A notorious train robber, Thomas Edward Ketchum from Texas, met a horrific end during a botched hanging that resulted in his decapitation and blood spewing from his neck. Ketchum, a member of the infamous ‘Hole-in-the-Wall’ gang during the late 19th Century in the US, drew attention from law enforcement across several states due to his criminal activities. His capture followed a failed train robbery in 1899 near Folsom, New Mexico, where he was shot in the arm by the train’s conductor, leading to the amputation of his right arm.
The day of Ketchum’s execution on April 26, 1901, drew a large crowd in Clayton, turning into a major public event. However, behind the scenes, inexperienced executioners made a critical error by not adjusting the rope properly, causing a disastrous outcome. The combination of an overlong rope, Ketchum’s weight gain in jail, and the imbalance from his amputated arm led to a grotesque execution.
As Ketchum was dropped through the trapdoor, his head was completely severed from his body, only held in place by a black hood. The executioners had to sew his head back on for a proper burial. Sheriff Salome Garcia described the scene as horrifying, with Ketchum’s body standing briefly before collapsing, blood spurting from his neck.
Ketchum’s last words, “Dig my grave deep, boys. Let her go boys,” marked the end of his life. The aftermath of the botched hanging led to the printing of postcards and photographs depicting the decapitated body, making Ketchum one of the most infamous examples of a failed execution in the US.
Before his execution, Ketchum and his gang, including his brother Sam, attempted a train robbery at Twin Mountain, New Mexico, which ended tragically with Sam’s death. Ketchum’s final solo robbery endeavor outside Folsom resulted in his arrest, setting the stage for his trial and ultimate execution.
Despite his infamous reputation, Ketchum’s body was later moved to Clayton Cemetery in the 1930s, where visitors are still drawn to his grave by the macabre nature of his story.
