Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1860-05-18
a Remarkable Career of Crime--"old
Jim 3rcvzns"
IFrorn tie Cleveland piaindealer. |

a Remarkable Career of Crin9--"Gid
Jim 8rcvgn."
From the Cleveland Riainde7ler
The notorious James Brown was recently
sentenced in Grand Rapids, Michigan, TO the
PeuiteBtiary of that State for three years for
having counterfeit money in his possession
Tbs name of james Brown is household
word in Cleveland and throughout the West
ern Reserve Here for rsany years he made
his head quarters His life, if II so8id be
faithfully written, would present the most re-
markable and successful career OF crime on
record He reduced rascality to a science
A man of noble demeauor, well educated, al
ways neatly and elegantly dressed, gifted by
nature with talent Of high order, James
Brown might have easily attained high rank
in some honest and intellectual calling. Had
he devoted the application, ebility and con-
summate shrcwdness he has to rascality to
politics or the law, there is hardly an eminent
position he might not have reached.
In 1886 james Brown was one of the leading
founders of the village of boston, Summit
county. While there he emgarked in an ex
teusve hog speculation with several individu-
ais, among them was his brother Daniel
This hog company managed to swindle every
body in it but jim and Dan. They escaped.
One of the swinjled partners in his bog enter
prise joined band OF counterfeiters for the
pursose of havis5 vengenee upon the Browns.
Boon after he joined the band lie exposed them
and turned States evidence. Jim, Dan AMI
one Ashley were arrested and taken to Raven
M for trial. Ashley was convicted and the
Browns were cleared Ashley in soma way
escaped going TO the States Prison. Preyi-
oas TO this trial the man who turned States
evidence was arrested at tue instance of Brown
for stealing. Brown desired TO get him out of
the way. The trial was had before Justice
Osborne at Boston. He was acquitted, and
Brown sent gang of laborers to drive the
man from the county. The Hudson military
were called out aud pitched battle seemed
inminent- Blu: compromise was affected,
and the military and Browns men dispersed.
This affair created 80 strong feeling against
Brown that he was forced to leave Boston.
In company with Dan and Ashley, Brown
went to New Orleans and purchased ship
for the China trade. 4 negro employed on
the vessel bnrst Into one Of Browns trunks
and stole quantity of coin. In cndeavoring
to pass it it was discovered to be bogus, the
negro told the police where he obtained it, and
descent was made upon thc ship Any guam
ity Of bogus coin was found secreted on board.
1t had been Browns intention to go to China
aud buy cargo of tea with this coin, natural
ly supposing that John Chinaman, in his ig
norance of the progress of rascality in Ameri-
ca, would take the bogus readily. Dan was
arrested, but james, although the chief mover
in the gigantic game, adroitly managed to es-
cape an arrest Tbe New Orleaus matter was
10 litigation some time, but finally was cleared.
After the bursting of the China bubble Jim
returned to Boston and was elected Justice
Of the Peace, holding the Office for three
years. At the same time it was believed
he Was flooding the country with counterfeit
money.
He has been arrested for making and selling
counterfeit money over fifty times, las been
convicted several times, but never saw the ill.,
side ofa States Prison but twice in his life
He was convicted at Akron number of years
since, and was in .he Penitentiary short time.
In consequence of his kindness to prisoners
who were afflicted with cholera and his skill in
treating their cases, he was pardoped out by
President Taylor.
He was tried about year since in the q.
3. District court in this city, for selling bogus
coin, but was cleared.
One who has known James Brown for many
years says he newer passed dollar of counter
felt money 10 his life. 1t was his business to
make and sell it. He had few if any confedcr-
ates. And however stoutly it might be sworn
that parties purchased bad money of him. it
would always be more stoutly sworn that he
was somesrhers else at the time the transaction
was alleged to have occurred. 1t seemed to
be an impossibility to convict old Jim Brown.
He had a son who was a chip OF the old
block. lie succeeded in passing nearly half
milliou of counterfeit money in California, and
returned to the parental roof in Summit coun-
ty. Old Brown facetiously welcomed him as
she Prodigal Son! Officers came from Califor-
MIA, but death cheated them ont of the object
Of their chase. Young Brown died just day
before they reached Akron.
James Brown was charitable man. He
gave to the poor freely When times were
flush with him. he scattered good money with
q princely hand. He was scrupulousy honest
In al his dealings with his ucighbors. There
was nothing lo~ about him He aspired 10
the grand and colossal IN crime. and dispisetl
the insignificant aud vulgar. Some of his re
marks on this head were extremely humor
Gus. At his late trial in Grand Rapids he
grayely regretted, in short speech to the
Court before his sentence was given, that he
had not introduced the plea of moral insani-
tyr
James Brown is rising seventy years of age.
Now, in the dim sunset of his life, he who has
% long played with the law as a toy, and
avoided its clutches so many times, is shut out
from the worId-a. white haired convict. He
may not expect to be pardoned again