AND THAT'S HOW HE MADE HIS LIVING.

[ SPEAKING INAUDIBLY ]

Carlson: PEOPLE SAID THAT HIS EYES

WOULD LOOK RIGHT THROUGH YOU.

AND PART OF HIS STOCK AND TRADE WAS INTIMIDATION

SO THAT WHEN HE WAS RIDING THE RANGE,

AND THEN LOOK UP ON A RIDGE,

AND YOU'D SEE HIM UP ON A RIDGE WATCHING YOU.

SCARY.

Ball: TOM HORN BEGAN TO THRIVE ON

THE FEAR THAT HE INSTILLED IN PEOPLE.

FEAR CAN BE A POWERFUL WEAPON.

I LEARNED THAT WHEN I WAS A KID.

LOOK, PA. I CAUGHT THREE.

I WAS BORN IN SCOTLAND COUNTY, MISSOURI,

IN 1860, THE 4th OF 8 CHILDREN

RAISED IN A STRICT GERMAN HOUSEHOLD.

Carlson: TOM HORN'S FATHER WAS A REAL SCOUNDREL.

HE HAD BEEN ARRESTED AND WAS WANTED

FOR PASSING STOLEN BANK NOTES.

HE WAS INVOLVED IN SOME LAND FRAUD.

IF YOU SHOOK HANDS WITH HIM, YOU'D WANNA COUNT YOUR FINGERS.

[ WHACK ] UHH!

I THINK TOM'S PSYCHE WAS SUCH... [ WHACK ]

THAT HAVING BEEN ABUSED HIMSELF,

HE DID NOT HAVE ANY TROUBLE ABUSING OTHER PEOPLE.

UHH!

AND THAT STAYED WITH HIM ALL THROUGH HIS LIFE.

MY ONLY TRUE FRIEND AS A BOY WAS MY HUNTIN' DOG, SHED...

AT LEAST FOR A TIME.

WRONG PATH, BOY. BAD MOVE. GIVE ME THAT GUN.

GIVE THAT BACK. [ SHED BARKING ]

GIVE ME THAT. WHEN TOM WAS A YOUNG BOY,

PERHAPS 12 YEARS OLD,

HE GOT INTO AN ALTERCATION WITH THESE KIDS,

AND WHEN THE ALTERCATION WAS OVER,

THEY SHOT HIS DOG. [ BARKING ]

WHERE YOU GOIN', LITTLE DOGGIE?

[ CLICK ]

HE SAID, "THAT WAS THE FIRST AND ONLY REAL SORROW

I EVER FELT."

LOOK AT YOUR CLOTHES. RUINED. DAMN YOU!

NO, DAMN YOU!

UHH!

HIT YOUR FATHER?

AND FINALLY, ON ONE OCCASION, UH, THE ELDER HORN BEAT --

BEAT TOM JR., AND TOM SAYS THAT HE HAD TO LAY

IN THE BARN AND THE HAY FOR SEVERAL DAYS

WITH HIS MOTHER TREATING HIS BACK

UNTIL HE WAS WELL ENOUGH TO GET UP AND WALK.

[ WHACK ] [ YELLING ]

AND TOM SAYS THEN HE LEFT HOME FOR GOOD.

AT THE AGE OF 14, I WALKED INTO THE WEST,

DETERMINED TO CONTROL MY OWN DESTINY

AND TO NEVER SUFFER ABUSE AT THE HANDS OF ANOTHER MAN AGAIN.

Boggs: HE'S NOT ALONE.

UM, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE MIGRATING WESTWARD, UH,

TO ESCAPE, TO REINVENT THEMSELVES,

TO MAKE A FORTUNE OR JUST FOR THE ADVENTURE OF IT ALL,

SO HE'S GONNA RUN ACROSS VARIOUS PEOPLE

WHO ARE PRETTY MUCH JUST LIKE HIM

IN A LOT OF WAYS.

BUT IT'S STILL A VERY WILD PLACE,

AND IT'S VERY RAW AND CAN BE INCREDIBLY VIOLENT.

[ GUNSHOT ]

ALMOST THREE DECADES LATER, I AM THE ONE TO BE FEARED.

MY NAME MAKES THIEVIN' COWBOYS TREMBLE,

AND MY FACE IS THE LAST ONE MANY OF THEM WILL EVER SEE.

BUT WHEN YOU LIVE BY THE SWORD, YOU COME TO ACCEPT

THAT ONE DAY, YOU'LL DIE BY IT.

[ GUNSHOTS ]

[ GUNSHOT ]

THROUGHOUT THE ROCKIES, MY NAME,

TOM HORN, IS A CATTLE THIEF'S WORST NIGHTMARE.

TOM HORN WOULD TRY TO INTIMIDATE FIRST BEFORE HE'D KILL.

HE WOULD POST A WARNING NOTE

ON SOMEBODY'S DOOR SILL TO GET OUT BY SUCH AND SUCH A TIME.

HE MIGHT RIDE THROUGH AT NIGHT

AND FIRE A FEW SHOTS AT THE CABIN.

HIS FIRST PURPOSE WAS TO RUN THESE PEOPLE OUT,

BUT ONE OR TWO PEOPLE WERE KILLED.

THIS WOULD BE A MESSAGE TO THE NEIGHBORS

TO GET OUT OF THE COUNTRY.

[ GUNSHOT ]

AS A HIRED GUN FOR THE BIG CATTLE OPERATIONS

ALONG THE COLORADO/WYOMING BORDER,

I'M NEVER LACKING FOR WORK.

THERE ARE ALWAYS PLENTY OF WOULD-BE RANCHERS

TRYING TO TRIM FROM THE BIGGER HERDS

TO START THEIR OWN --

UPSTARTS WHO HAVEN'T YET LEARNED THEIR PLACE

IN THE PECKING ORDER.

MATT RASH IS ONE OF 'EM.

IF THEY GET ALL THIS LAND HERE,

WE'RE GONNA HAVE A TOUGH TIME GETTING IN THERE

TO ALL THE FRESH WATER,

DEPENDING ON HOW THE DROUGHT GOES.

Boggs: MATT RASH COMES UP TO THIS AREA FROM TEXAS.

HE IS QUITE POPULAR, EXCEPT THAT HE'S BEEN CAUGHT

WITH OTHER PEOPLE'S CATTLE BEFORE,

AND THAT'S GONNA BRAND HIM

AS SOMEONE THAT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF.

YOU KNOW MISS BASSETT?

RASH IS THE PRESIDENT

OF THE BROWN'S PARK CATTLE ASSOCIATION,

WHICH, AS I SEE IT,

IS BASICALLY JUST A GANG OF RUSTLERS

SCHEMING TO LOOK OFFICIAL.

MATT RASH WAS A TARGET BECAUSE HE WAS THE SPOKESMAN.

HE WAS REALLY DETERMINED TO KEEP THEIR WAY OF LIFE

THE WAY IT WAS.

THE GOAL OF RASH AND HIS CRONIES IS TO DRIVE

THE BIG CATTLE HERDS OUT OF THE COUNTY ALTOGETHER

AND CLAIM EXCLUSIVE GRAZING RIGHTS

TO ONE OF THE LAST GREAT OPEN RANGES IN THE WEST.

BROWN'S PARK IS SURROUNDED BY MOUNTAINS,

AND IT'S A LITTLE LOWER ELEVATION THAN YOU'LL FIND

IN THIS PART OF THE COUNTRY.

THE WINTERS, THEREFORE, ARE A LITTLE MILDER.

IT WAS AN IDEAL PLACE TO RAISE CATTLE.

IT WAS ALSO AN IDEAL PLACE TO STEAL CATTLE,

AND THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THAT.

IT'S MY JOB TO STOP MINOR THREATS LIKE RASH

FROM BECOMING MAJOR ONES.

MOST OF THE TIME, THE CATTLE THIEVES

CLEAN UP THEIR ACT WHEN CONFRONTED WITH THE PROSPECT

OF THEIR OWN DEMISE.

BUT BROWN'S PARK IS DIFFERENT.

THE LOCALS HERE, IT SEEMS, ARE NOT SO EASILY TAMED.

THE BIG RANCHERS WANTED TO ENCOMPASS BROWN'S PARK

INTO THEIR RANGE,

AND BROWN'S PARK SAID ABSOLUTELY NOT.

THAT WASN'T THE ANSWER MY BOSSES WANTED TO HEAR.

THEY HAD VERY CLEAR WAYS OF COMMUNICATING THEIR DISCONTENT.

BUT EVEN IN THE FACE OF DEADLY CONSEQUENCES,

THE CATTLE KEPT DISAPPEARING,

AND I HAD EVERY REASON TO BELIEVE

RASH AND HIS FRIENDS WERE THE CULPRITS.

A GOOD HUNTER KNOWS HIS PREY,

LEARNS ITS HABITS AND MOVEMENTS,

AND WAITS FOR THE PERFECT MOMENT TO STRIKE.

THIS MATT RASH'S PLACE?

THAT'S ME.

DO SOMETHIN' FOR YA?

I HAD TO GET CLOSE TO MATT RASH AND FIND THE SMOKIN' GUN

THAT WOULD JUSTIFY HIS ELIMINATION.

YEAH, I'M TOM HICKS.

MR. BASSETT UP THIS WAY SAID YOU NEED A HAND?

I COULD USE THE WORK.

Ball: HE WENT UNDER THE ALIAS OF "HICKS," "TOM HICKS."

HE WORKED UNDERCOVER FOR A WHILE,

INSISTING ONCE THAT HE WAS A COWBOY.

ANOTHER TIME, HE'S A CATTLE BUYER.

Kouris: SO MATT RASH HIRED HIM ON,

AND HE RODE WITH THE BROWN'S PARKERS

AND LIVED AMONG 'EM FOR QUITE A WHILE.

Man: OH!

YOU CAN ALWAYS TELL THE CHARACTER OF A MAN

BY THE CATTLE IN HIS CORRAL.

HE WAS LOOKING FOR CALVES

AND CATTLE THAT WERE OUT OF PLACE,

THAT WERE OFF OF THEIR RANGE.

HE COULD IDENTIFY THEM BY THEIR BRANDS,

AND HE'D LOOK TO SEE

IF THEY POSSIBLY HAD BEEN STOLEN.

RASH AND HIS HANDS WERE EASY TO WIN OVER.

BUT I COULD NEVER GET A READ ON HIS LADY FRIEND.

ANN BASSETT WAS HER NAME. SHE WOULD LATER BECOME FAMOUS

FOR RUNNING WITH BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID.

Kouris: ANN FELT SO UNCOMFORTABLE,

AND SHE WISHED THAT THEIR BROTHERS

WOULD INFLUENCE MATT RASH AND OTHERS

TO SEND HIM ON HIS WAY.

THE PRESENCE OF HORN IN THE VICINITY

JUST MADE EVERYBODY NERVOUS,

AND I THINK HE LEARNED TO THRIVE ON THAT,

AND THAT BECAME ONE OF HIS BIG WEAKNESSES

AS TIME PROGRESSED.

HUNTING MEN IS NO DIFFERENT FROM HUNTING GAME, REALLY.

IT'S A CRAFT I'VE HONED FOR A QUARTER CENTURY,

EVER SINCE I SET OUT FOR THE FRONTIER BACK IN 1875.

YOUNG TOM WAS A GUTSY KID.

TO TAKE OFF AND LEAVE HOME LIKE THAT AND JUST HEAD WEST --

THIS WAS A KID WHO WAS REALLY NOT AFRAID OF ANYTHING.

Ball: A CREW OF TEXAS COWBOYS

CAME THROUGH THE KANSAS CATTLE TOWN.

TOM SAW THOSE BOYS, AND HE JOINED THEM.

FROM THAT TIME ON, HE LIVED A ROVING LIFE.

EVENTUALLY, I MADE MY WAY INTO ARIZONA TERRITORY

AND TOOK A JOB PROTECTING THE ARMY'S CATTLE HERDS

ALONG THE MEXICAN BORDER.

IT WAS A NO MAN'S LAND DOWN THERE,

WHERE MOST SCORES WERE SETTLED WITH BULLETS.

AND SOMETHING ABOUT THAT APPEALED TO ME.

SOON I WAS BEING SENT ON SCOUTING MISSIONS

TO CHASE DOWN MY FAVORITE TARGETS --

CATTLE THIEVES.

TOM HORN HATED A THIEF.

IF THERE WAS ANYTHING HE HATED, IT WAS A THIEF.

HE FELT THAT THE LAW

REQUIRED THAT THESE THIEVES BE ELIMINATED.

TO HUNT MY TARGET SUCCESSFULLY, I NEEDED TO LEARN THE TERRAIN.

AND NO ONE KNEW IT BETTER THAN THOSE WHOSE ANCESTORS

HAVE LIVED HERE FOR CENTURIES.

HE LIVED AROUND THE APACHES FOR SOME TIME.

HE PICKED UP THEIR LANGUAGE. HE WAS FLUENT IN SPANISH.

AND SO HE MADE HIMSELF VERY USEFUL

TO THE MILITARY ESTABLISHMENT IN ARIZONA IN THE 1880s.

HE WAS A TRACKER --

A VERY GOOD TRACKER, MEANING HE COULD FOLLOW

FOOTPRINTS OF PEOPLE WHO HAD GONE BEFORE HIM.

MY METHODS ARE CLINICAL. I PATIENTLY TRACK THE TARGET,

FIND THE LOOKOUT, AND THEN DRAW A BEAD.

TOM HORN WAS AN EFFICIENT DETECTIVE AND ASSASSIN.

HIS M.O. WAS TO DO A CLEAN SHOT TO THE HEAD

AND BE DONE WITH IT.

SO WE GOT DONE CLEANING IT.

ACTION'S A WHOLE LOT SMOOTHER.

MY REPUTATION AS A TRACKER SOON CAUGHT THE ATTENTION

OF THE U.S. CAVALRY, WHICH WAS FIGHTING A FIERCE GUERILLA WAR

WITH THE SAME INDIANS I HAD COME TO KNOW SO WELL.

THE APACHES WERE A MOUNTAIN PEOPLE --

NOT LARGE IN NUMBER BUT TENACIOUS WARRIORS.

POUND FOR POUND, THEY WERE THE TIGERS OF THE HUMAN RACE.

THERE WERE OCCASIONAL BULKS

OF APACHE WARRIORS WHO WOULD LEAVE THE RESERVATION

AND GO OFF ON RAIDS.

I HAD JUST THE KIND OF EXPERIENCE AND BRAVADO NEEDED

TO TRACK THE ROGUE APACHES DOWN.

THE ARMY CIVILIAN CHIEF OF SCOUTS IN ARIZONA,

AL SIEBER, PERSONALLY RECRUITED ME TO THE CAUSE.

DAMN GOOD WITH THE COLT, HORN.

I SUSPECT THEM INJUNS ARE GONNA TURN TAIL AND RUN

WHEN THEY SEE YOU.

CAPTAIN, THEY WON'T SEE ME.

[ LAUGHS ]

SIEBER WANTED ME 'CAUSE I WAS YOUNG AND ACTIVE,

TRAVEL WITH HIM ALL DAY AND HERD HORSES AT NIGHT

AND TEND THE PACKS.

ALL THAT WAS FUN FOR ME.

I THINK THIS WAS INDEED

THE MOST FORMATIVE PERIOD IN TOM HORN'S LIFE.

HE WAS 20 YEARS OLD,

AND HE WAS LODGED INTO ONE OF THE MOST VICIOUS

AND BLOODY PERIODS IN AMERICAN FRONTIER HISTORY.

FROM THAT POINT ON,

I TOOK PART IN ALMOST ALL OF THE APACHE CAMPAIGNS.

I TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN HAVING HELPED CORRAL

THE LAST OF THEIR WARRIORS.

THESE BATTLES

HAD A VERY HARDENING EFFECT ON TOM HORN,

BECAUSE WOMEN AND CHILDREN WERE KILLED INDISCRIMINATELY.

I DON'T GET ANY INDICATION THAT HORN FELT ANY REMORSE.

THIS WAS A PRACTICAL MATTER.

HE WAS DOING WHAT THE U.S. GOVERNMENT

HAD AUTHORIZED HIM TO DO.

BY THE SUMMER OF 1886, WE HAD BEATEN ALL BUT A FEW APACHES

INTO SUBMISSION, BUT ONE BAND OF RELENTLESS FIGHTERS

STILL ELUDED US.

THEY WERE LED BY THE TRIBE'S MOST NOTORIOUS LEADER,

A MAN I WAS DETERMINED TO CAPTURE,

OR, IF NEED BE, KILL...

GERONIMO.

[ GUNSHOTS ]

[ GUNSHOT ]

IN THE SUMMER OF 1886, OUR CALVARY WAS CLOSING IN

ON THE WEST'S MOST DANGEROUS INDIAN.

GERONIMO AND HIS GUERILLAS

HAD SLAUGHTERED HUNDREDS OF SOLDIERS AND CIVILIANS

IN HIS WAR AGAINST THE WHITE MAN.

NOW AT 26, I, TOM HORN, WAS PART OF A SQUAD OF ARMY SCOUTS

DEDICATED TO TRACKING HIM DOWN.

TOM HORN IS INSTRUMENTAL IN THE CAMPAIGNS AGAINST GERONIMO.

IN SEPTEMBER, AFTER MONTHS OF NEAR MISSES,

WE TRACKED GERONIMO TO HIS HIDEOUT

NEAR SONORA, MEXICO,

AND FORCED HIS SURRENDER.

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE,

I SAW THIS MAN OF WHOM I'VE HEARD SO MUCH

FROM BOTH INDIANS AND WHITE MEN.

HE HAD AN INTELLIGENT-LOOKING FACE,

BUT WHEN HE TURNED AND LOOKED AT A PERSON,

HIS EYES WERE SO SHARP AND PIERCING,

THAT THEY SEEMED FAIRLY TO STICK INTO HIM.

ANYHOW, THAT'S HOW IT SEEMED TO ME,

BUT I WAS A LITTLE SHAKY.

THROUGH THIS TREATY THAT I PROPOSE,

WAR BETWEEN OUR PEOPLES CAN END.

AND THE APACHE SHALL LIVE IN PEACE AS FRIENDS

OF THE WHITE MEN.

HE SAID TO ME...

"YOU ARE A YOUNG MAN.

"THERE WILL ALWAYS BE A WAR WITH ME AND MINE.

"BUT WAR IS ONE THING. TALKING BUSINESS IS ANOTHER.

"I'D BE JUST AS PLEASED TO MEET YOU IN BATTLE

AS I WOULD IN COUNCIL."

Hutton: WITH THE CAPTURE OF GERONIMO,

THERE'S NO NEED FOR SCOUTS LIKE TOM HORN ANYMORE.

SO HE LOOKED ABOUT FOR OTHER EMPLOYMENT.

WHAT DOES A YOUNG MAN WHO'S JUST SPENT

THE LAST 10 YEARS ENGAGED IN KILLING

FOR THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT DO FOR A LIVING?

HE LOOKS FOR OTHER PEOPLE WHO NEED A MAN

WHO'S GOOD WITH A GUN.

AND HE HIRED HIMSELF TO THE PINKERTONS,

AND DESPITE THE OUTSTANDING REPUTATION OF THE PINKERTONS,

IN MANY CASES,

AS WAS SHOWN IN THEIR PURSUIT OF JESSE JAMES,

THEY SHOT FIRST AND ASKED QUESTIONS LATER.

[ HISSING, CLATTER ]

[ EXPLOSION ]

I PUT 17 MEN IN THE GROUND FOR THE PINKERTONS

ALL OVER THE ROCKIES --

TRAIN ROBBERS AND CATTLE THIEVES, MOSTLY.

BUT AFTER A COUPLE YEARS,

I LEFT THE AGENCY FOR GREENER PASTURES.

Carlson: HORN WAS THE KIND OF GUY

WHO WOULD NOT THRIVE IN A BIG CORPORATION

OR ANY KIND OF BUREAUCRACY.

HE WAS A MAN OF ACTION. HE WANTED TO BE OUT,

ON THE GO, ALL THE TIME.

FOR MORE THAN A DECADE AFTER WE CORRALLED GERONIMO,

I DRIFTED FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER

AS A PRIVATE GUN FOR HIRE,

BUT IN 1898, I GOT ANOTHER CHANCE

TO HUNT DOWN ENEMIES OF THE STATE.

HORN ENLISTED IN THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR,

GOT TO CUBA. APPARENTLY, WAS INSTRUMENTAL

IN TEDDY ROOSEVELT'S RIDE UP SAN JUAN HILL.

HE, LIKE, MANY OTHERS, CONTRACTED YELLOW FEVER

AND GOT REAL SICK.

MORE THAN 3,000 OF OUR MEN DIED FROM DISEASE --

15 TIMES AS MANY AS WERE KILLED IN COMBAT.

I NEARLY SUCCUMBED MYSELF,

BUT MY TIME WAS NOT YET AT HAND.

THE FEVER MAY HAVE DONE SOME THINGS TO HIS BRAIN.

PEOPLE WHO KNEW HIM SAID THAT WHEN HE CAME BACK FROM CUBA,

HE WAS NEVER THE SAME PERSON.

Bell: HE BEGAN TO DRINK MORE.

I THINK HE WAS TROUBLED.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE THAT FAR OFF

TO GO FROM BEING A MAN OF ACTION, INTEGRITY,

AS A DETECTIVE DEALING WITH HARD MEN

AND TURNING THAT CORNER TO BEING AN ASSASSIN.

[ GUNSHOT ]

IT'S YOURS, ISN'T IT?

LOOKS LIKE IT.

NOT LONG AFTER I RETURNED FROM CUBA,

I WAS HIRED BY THE BIG WYOMING CATTLE BARONS

TO EXTERMINATE THE RUSTLERS WHO WERE PICKING OFF THEIR HERDS.

FOREMOST AMONG THEM WAS AN UPSTART RANCHER

NAMED MATT RASH.

FOR WEEKS, I STALKED RASH FROM THE INSIDE,

WORKING AS ONE OF HIS RANCH HANDS

UNTIL I HAD THE EVIDENCE I NEEDED TO EXACT JUSTICE.

YOU'LL TAKE CARE OF THIS?

THEY'D KNOW THEIR PROPERTY VALUE --

THE BRAND ON THE CATTLE, FOR NUMBER ONE,

SO THE BRAND WAS A HUGE ISSUE BECAUSE YOU BRAND THAT LIVESTOCK

TO SHOW THAT IT WAS YOURS.

HE INVESTIGATED MATT RASH'S DOINGS

AND DETERMINED THAT RASH

WAS STEALING AND BRANDING CATTLE WITH HIS OWN BRAND.

WITH A SMOKING GUN IN HAND,

I GOT THE GO-AHEAD TO PUT MATT RASH IN THE GROUND.

NICE JOB.

BUT KILLING CATTLE THIEVES IS MORE THAN JUST BUSINESS.

FOR ME, IT'S EXTREMELY PERSONAL

BECAUSE I WAS ONCE THEIR TARGET.

[ GUNSHOT ]

TOM. TOM, BETTER GET UP.

WHAT IS IT, BILL?

RUSTLERS.

Ball: DURING TOM HORN'S LIFE, THERE WERE MOMENTS

WHEN HE MADE DECISIONS THAT CHANGED THE COURSE OF HIS LIFE.

HORN TRIED TO START A RANCH HIMSELF.

HE STARTED BUILDING A HERD, AND THIEVES STOLE HIS CATTLE,

AND THIS WAS A FORMATIVE MOMENT IN HORN'S LIFE, I THINK.

HE DEVELOPED AN INVETERATE HATRED OF THIEVES.

THE REST OF HIS LIFE,

HE ABSOLUTELY DESPISED PEOPLE WHO STOLE CATTLE,

BECAUSE THEY WIPED OUT HIS START-UP HERD.

THOSE THIEVES STOLE MORE THAN MY CATTLE.

THEY STOLE MY FUTURE. I WAS BROKE AFTER THAT.

REPLACING THE HERD

AND STARTING OVER WASN'T AN OPTION,

SO I FELL BACK ON THE SKILL

AND OFFERED BOTH MONEY AND REVENGE --

TRACKIN'.

Horn: "NO CURE, NO PAY" IS MY MOTTO.

IF I DON'T GET THEM,

COST NO ONE A CENT.

I'M NOT SURE HOW MANY MEN I KILLED IN THE 1890s.

I WOULD GUESS 25 OR MORE. THEY WERE ALL CLEAN KILLS --

NOTHING ANYONE COULD TRACE.

Carlson: TOM HORN WAS A LAW UNTO HIMSELF.

HE WAS A SELF-APPOINTED LAWMAN,

AND THAT WAS COMMON THINKING

AMONG THE BIG CATTLEMEN IN THOSE DAYS.

THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH ELIMINATING RUSTLERS THAT WAY.

Boggs: THERE'S THIS MYTH THAT TOM HORN

WOULD LEAVE A ROCK UNDER THE HEADS OF HIS VICTIMS.

IS THAT TRUE? IF IT'S TRUE,

THEN TOM HORN'S NOT VERY SMART, BECAUSE THAT'S A CALLING CARD.

THE IDEA THAT HE PLACED A ROCK UNDER THE, UH, HEAD

MEANS THAT HE CAME UP AND ACTUALLY WATCHED HIM DIE.

THAT'S JUST KIND OF CREEPY.

[ GUNSHOT ]

TO ME, MATT RASH WAS JUST ANOTHER NAME ON THE HIT LIST --

ANOTHER CRIMINAL I WAS PAID

TO PUT OUT OF BUSINESS FOR GOOD.

AFTER A SUMMER WORKING UNDERCOVER ON HIS RANCH,

I'D SEEN ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO PROVE HE WAS A CATTLE THIEF.

MATT RASH HAD JUST FIXED A MEAL.

HE HAD ONE SHOE OFF,

AND THE LACES UNDONE ON ANOTHER.

THE MEAL ALL SET WHERE IT WAS, HIS SADDLE HORSE

STILL STOOD TIED UP.

MORNING, TOM.

MORNIN'.

I'M JUST FINISHING UP BREAKFAST.

POUR YOURSELF SOME COFFEE. I'LL BE OUT IN A MINUTE.

MATT RASH HAD ABSOLUTELY NO WAY OF DEFENDING HIMSELF.

IT WAS AN AMBUSH, AND HE HAD NO IDEA IT WAS COMING.

[ GUN COCKS ]

WHAT IS IT, TOM?

NOW JUST -- JUST TAKE IT EASY.

PUT THAT DOWN AND LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS.

TALK ABOUT WHAT?

[ GUNSHOTS ]

NOW JUST -- JUST TAKE IT EASY.

PUT THAT DOWN, AND LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS.

TALK ABOUT WHAT?

IN JULY OF 1900, I, TOM HORN, SENT THE RINGLEADER

OF COLORADO'S CATTLE THIEVES ON HOME TO HELL.

WHEN HE SHOT MATT RASH, HE SHOT HIM IN THE CHEST.

IT APPEARS TO BE MUCH MORE OF AN ASSASSINATION

FROM CLOSE UP, UM, THAN FROM A DISTANCE.

IT'S MORE PERSONAL.

RASH'S DEATH SENT AN UNMISTAKABLE MESSAGE

TO THE REST OF HIS KIND.

THIEVIN' MEN AIN'T WELCOME IN BROWN'S PARK.

Kouris: THE IMPACT OF MATT RASH'S MURDER

WAS DEVASTATING.

THERE WAS SHOCK THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY,

AS YOU CAN IMAGINE.

Davidson: AFTER MATT RASH'S DEATH,

YOU WOULD'VE HAD SOME PEOPLE LEFT THE COUNTY OR THE AREA,

ALTOGETHER NEVER TO RETURN.

THE NEWSPAPERS BEGAN TO CALL IT THE "REIGN OF TERROR"

BECAUSE NOBODY THOUGHT

THEY WERE REALLY SAFE FROM SOMEBODY LIKE THAT.

TOM HORN HAD HIS DESIRED EFFECT,

AND IT WAS TO SCARE.

THE LOCALS PRESUME THAT MY EMPLOYERS,

THE CATTLE BARONS, WERE BEHIND THE KILLING.

BUT THEY WONDERED WHO THEIR TRIGGER MAN WAS.

THEY SUSPECTED ISAM DART, A BLACK RANCH HAND AND COWBOY

WHO MAY HAVE BEEN TRIMMING FROM THE SAME HERDS AS RASH.

BUT ANN BASSETT HAD HER EYE ON ME.

SO I MADE MYSELF SCARCE,

TILL ISAM STARTED DENYING THE RUMORS

AND FORCED ME TO QUIET HIM DOWN.

[ GUNSHOT ]

ISAM DART WAS BORN INTO SLAVERY IN TEXAS,

BUT HE WAS KNOWN AS BEING A REALLY GOOD COWBOY

WHEN IT HAD TO DO WITH ROPING, BRANDING,

WORKING REALLY HARD.

HE WAS ACCEPTED AS PART OF THAT COMMUNITY.

Carlson: THE PEOPLE IN THE AREA KNEW THAT DART WAS STEALING.

PEOPLE MAY HAVE SEEN HIM STEALING CATTLE --

THE HIDE OF CATTLE WITH BRANDS

THAT BELONGED TO OTHER PEOPLE IN THE TERRITORY.

Kouris: TOM HORN HAD ACTUALLY GONE TO THE COUNTY SEAT

AND HAD FILED A COMPLAINT AGAINST ISAM DART,

SAYING THAT ISAM DART HAD ALTERED THE BRAND ON A HORSE.

LOOKS CLEAR.

READY TO GO?

HORN WAS HIDDEN

DOWN THE HILL FROM ISAM DART'S CABIN.

Davidson: IT WOULD'VE GIVEN FAIRLY GOOD POSITION

FOR SOMEBODY TO BE HIDING.

Kouris: ISAM DART STEPPED OUT OF HIS MOUNTAIN CABIN

AND WAS WALKING TOWARDS THE CORRAL

TO GET HIS HORSE, AND AS HE STEPPED OUT

OF THE CABIN AND WALKED TOWARD THE CORRAL,

THE GUN SHOT.

ONE SHOT RIGHT NEAR THE HEART,

AND THAT WAS THE END.

Kouris: HE FELL AND SAID, "OH, MY GOD,"

AND NEVER MOVED AGAIN.

IT'S REALLY SAD, BECAUSE ISAM DART HAD DONE HIS BEST

TO LIVE A GOOD LIFE.

HE'D HAD SOME TROUBLES,

BUT HE REALLY HAD GAINED THE RESPECT

OF THE PEOPLE WHO REALLY KNEW HIM.

HE WAS VERY KIND, VERY POLITE.

BUT TO TOM HORN, ISAM DART WASN'T A MAN.

HE WAS A PAYCHECK.

LATER THAT YEAR, THREE MORE OF RASH'S CATTLE THIEVING RING

MET THE SAME FATE.

I PINNED THE EARS OF ONE OF 'EM ONTO HIS CABIN DOOR,

FIGURING THAT WOULD MAKE SURE THE MESSAGE WAS HEARD.

I CLEANED OUT BROWN'S PARK.

NOW IT'S A SAFE PLACE TO LIVE.

Davidson: HE HAD REMOVED HIMSELF FROM, REALLY, ANY REMORSE

ABOUT HIS BEHAVIOR, AND THAT HAS A TENDENCY

TO MAGNIFY ITSELF AS A PERSON CONTINUES TO GO THROUGH LIFE,

AND MAYBE THEY BECOME MORE CARELESS.

MAYBE THEY MAKE OTHER DECISIONS

TO WHERE THEY'LL TAKE RISKS THAT THEY WOULDN'T HAVE TAKEN.

AFTER BROWN'S PARK,

I WAS RUNNING OUT OF AREAS TO CLEAN UP.

THE COLORADO RANGE WARS WERE WINDING DOWN,

AND MY HITS THERE WERE GETTING TOO MUCH PLAY IN THE PAPERS.

[ GUNSHOT ]

SO MY BOSSES SENT ME UP NORTH TO IRON MOUNTAIN, WYOMING,

WHERE NEW TROUBLE WAS BREWING.

I HEARD MOUNTAIN PASTURES ARE FILLED WITH SHEEP.

Carlson: SHEEP WERE HATED BY CATTLEMEN

BECAUSE THE WAY SHEEP GRAZED,

THEY GRAZE RIGHT DOWN TO THE ROOTS,

AND THEY DESTROY THE RANGE.

OUR CATTLE ARE DOING FINE,

BUT THE SHEEPMEN ARE HIRING EVERY SIX SHOOTER

AND BAD MEN THEY CAN.

I WANT TOM HORN HERE.

HE CAN STRIKE THEM OUT.

ONE LOCAL SHEEPMAN BY THE NAME OF KELS NICKEL

WAS A PARTICULAR CONCERN MY BOSSES WANTED TAKEN CARE OF.

NICKEL BROUGHT THE SHEEP TO IRON MOUNTAIN,

THINKING IT WAS A GOOD BUSINESS INVESTMENT,

THAT HE COULD MAKE MORE MONEY WITH HIS SHEEP

THAN HE COULD RAISING CATTLE.

THAT WAS A MISTAKE, AND OF COURSE,

IT ENFLAMED THE WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD.

KELS NICKEL WAS SO EXPLOSIVE. HE WAS SO TEMPESTUOUS.

THERE WAS, AT ONE TIME, TALK OF A LYNCH MOB

TO GET RID OF KELS NICKEL.

THERE'S NO NEED FOR A LYNCH MOB

WHEN YOU'VE GOT A WINCHESTER.

BUT EVEN A CRACK SHOT SUCH AS MYSELF

DOESN'T ALWAYS HIT HIS MARK.

HE WAS FINALLY UNDONE BY...

A MISTAKEN SHOT. [ GUNSHOT ]

IF HE HADN'T DONE THAT,

HE COULD HAVE PROBABLY GOTTEN AWAY WITH THAT

WITH ABSOLUTELY NO RECOURSE WHATSOEVER.

TOM HORN WAS CERTAINLY A SUCCESSFUL TERRORIST

IN A LOT OF WAYS, BUT THAT'S WHAT IT CAME DOWN TO.

[ GUNSHOT ]

[ GUNSHOT ]

IN THE SUMMER OF 1902,

MY CLIENTS, THE CATTLEMEN OF THE ROCKIES,

WERE FIGHTING TO PROTECT THEIR LAND.

THE SHEEPMEN ARE HIRING EVERY SIX SHOOTER

AND BAD MEN THEY CAN.

THE CATTLE RUSTLERS HAD BEEN TAMED BY YOURS TRULY,

TOM HORN, BUT NOW SHEEP HERDS WERE DRIFTING IN

AND RIPPING UP THE RANGE, AND IT WASN'T LONG

BEFORE MORE BLOOD WAS SPILLED.

THE LATEST CASUALTY WAS 14-YEAR-OLD WILLIE NICKEL,

THE SON OF A SHEEPMAN NAMED KELS NICKEL,

WHO WAS A THORN IN THE SIDE OF MY BOSSES.

A LOT OF PEOPLE HATED KELS NICKEL,

BECAUSE NICKEL BROUGHT THE SHEEP TO IRON MOUNTAIN.

FEW WOULD HAVE BEEN SURPRISED TO SEE KELS TURN UP DEAD,

BUT HIS SON'S MURDER WAS A MYSTERY

NO ONE COULD SOLVE.

Carlson: THERE WERE NO WITNESSES THE MURDER OF WILLIE NICKEL

EXCEPT BY THE PERSON WHO KILLED HIM.

SO THEY PINNED IT ON THE MAN

THEY KNEW COULD KILL WITHOUT A TRACE.

I WAS ARRESTED WITHOUT A SHRED OF PROOF

EXCEPT MY OWN WORD, COAXED UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF WHISKEY.

THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT AFRAID OF SHOOTIN', ARE THEY?

HORN IS, WELL,

THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL NAME IN WYOMING HISTORY BECAUSE OF

WHETHER OR NOT HE ACTUALLY KILLED THAT KID

AND THE WAY HIS TRIAL WAS CONDUCTED.

Boessenecker: THE BEST THEORY ABOUT KILLING WILLIE NICKEL

IS THAT HORN HAD BEEN HIRED TO KILL WILLIE'S FATHER,

AND WILLIE WAS WEARING THE FATHER'S COAT,

AND HORN SIMPLY MISTOOK HIM FOR THE FATHER,

AND THAT WAS A FATAL MISTAKE.

Ball: THE OPPOSING OPINION HOLDS

THAT WILLIE NICKEL WAS KILLED BY A NEIGHBORING FAMILY,

BECAUSE KELS NICKEL WAS AN ARGUMENTATIVE SORT,

AND A LOT OF HIS NEIGHBORS WERE, TOO.

BUT ON MONDAY ON THE WEEK ON WHICH HE WAS KILLED,

MONDAY MORNING -- WHATEVER DATE THAT WAS,

I LEFT BILLY CLAY'S AND WENT TO THE MILLERS' RANCH.

THE AUTHORITIES DIDN'T MUCH CARE

WHETHER I REALLY KILLED WILLIE.

THEY HAD TO MAKE SOMEONE PAY.

WHOSE CAPTURE WOULD PACIFY THE PUBLIC MORE

THAN THE FRONTIER'S MOST FEARED HIT MAN?

Ball: THE NEWSPAPERS OUTSIDE OF CHEYENNE

CRUCIFIED TOM HORN BECAUSE OF WHAT AND WHOM HE REPRESENTED.

SOME PEOPLE THINK OFFICIALS IN WYOMING

ALL CONSPIRED TO GET HIM OUT OF THE WAY,

AND THE PUBLIC FELT ABOUT TIME WE GOT THAT GUY.

IT WAS THE ULTIMATE IRONY.

I'D PUT DOZENS OF MEN IN THEIR GRAVE

WITHOUT SO MUCH AS A SLAP ON THE WRIST.

THEN THEY THROW THE BOOK AT ME

ON ACCOUNT OF A MISUNDERSTANDING.

OF COURSE, I DIDN'T DO MYSELF ANY FAVORS

BY DRINKING WITH AN UNDERCOVER DETECTIVE

WHO SAID HE HAD A JOB FOR ME.

I LOOK AT IT AS A BUSINESS PROPOSITION.

I THINK I HAVE A CORNER ON THE MARKET.

Carlson: IMMEDIATELY AFTER WILLIE WAS KILLED,

THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IN CHEYENNE

POSTED A REWARD OF $1,000.

IN TODAY'S MONEY, THAT'S $10,000.

JOE LEFORS SMELLED THAT MONEY,

AND I AM CONVINCED THAT HE FELT THAT HE FELT

THAT IF HE COULD NAIL TOM HORN FOR THAT CRIME,

HE WOULD BECOME SOMETHING OF THE WYATT EARP OF WYOMING.

LEFORS SAID HE HAD A JOB FOR ME IN MONTANA

AND THAT WE SHOULD DISCUSS IT OVER A FEW GLASSES OF WHISKEY.

I SHOOT TOO MUCH.

YOU KNOW ME WHEN IT COMES TO SHOOTIN'.

LIKE THE WILLIE NICKEL SHOOTING.

I COULD NOT FIND YOUR TRAIL,

AND I PRIDE MYSELF ON BEING A TRACKER.

I LEFT NO DAMN TRAIL.

THE ONLY WAY TO COVER UP YOUR TRAIL

IS GOING BAREFOOT.

Hutton: THE APACHES HAD CALLED TOM HORN "TALKING BOY."

HE THOUGHT IT WAS BECAUSE HE KNEW THEIR LANGUAGE

AND COULD TRANSLATE. NO. IT WAS BECAUSE

YOU COULDN'T SHUT HIM UP. HE TALKED ALL THE TIME.

AND JOE LEFORS KNEW THAT.

WHAT KIND OF GUN HAVE YOU GOT?

I USE THE 30-30 WINCHESTER.

DOES THAT HOLD UP AS WELL AS THE 30-40?

NO. BUT I LIKE TO GET CLOSE TO MY MAN.

CLOSER, THE BETTER.

HOW FAR WAS WILLIE NICKEL KILLED?

ABOUT 300 YARDS.

IT WAS THE BEST SHOT I EVER MADE.

THE DIRTIEST TRICK I EVER DONE.

Carlson: LEFORS ARRANGED TO HAVE A STENOGRAPHER THERE

TO RECORD TOM HORN'S REMARKS.

HORN'S SO-CALLED CONFESSION WAS MOSTLY BULL.

HE WAS DRUNK.

HE'D BEEN UP ALL NIGHT THE NIGHT BEFORE.

HE WAS BOASTING.

THOMAS HORN...

YOU HAVE BEEN FOUND GUILTY OF MURDER

BY A JURY OF YOUR PEERS.

[ MURMURING ]

TODAY IN COURT,

THIS CONFESSION WOULD BE CLASSIFIED AS ENTRAPMENT

AND WOULD HAVE BEEN THROWN OUT.

BUT THE COURT ACCEPTED THIS CONFESSION,

AND TOM HORN ACTUALLY TESTIFIED IN HIS TRIAL

AND ADMITTED THAT HE HAD MADE ALL OF THOSE REMARKS

TO DEPUTY MARSHAL JOE LEFORS.

MAY GOD HAVE MERCY ON YOUR SOUL.

COURT IS ADJOURNED.

[ BELL TOLLS, GUNSHOT ]

DEAR JOHNNY, IT'S ALL OVER FOR ME

EXCEPT FOR THE APPLAUSE PART OF THE GAME.

I AM PREPARED.

IT'S ALL RIGHT.

Hutton: THE KILLING OF THE BOY WAS TOO MUCH

FOR THE CITIZENS OF WYOMING.

THEY'RE GETTING TIRED

OF THE CATTLE BARONS RUNNING EVERYTHING,

AND SO THERE'S A POLITICAL ELEMENT

IN THIS STORY AS WELL,

BECAUSE TOM HORN IS ON THE SIDE OF THE OLD ORDER,

AND THE NEW, MORE DEMOCRATIC ORDER

IS TAKING ITS PLACE.

MODERN TIMES HAD CLOSED IN ON TOM HORN.

THE DAYS OF THESE WANDERING GUNFIGHTERS WERE OVER.

THE PUBLIC WAS NOT GONNA TOLERATE

THIS TYPE OF VIOLENCE ANYMORE.

THE NOTES READ AT THE TRIAL WERE NOT THE ORIGINAL NOTES.

IT WON'T DO ANY GOOD TO KICK AT THAT NOW.

Hutton: THEY SAID HE WOULD NEVER HANG,

THAT THE CATTLE BARONS WOULD GET HIM FREE.

AND THEN FOLKS WONDERED

IF MAYBE TOM WOULD TELL WHO HAD HIRED HIM,

WHO HAD PUT HIM UP TO THE KILLINGS

TO SAVE HIS NECK.

BUT NO, TOM HORN WAS A WESTERNER ALL THE WAY.

PLAYED HIS STRING OUT TO THE END.

NEVER GAVE UP HIS EMPLOYERS AND DIED GAME.

YOU AIN'T LOSING YOUR NERVE, ARE YOU, JOE?

SORRY, TOM.

Horn's father: HIT YOUR FATHER? [ BARKS ]

Horn: BEST SHOT I EVER MADE.

HORN ACTUALLY STRANGLED TO DEATH

BECAUSE THE DEPUTY SHERIFF HAD UNDERESTIMATED

THE DROP THAT WOULD BE NEEDED TO BREAK HIS NECK.

TOOK HIM 16 MINUTES TO DIE.

Ball: SOME PEOPLE CLASSIFY HIS END AS TRAGIC,

BUT IF HE ASSASSINATED PEOPLE FOR $500 APIECE,

HE MADE THE CONSCIOUS DECISION TO DO THAT.

I DON'T THINK YOU CAN CLASSIFY HIM AS A TRAGIC CHARACTER.

WHETHER HE THOUGHT HIMSELF JUSTIFIED OR NOT,

THAT CANNOT BE CLASSIFIED AS TRAGEDY.

THAT'S PERSONAL CALCULATION.

NO CURE. NO PAY.

WHEN MONEY AND GREED AND POWER ARE AT PLAY,

INNOCENT PEOPLE DIE,

BUT HE FELT THAT HE WAS JUSTIFIED

IN EVERYTHING THAT HE DID.

[ CLICK ]

THIS IS A DIFFERENT TIME. THE WEST HAS CHANGED,

AND TOM HORN, LIKE SO MANY OF HIS CONTEMPORARIES,

COULDN'T CHANGE WITH IT.

Hutton: WHEN THEY HANGED TOM HORN,

THE WEST WAS CRISS-CROSSED WITH RAILROADS.

MOVIES WERE COMING OUT.

THE POLITICS OF THE DAY WEREN'T THE POLITICS

OF THE WILD WEST ANYMORE, SO AMERICA WAS CHANGED.

WHEN THEY DROPPED TOM HORN THROUGH THAT CHUTE

AND SENT HIM TO ETERNITY, WELL,

THAT WAS THE END OF THE WILD WEST AS WELL.

HIS HANGING WAS THE DEATH KNELL FOR THE FRONTIER.

Carlson: IN WYOMING, HE'S SOMETHING OF A HERO.

BUT WHAT WAS HE REALLY LIKE? WHAT DID HE REALLY DO?

PART OF THE APPEAL OF TOM HORN IN HISTORY

IS THAT HE WAS SUCH A MYSTERIOUS GUY.

PROBABLY A VERY SCARY GUY, TOO.

PEOPLE HAVE ASKED ME,

"WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF HE WALKED INTO THIS ROOM?"

I'D BE VERY QUIET.