Author John Davis discusses the trial of hired gunman Tom Horn

Author, historian and working attorney John W. Davis, of Worland, presented his research on Tom Horn at the Hot Springs County Library on Thursday. Following the presentation, Davis signed copies of his books The Trial of Tom Horn and Wyoming Range War: The Infamous Invasion of Johnson County.

"Horn is one of those people that is not admirable by any means but fascinating nonetheless," he said. "Horn did kill men - there's no doubt about it. He was a killer, but he had a remarkable amount of physical bravery. He was also an intelligent man with a good sense of humor."

Horn is believed to have committed 17 murders as a hired gunman, but it was in 1902 that he was convicted of the murder of a 14-year-old boy named Willie Nickell near Iron Mountain, Wyo. He was executed by hanging in Cheyenne on his 43rd birthday.

The only truth about a wildly sensationalized event is from contemporaary, primary sources - including original court documents, a coroner's inquest and the trial transcript, Davis said.

When asked if he believed Tom Horn committed the crime - the killing of Willie Nickell, Davis said he wrote this book in order to present accurate information regarding the trial and legal processes so that readers can come to their own conclusions.

"My purpose of this book was to determine whether Tom Horn had a fair trial," he said. "I think when you finish this book, you'll have developed your own opinion about whether or not he was guilty. I deliberately presented the facts exactly as I found them so that people can use their own judgment. I didn't want to shove my thoughts on this down someone's throat."