Bill Booth – A Notorious Slayer
By James M. Enochs, as told in the 1800s
The untamed landscape of the American West, in the late 19th century, was a crucible where legends were forged in the fires of hardship, lawlessness, and the constant struggle for survival. Among the many figures who etched their names into the annals of this era, some did so with notoriety, leaving behind a trail of violence and intrigue. One such individual was Bill Booth, a man whose name became synonymous with murder and deceit across several states. This is the story of Bill Booth, as recounted by James M. Enochs, a man who played a pivotal role in bringing him to justice.
The mystery surrounding Bill Booth‘s ultimate fate was finally put to rest by none other than Frank M. Canton, a man who wore many hats during his storied career. Canton, a former sheriff with a reputation for unwavering resolve, was serving as the adjutant general of the National Guard of Oklahoma when he connected the threads of Booth’s shadowy past. Decades prior, Bill Booth was a familiar, though unwelcome, presence around the Pawnee Indian Agency, a place where he seemed to drift aimlessly, his intentions unclear.
The crucial link that tied Canton to Bill Booth was their shared history in Johnson County, Wyoming. It was during Canton’s tenure as sheriff there, in 1886, that he oversaw the execution of Booth for murder. However, the story didn’t end there. Upon Canton’s return to Oklahoma, whispers reached him of a man matching Booth’s description, a man accused of the heinous crime of murdering his own wife and child within the territory. The rumors painted a chilling portrait of a man who had left a bloody trail stretching from Tippecanoe, Ohio, westward through Oklahoma, Colorado, and ultimately to the windswept plains of Wyoming.
The specific charges against Bill Booth in Ohio remained shrouded in mystery, but his reputation preceded him. After a period of living among the Pawnee Indians, Booth was implicated in the brutal murders of his wife and child, triggering a widespread manhunt across the Western territories. Law enforcement agencies from multiple states joined the pursuit, determined to bring the elusive killer to justice.
The trail eventually led to Colorado, where Booth was accused of killing a Black man. However, he managed to evade capture, slipping through the grasp of the authorities like a phantom. His next, and perhaps most consequential, act of violence occurred in Wyoming, where he murdered a German trapper named Jake Cameron (some accounts suggest the name was Jacob Schmerer, as indicated by a criminal warrant dated May 1885).
Upon arriving in Wyoming, Booth initially found success as a wolf hunter, earning a considerable sum from the bounty offered by the territory for wolf scalps. His hunting grounds overlapped with those of Cameron, and the two men eventually formed a partnership. Cameron, with his years of experience in the wilderness, shared his knowledge of trapping and survival with Booth. However, their partnership was short-lived.
Rumors began to circulate about Cameron’s sudden and mysterious disappearance, coinciding with the sale of some land he owned and the disappearance of his horse herd. It was known that Cameron had been in possession of several hundred dollars at the time of his vanishing. These circumstances, coupled with Booth’s unsettling demeanor, aroused the suspicion of Sheriff Canton, who began to suspect that Booth had murdered Cameron for his money.
Canton wasted no time in initiating an investigation. He circulated Booth’s description to law enforcement officials throughout the Northwestern states, offering a reward of $500 for his arrest and conviction. The search intensified, and the vast landscape of Wyoming became a hunting ground for a different kind of prey.
The break in the case came when a Black man discovered Cameron’s body hidden beneath a pile of brush and dirt in a secluded canyon, not far from Cameron’s cabin. The gruesome discovery revealed the brutality of the crime. Cameron’s skull had been crushed with an ax, and three bullet holes riddled his body. The evidence was damning, confirming Canton’s suspicions.
Booth was eventually apprehended in Miles City, Montana, on charges of horse theft. Ironically, the arresting officers were unaware of his connection to the Cameron murder. It was W.C. Smith, a Deputy Sheriff and stock inspector, who recognized Booth as the man wanted in Wyoming. To confirm the identification, a photograph of the suspect was sent to Canton and his staff. However, none of them were certain enough to make a positive identification.
In a stroke of ingenuity, the photograph was shown to Old Burr, the Black man who had discovered Cameron’s body. Without hesitation, Burr identified Booth as the man he had seen in the area around the time of Cameron’s disappearance. With the identification confirmed, the authorities in Montana faced a new challenge: extradition.
The lack of concrete evidence directly linking Booth to Cameron’s murder presented a significant obstacle. Without sufficient proof, a formal extradition request would likely be denied. Undeterred, the Montana authorities devised a plan, a method of transferring custody that was both unorthodox and ethically questionable.
They proposed to escort Booth to the Montana-Wyoming border near Parkman and, with a "strong arm heave," physically push him across the state line. This method, known in sheriff’s parlance as "Rio Grande extradition," was a risky maneuver that skirted the boundaries of legality. Nevertheless, it was deemed preferable to the alternative: allowing a suspected murderer to walk free.
Sheriff Canton, accompanied by his Lieutenant, "The Skripe," met the stagecoach carrying Booth in Sheridan, Wyoming. Fearing a possible lynching attempt, they doubled the guard, determined to ensure that Booth faced justice in a court of law.
As the stagecoach pulled away from Sheridan, the deputies feigned knowledge of the details surrounding Cameron’s murder, hoping to elicit a confession from Booth. To their astonishment, Booth began to talk, recounting the entire story of the crime before they even reached Big Horn. His detailed confession left no doubt as to his guilt, sealing his fate.
In his own words, Booth described how he had killed Cameron, packed the corpse onto a horse, and buried it in the secluded canyon. The deputies were astounded by his willingness to confess, realizing that he was effectively condemning himself. They were relieved when they finally delivered him to the jail in Buffalo, Wyoming.
Booth proved to be a challenging prisoner, constantly testing the limits of his confinement and Canton’s patience. He was cunning and resourceful, always searching for an opportunity to escape. He systematically worked to undermine his shackles, using stub pens to cut the rivets, hoping to overpower a guard when the opportunity arose. He even attempted to saw through the floor of his cell, a testament to his unwavering determination to regain his freedom. The evidence of his efforts to escape remained visible in the Buffalo jail for years to come.
Ultimately, Booth was brought to trial, convicted of murder, and sentenced to be hanged. Shortly before his execution date, he requested a visit from a minister. Canton, ever vigilant, sought out a Methodist preacher with a background in detective work, hoping he could glean valuable information from the condemned man.
The preacher, upon entering Booth’s cell, addressed him directly: "Booth, I have come to offer a prayer for your soul, but before I do, I need to know whether I am praying for a guilty or innocent man."
Booth, his stoic facade crumbling, bowed his head and confessed, "For a guilty man."
And so, on the appointed day, Bill Booth was led to the gallows, becoming the only legally hanged man in Northern Wyoming. His story serves as a grim reminder of the lawlessness and violence that characterized the American West, and the unwavering dedication of those who sought to bring order to a chaotic land.
This account, handwritten by James M. Enochs, offers a rare glimpse into the life and crimes of Bill Booth, a man whose name remains etched in the annals of Western history.