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Thomas E. “Black Jack” Ketchum
(1866-1901) –
Black Jack led a gang of
bandits who robbed trains in
New Mexico,
Texas
and Arizona. While robbing a train single-handedly in August 1899,
Ketchum was shot and captured. After recovering from his
wounds, he was tried and sentenced to
hang
on April 26, 1901 in Clayton,
New Mexico. Having no experience in
hanging, the
authorities improperly setup the rope and when
Black Jack fell through the gallows, he was decapitated.
Ketchum was the only person ever
hanged
in Union County,
New Mexico
and the only person ever
hanged
for train robbery in the State of
New Mexico. Later, the law was found to be unconstitutional to apply capital
punishment to a robbery offence, but it was too late for
Black Jack.
Ketchum’s head was sewed back on his torso and he was buried at
Clayton's Boothill. In the 1930's his body was moved to the new
cemetery in Clayton,
New Mexico
where it remains today.
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