I'm watching Tom Horn this afternoon.

We must have some history buffs familiar with the case. For those of you who studied the trial of Tom Horn, have you come to a conclusion? What do you think actually happened?

I believe he did it. It matches his M.O, the kid was wearing his fathers coat (or hat I forget which) and he confessed. Yes he was bragging and maybe exaggerating, but I think he did it.

I don't think he would have really cared that it was the wrong guy, or that it was a kid. He was a killer.

I read up on it quite a bit and think he is good for it.
The drunken confession made me wonder at first but overall he appears guilty.

2 of 3 Horn biographers Think so. Author of The Saga of Tom Horn, Dean F. Krakel, speculates that Horn shot Nickell in a case of mistaken identity. Larry D. Ball, author of the recent Tom Horn in Life and Legend, believes he did kill Nickell. Tom Horn: Blood on the Moon, Author Chip Carlson argues that Horn was railroaded and probably didn’t kill the youth.

Did the author propose an alternative killer?

I tend to agree with Lord Vaalic...I think he killed him. He was hired to "do a job" and he was a man of his time...but it could have been a possible case of mistaken identity. Remember these were the days before modern optics and there was not that separation of "young" and "old" as far as dress like we are accustomed to. Also, there was no social media, so bragging about a "great shot" would have been in a bar among his peers rather than Facebook ...all things considering, he killed the kid...at least IMHO.

A neighbors son, Vic Miller

quote:

Originally posted by mr kablammo:
Did the author propose an alternative killer?

there were two incidents before his killing and two after .

the feud between the two families ( neighbors)
must be considered.

sure, Tom had no qualms with shooting some one dead, but it kinda seems unlikely that he had probable cause or justification to shoot the teenager.

and the dep. Marshall may have felt the need to make a name for himself at Tom's expense.

but since there were no witness's it's unlikely that it will be known for sure