John C. Coble, Elko, Nevada

On December 4, 1914, at 12:30am he walked into Elko's Commercial Hotel/Casino
through the door at 4th Street. Went up to the front desk asked the Night Clerk, Mr. Owen Merrick,

for some stationery. Wrote a short note, then went to the unoccupied ladies restroom

Mr. Coble was very successful,
'smart' (graduated from University of PA), a man of genial disposition who had many loyal friends.

"Coble was partner of Henry C. Bosler, a Pennsylvania capitalist, in the Iron Mountain Ranch company, with headquarters at Bosler, Wyo. The company used the government range, and when Kels T. Nickel, a small ranchman of the Iron Mountain District, brought in sheep, Coble objected. A meeting of cattlemen was held, and Coble attempted to organize a raid to drive Nickel and his sheep out of the county.

Nickel and Coble met at the Iron Mountain railway station one day following the meeting, and Nickel, having been advised of Coble's plan, took him to task. Coble attempted to draw his gun, but Nickel plunged a bowie knife into the cattleman's stomach before Coble could get his sixshooter into play.

For this, Coble threatened "to get" Nickel, and soon after Coble left the hospital, Tom Horn, a notorious southwest range fighter, made his appearance at the Iron Mountain ranch. Horn warned Nickel of instant death if he did not leave the country. But Nickel was game, and remained. One day as he was hauling logs from the hills, Horn appeared and opened fire on the sheepman. Nickel ran, and escaped to his home with a shattered elbow. A week later, Willie Nickel was shot and killed near the Nickel ranch, and Horn in his confession to Joe LaFors, the detective who ran him down, said he was laying for old man Nickel, when the boy appeared, and he had to kill him to prevent spreading alarm."

- Elko Independent 12-11-1914

Tom Horn was
arrested for killing Willie Nickell (note actual last name spelling), the 14 year old son of Kels Nickell.

paid $100,000 for Tom Horn's defense, to no avail - he was hung. Mr. Coble spoke to

Coble lost his ranch, fortune. Eleven years later, he
drifted to Nevada. He worked as foreman at the Dunphy ranch, near Beowawe. Then a
change of ranch management - let go - came to Elko, near penniless. On
December 4, 1914, at 12:30am he walked into the Commercial Hotel/Casino
through the door at 4th Street. Went up to the front desk asked the Night Clerk Mr. Owen Merrick

Elko, Nev., Dec. 4, 1914.

Dear Elise:

Believe me, I have tried to pull through. I am ALL IN, I AM ALL IN. Believe me - I am yours until the end, and I cannot make good.

Lovingly,

SIGNATURE (Illegible)

- Elko Independent 12-4-1914

He then went to the unoccupied ladies restroom - shot himself in the head with a Smith &
Wesson .32 caliber revolver. Body found by Charles Dore, Theodore Hartley &
Mr. Merrick. Hotel Proprietor was Dr. Hood. Coroner was Mr. Castle &
Undertaker J. L. Keyser. Body was eventually taken to Wyoming for burial.

Tom Horn had quite the life, started out a lawman, fought in our wars,
captured Indian chiefs and eventually became a paid assassin.

(Wyoming Photographs takes a moment to load but is worth the wait!)

The Shootin Iron