Tom Ketchum
Tom Ketchum, also known as "Black Jack," was a prominent outlaw in the late 19th century, notorious for his role as a train robber in the American Southwest. Born in 1863, he faced a tumultuous childhood marked by the early deaths of both parents, which led him to drift into a life of crime after years of working as a cowboy. Ketchum's criminal career escalated in the 1890s, beginning with a train robbery in New Mexico that netted his gang a significant sum of money. His offenses included a series of violent robberies and confrontations with law enforcement, including the killing of a man in Texas.
Ketchum's criminal activities eventually caught up with him, leading to his arrest in 1899 following a failed train robbery attempt. He was sentenced to death in 1900 and executed on April 26, 1901, in a particularly gruesome hanging that resulted in his decapitation, making him the only person to suffer such an outcome in the U.S. The legacy of Tom Ketchum lives on through various media, including magazines and television shows, which depict him as a quintessential figure of the Wild West. His life and crimes continue to fascinate those interested in the history of American outlaws.
Subject Terms
Tom Ketchum
American outlaw
- Born: October 31, 1863
- Birthplace: San Saba County,Texas
- Died: April 26, 1901
- Place of death: Clayton, New Mexico
Major offenses: Murder and robbery
Active: 1892-1899
Locale: Eastern Arizona, northeastern New Mexico, and west Texas
Sentence: Death by hanging
Early Life
Thomas (Tom) Edward Ketchum (KEHT-chuhm) was the youngest of eight children born to Temperance and Green Berry Ketchum. His father died when Tom was only five years old, and his mother died when he was ten. Ketchum then lived off and on with his older brother Berry, Jr., for the next sixteen years. Thomas and another older brother, Samuel, worked as cowboys in Texas and New Mexico, participating in many cattle drives. They worked at the Bell Ranch near Liberty, New Mexico, for many months. However, both preferred to be drifters, a lifestyle that eventually led them to a life of crime.
Criminal Career
After failing to appear as a witness in a criminal case, Ketchum was summoned for contempt of court on March 17, 1880. These events signaled the beginning of his defiance of legal authority. However, his first major offense occurred in 1892, when his gang robbed a train just outside Nutt, New Mexico; they stole about twenty thousand dollars. He fled to Arizona and then Texas. On December 12, 1895, Ketchum and others killed John Powers in Tom Green County, Texas. Ketchum was indicted by a grand jury for the murder of Powers in Texas in early 1896, but he managed to escape to New Mexico. There, Ketchum and his gang robbed a store and post office in Liberty in June, 1896. Most of the pursuing posse were killed by Ketchum and his gang during a gunfight along the Pecos River.
After spending some time in Arizona, Ketchum and his gang held up a train near Folsom, New Mexico, on September 3, 1897. They hid for a time in a cave south of Folsom. On December 9, 1897, Ketchum’s group robbed a post office and railroad station at Stein’s Pass, New Mexico, but were foiled in an attempted train robbery. Heading back to Texas, Ketchum robbed a train near Comstock on April 28, 1898. This was followed by another train robbery near Stanton, Texas, on July 1, 1898.
After a disagreement with his brother Sam and other members of the gang, Ketchum rode to central Arizona, where he robbed a store and killed two men at Camp Verde on July 2, 1899. Back in New Mexico, Ketchum tried to rob a train by himself near Folsom on August 16, 1899. During that attempt, Ketchum was shot in the right arm by the train conductor and captured the next morning.
Legal Action and Outcome
After Ketchum killed the two men at Camp Verde, a warrant was issued for his arrest. Following Ketchum’s arrest for train robbery in New Mexico in August, 1899, the governor of New Mexico denied a requisition order for his extradition to Arizona, claiming that the train robbery took precedence. On October 5, 1900, Ketchum was sentenced to hang in Clayton, New Mexico. The hanging occurred on April 26, 1901, and was particularly gruesome: Because of poorly placed weights, the taut rope tore Ketchum’s head from his torso.
Impact
Tom Ketchum was known as a dangerous, hardened individual who was fast with his gun and an excellent marksman. He became one of the most notorious outlaws and train robbers in the American Southwest. He is the only person to suffer capital punishment in New Mexico for train robbery and is the only person ever hanged in Union County, New Mexico. According to historical documents, Ketchum is also the only criminal ever decapitated during a judicial hanging in the United States. Stories of his outlaw adventures, crimes, and death have been exploited in many magazines, particularly Wild West. He has also been a featured outlaw in films and televison shows, including the television series Death Valley Days.
Bibliography
Barton, Barbara. Den of Outlaws. San Angelo, Tex.: Rangel Printing, 2000. Barton examines the life, gang, and outlaw days of Ketchum.
Hillerman, Tony. The Great Taos Bank Robbery, and Other True Stories of the Southwest. New York: HarperCollins, 2001. This work contains stories surrounding Ketchum’s crimes.
Jersig, Shelby. Black Jack Ketchum. Clovis, N.Mex.: Jersig Printing, 2001. An excellent account of Ketchum’s life, his train robberies, and the other crimes he committed in New Mexico.