American Historical Ephemera and Photography Online

Cabinet card view of three men seated in a studio. The gentleman at center sits in a chair, reading a newspaper or document, while the subject at left reads a book and the subject at right holds a photo of an outdoor scene. With tentative identification of "Tom Horn ?" penciled on verso, but this cannot be confirmed with all certainty. Kemmerer, WY: J.A. Pohjola (light edge wear to mount).

Tom Horn (1860-1903) was a scout and assassin. After spending his early years working as a stage driver in New Mexico, Horn became an army "packer" about 1882, and was with Crook's 1883 expedition against the Apaches, and later was named chief of scouts in the campaign against Geronimo. Horn apparently acted as an interpreter when a group of scouts went into Geronimo's camp to negotiate his surrender.

After Geronimo's surrender Horn served as deputy for various sheriffs in southern Arizona, and played an obscure role in the Pleasant Valley Wars. He was involved in a number of scrapes, which included at least one killing. About 1890 he moved to Denver and joined the Pinkerton Detective Agency and about four years later became a detective for a private land and cattle company in Wyoming. During his four year stint with Pinkerton, he allegedly killed 17 men. According to Thrapp (1988:676) it was after Horn left Pinkerton's that he may have developed his interest in murder-for-pay. Over the next few years Horn was employed as a contract killer in Wyoming, Montana, Arizona and Colorado, adopting the motto "No Cure No Pay"...So if I don't get them it costs no one a cent" Horn cleverly managed to conceal his role in what became a string of killings involving cattle thieves and rustlers, until he was finally convicted in Montana Territory and hanged on November 20, 1903, the day before his 43rd birthday. At the time his neck was stretched, Horn had credited with 17 killings.

[With:] Cabinet card of two men standing in a studio. One holds a cigarette in his hand. Medical Lake, Washington Territory: P.M. Peterson (toning, staining, edge and corner wear to mount). -- Cabinet card, full-standing view of a mustachioed fellow holding a book, which rests on the table beside him, with a dog resting at his feet. Bismarck, Dakota Territory: O.S. Goff (light soiling). -- Cabinet card view of three disheveled young men seated on the floor of a makeshift studio, drinking and discussing an important matter. They each appear to be shoeless. The subject at center cradles a rifle. Photographer unknown (soiling, loss to top right and left corners of print, top left edge of print partially separated from mount, two significant diagonal creases including one through lower right corner of print and mount).

Together, 4 cabinet cards.