some speculated that willie nickell somehow spotted tom horn as he lay in ambush. the young son of his victim had spied the assassin in the vicinity. later, during a grand jury investigation in cheyenne, this young boy had spotted horn at the courthouse. seeing his father's suspected .iller, the boy cried out recalling this very embarrassing moment as he lay in wait, horn was determined not to make the same mistake twice. he shot willie. it was also pointed out that tells nickell had recently committed and unpardonable sin in that region, especially in the eyes of the cattle barons, by bringing sheep onto traditional cattle range. as lonmin continued to investigate the murder of willie nickell, laramie county board of commissioners resolved to get to the bottom of this brutal killing. the northwestern part of the county, especially part of it, had been the scene of many violent episodes. it was time to incorporate this isolated and lawless region into the law-abiding part of laramie county. thecommissioners authorized public prosecutor to employ a special investiga