|
|
The Ketchum Gang
Like the Wild
Bunch, the Ketchum Gang was
made up of a revolving cast of members. The core of the gang centered around “Black Jack” Tom Ketchum and his brother Sam. Wild Bunch
alumnus Will Carver, Elzy Lay and Ben Kilpatrick rode with the Ketchum’s
as well. Other members included Dan Johnson, Sam Marr, Tom Thomas and Ed
Bullion – brother of Laura Bullion, Ben Kilpatrick’s girlfriend.
In December 1895, Will Carver and
Sam
Ketchum found themselves accused of the murder of John N. “Jap” Powers
in Knickerbocker, Texas. Innocent of the crime, but fearing retribution
from the law, the two men hit the road. This would be the beginning of
Carver’s life on the outlaw trail. Six months later, Powers’ wife
along with her lover, J.E. Wright, were arrested for the crime.
In June of 1896, Tom and Sam Ketchum robbed
a post office and store in Liberty, New Mexico owned by Levi Herzstein.
Upon finding out about the robbery, Herzstein and Merejildo Gallegos set
out in pursuit of the robbers. Unfortunately for the would-be-vigilantes,
they found them. The outlaws gunned down Herzstein and Gallegos.
On August 6, 1896, members of the Ketchum
Gang attempted to rob the International Bank in Nogales,
Arizona. Three
men entered the bank, pointing their weapons at bank president John
Dessart and cashier Fred Herrera. Dessart made a mad dash for the door and
managed to escape and call for help before the outlaws could do anything
to stop him. Siezing the opportunity caused by Dessart’s distraction,
Herrera grabbed for a hidden gun and fired at the robbers. The robbery
falling to pieces around them, the bandits were left with not choice but
to flee the area.
By 1897, the Ketchum Gang concentrated their efforts on train robberies. On May 14, 1897 the gang,
including Will Carver, held up a Southern Pacific train in Lozier, Texas.
On September 3 of the same year, “Black
Jack” and his brother Sam, along with Will Carver and “The Tall
Texan” Ben Kilpatrick, robbed Colorado & Southern Flyer Gulf Express
in Folsom, New Mexico. The men escaped with approximately $3,500. Folsom
would become a favorite location for the gang to rob trains. It would also
become the location of the Ketchum Gang’s eventual demise.
Two months later, on December 9, 1897, the
Ketchum brothers, Ed Bullion, Will Carver and three others stopped a
Southern Pacific train at Stein’s Pass, New Mexico. A gunfight erupted
between the outlaws and the crewman who may have been forewarned of the
robbery. Ed Bullion was killed on the spot, while the remaining outlaws
managed to escape.
(Note: In the article Tom Ketchum & His
Gang by Jeffrey Burton and published in the February 2002 edition of Wild
West Magazine, Burton states that it was not Ed Bullion who was killed but
Edward “Ed” H. Cullen. Burton goes on to say that Laura Bullion did
not have a brother named Ed, her only brother was named Daniel and was
still alive long after the robbery.)
The beginning of the end came for the
Ketchum Gang as they planned another robbery of the Colorado &
Southern Flyer, again in Folsom, New Mexico. Prior to the robbery,
“Black Jack” Ketchum was involved in an argument with members of the
gang and left the area, wanting no part in the heist. The remaining
members, Sam Ketchum, Will Carver and
Elzy Lay decided to go ahead with
the robbery without him. On July 11, 1899, the outlaws stormed the train,
making off with $50,000 before escaping to the Turkey Creek Canyon near
Cimarron, New Mexico. Five days later a posse led by Huerfano County
Sheriff Edward Farr (with William H. Reno and F.H. Smith) discovered the
men’s hideout and a shootout broke out leaving Lay and Ketchum seriously
and Farr mortally wounded.
Will Carver placed his wounded compatriots
on horseback and led them out of the canyon. Sam Ketchum proved too
injured to travel and Carver was forced to abandon him. Ketchum was soon
captured and taken to the penitentiary in Santa Fe, New Mexico where he
later died of blood poisoning on July 24. Carver and Elzy Lay managed to
continue on to a hideout near Carlsbad, New Mexico. On August 16, 1899,
while Carver was out getting supplies, Eddy County Sheriff M.C. Stewart
discovered the outlaws’ hideout and arrested Lay. Lay was eventually
tried and convicted for the death of Ed Farr and sentenced to life in
prison. Carver remained at large.
Unaware of his brother’s fate, “Black
Jack” made plans to single-handedly rob the Colorado & Southern
train on its return to Folsom. This would prove to be a costly mistake. On
August 16, 1899, the same day Elzy Lay was captured, “Black Jack”
stopped the train. By this time the train’s conductor, Frank
Harrington,
had enough of dealing with outlaws and was armed with a
shotgun. As “Black Jack” attempted to board the train, Harrington shot
him in the arm. Ketchum was picked up the alongside the tracks the
following day. His arm was later amputated due to the severity of his
injuries.
On October 5, 1900, “Black Jack”
Ketchum was sentenced to die by hanging for his crimes. The sentence was
carried out in Clayton, New Mexico on April 26, 1901. His death marked the
end of the Ketchum Gang.
Back
|
