page_title: Shootout at Wilson Ranch
section_title: Aftermath
hierarchical_section_title: Shootout at Wilson Ranch / Aftermath
caption_attribution_description: English: Replica gallows at Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park, Arizona, USA
context_page_description: The Shootout at Wilson Ranch resulted in the final and most famous hanging in the history of Tombstone, Arizona. On April 7, 1899, the brothers William and Thomas Lee Halderman were confronted by two lawmen at a ranch located in the Chiricahua Mountains. A brief gunfight ensued, during which Constable Chester L. Ainsworth was killed and his deputy, Teddy Moore, was mortally wounded. The Halderman brothers then fled to New Mexico, but they were captured shortly thereafter and executed on November 16, 1900, following a hasty trial in Tombstone.
context_section_description: On the day after the shooting, the sheriff of Cochise County, Scott White, offered a $50 reward for the arrest of the Haldermans and a reward poster began circulating. Despite the small reward, the Haldermans were captured by Deputy Sid Mullen on April 12, while they were camped just across the border of New Mexico, east of Duncan.
  The Haldermans were first held in the jail at Pearce, and were later transferred to Tombstone for their trial. Early in the month of June, the court found the Haldermans guilty, convicted them of first-degree murder on June 11, and sentenced them to hang on August 10, 1900. Meanwhile, the Haldermans' family was trying its best to influence the court's decision in order "to prevent a stain on the name of one of the best pioneer families of Texas." All they were able to achieve was a delay of the eventual execution. During that time, the Haldermans attempted to gather evidence which supported their claims that the allegations of cattle rustling were false and that the shootout was the result of a feud, rather than petty theft. The Haldermans claimed that Moore was responsible for the stolen cattle and that he was trying to frame them so he could then be free to woo Rena Wilson. The Haldermans sent in an appeal and because Governor Nathan O. Murphy was out of state the application was sent to President William McKinley, who granted them a stay of execution until October 5, 1900, so they could gather more evidence for their defense. When he returned, Governor Murphy extended the stay, but the Haldermans' evidence did not materialize and the date of execution was set for November 16, 1900. The Kokernot-Halderman family claimed that the trial was unfair, being that the prosecutor was none other than Attorney General Charles L. Ainsworth, Chester Ainsworth's brother, and that the jury was "eager for a hanging."
  The execution was carried out on November 16, as previously arranged. A large crowd gathered to witness the hanging, although only 100 invitations were given out. The rest of the onlookers watched from the windows of the Old Cochise County Courthouse. Both of the Haldermans were reported as having met their end bravely. When Thomas Halderman appeared from the jail, he said: "Hello, Hombres.... The son's hot, ain't it?" After climbing up the scaffold, William said: "Nice looking crowd.... Some of you fellers are shaking already." Then, as he turned to his brother, William said: "Those people look alright." A moment later, Thomas placed a noose around his own neck while Sheriff White read the death warrant and his brother talked with a deputy named Bravin. When he was finished, Sheriff White asked the Haldermans if they wanted to say any last words. William responded: "I have nothing to say and guess it would not do any good anyway. I forgive you all and hope you will forgive me." William then requested time for a prayer so Reverend Alexander Elliott stepped forward to assist. Black masks were then lowered over the Haldermans' heads and in chorus they said: "Good-bye boys! Pray for us." The trap door underneath the Haldermans feet was opened at exactly 12:40 P.M. Thirteen minutes later, Thomas was pronounced dead and William two minutes after. The doctors at the scene reported that Thomas had died of a broken neck, but William's death was caused by "the violent shock, compression of a vital nerve, and by strangulation."
  The Halderman brothers became the last criminals to be buried in Tombstone's Boothill Graveyard and their graves can still be visited today. The Old Cochise County Courthouse has also been restored so that it appears as it did in 1900, during the Haldermans' trial.
  As for the Wilson family, Rena later committed suicide for her involvement in the case and in 1913 Mary was put in an insane asylum by her brother, Tol, who was killed shortly thereafter in what became known as the Cottonwood Canyon Murder.
caption: A replica of the gallows that were used for the hanging of the Halderman brothers on display at the Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park.
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