A train robber met a gruesome fate during an execution gone terribly wrong, resulting in his decapitation and blood spurting from his neck.

Thomas Edward Ketchum, hailing from Texas, earned infamy as part of the notorious ‘Hole-in-the-Wall’ gang in the late 19th Century in the United States. His criminal exploits attracted the attention of law enforcement across several states, leading to his capture following a failed train robbery in 1899 near Folsom, New Mexico.

In the botched robbery, Ketchum sustained severe injuries after being shot in the arm by the train’s conductor, ultimately leading to the amputation of his right arm. Subsequently, he faced trial in Clayton, where he was found guilty of attempted train robbery and sentenced to death by hanging.

On April 26, 1901, a large crowd gathered in Clayton for the highly anticipated public execution. However, behind the scenes, inexperienced executioners made a critical error by not adjusting the rope properly, resulting in a tragic turn of events.

Due to a combination of factors including an overlong rope, Ketchum’s weight gain in jail, and the imbalance caused by his amputated arm, the execution went awry. As Ketchum was dropped through the trapdoor, his head was completely severed from his body, necessitating the executioners to reattach it for public burial.

Sheriff Salome Garcia vividly described the horrific scene, noting the shock and horror that engulfed onlookers as Ketchum’s execution unfolded. His last words were recorded as, “Dig my grave deep, boys. Let her go boys.”

The aftermath of the ill-fated hanging became infamous, with photographs and postcards circulating showing the decapitated body of Ketchum. This event solidified Ketchum as one of the most tragic examples of a failed execution in U.S. history.

Before his demise, Ketchum and his gang, which included his brother Sam, engaged in a train robbery at Twin Mountain, New Mexico, culminating in Sam’s death from infection after being wounded during a police shootout.

Ketchum’s final solo robbery attempt ended disastrously when he boarded a train near Folsom in 1899, resulting in his arrest after a failed robbery attempt. Despite his criminal notoriety, Ketchum’s remains were relocated in the 1930s to Clayton Cemetery, where his grave continues to attract visitors intrigued by the macabre tale.