From the Scopes Monkey Trial to O.J Simpson, trials have always made us reflect on the world we live in.

I'm Mira Hayward, and my podcast History on Trial will explore fascinating trials from American history.

Join me in revealing the true story behind the headlines and discover how the legal

battles of the past have shaped our present.

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Welcome to BrainStuff, a production of I Heart Radio.

Hey Brain Stuff, Lauren Volkobam here.

As with so many colorful characters who lived during the heyday of the American Wild West,

there are a lot of uncertainties about the life of Tom Horn.

What no one disputes is that Horn killed a lot of people.

The notoriety he earned through bloodshed made him an icon of the frontier,

so renowned and feared that some people believe that Horn's spirit lingers to this day,

haunting the Rocky Mountains and desert plains where he once stalked his human prey.

Born in 1860 in Missouri, Horn was the fifth of 12 children and suffered an abuse of home life that he fled when he was just 14.

Two years later he became a scout for the Army out west where he learned Spanish and

some Apache and became an interpreter during the Apache Wars. He played a small role in

helping translate surrender terms between famed leader Geronimo and U.S. forces.

After the war, Horn restlessly wandered the west, and sometimes working as a ranch hand, prospector, deputy sheriff, U.S.

Marshall, and rodeo competitor.

After a few drinks, Horn had a propensity for bragging about his exploits, telling anyone within earshot about his

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