12 Facts About Albert Horsley

Albert Edward Horsley was born March 18,1866, in Northumberland County, Ontario, Canada, the son of English and Irish parentage.

One of eight children in a poor farm family, Albert was only able to attend formal school through the third grade, helping to support the family by working as soon as he was able.

Albert Horsley worked as a farmhand for neighbors, either on a daily or monthly basis, with his parents receiving the income from his work until he was 20 years old.

At the age of 22, Albert Horsley left home to work as a logger in Saginaw, Michigan.

Albert Horsley abandoned his family and, together with his girlfriend, headed west to Pilot Bay, about twenty miles from Nelson, British Columbia.

Albert Horsley then quit his milk route and moved to Burke, borrowing money to buy a wood and coal business there.

Albert Horsley's accumulated gambling debts forced him to sell out his share of his business in March 1899, and he had to take a job as a "mucker" in the Tiger-Poorman mine near Burke.

Albert Horsley admitted that he was a bigamist, having abandoned wives in Canada and Cripple Creek.

Albert Horsley had burned businesses for the insurance money in Cripple Creek and Canada.

Albert Horsley raised suspicion when a detective for the Mine Owners' Association recognized him as Orchard; he responded that his name was Hogan; and, it was discovered that he was registered at the Saratoga Hotel.

Albert Horsley stayed at the hotel until his Monday arrest.

Albert Horsley never recanted his confession, and in 1952, at 86 years of age and 45 years after the Haywood trial, Orchard wrote in his autobiography that all of his confession and his trial testimony were true.