Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1860-04-27
@ailp Stiraiuiau.
A Remarkable Career of Crimo-"old Jim
Brown"
From the Cleveland rlaindcaler

Brown"
lFrom the Cleveland Paindcalcr.l
Tho notorious james Brown was recently sem
fenced in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to tho Peni
tenlnry OF that State for thrcc years, for having
counterfeit money in his possession. The name
of James Brown is household word in Cleveland
and throughout the Western Reserve. Here Tor
many years hc made his headquarters. Ills life,
if it could be faithfully written. would present
the most remarkable and successful career of
crime ON record. llc reduced rasoality to o
science. a man OF noble demeanor. well cduca-
ted, always neatly aud elegantly dressed. gifted
by nature with talent Of high order, james
Brown might havo easily attained u high rank in
some honest and intellectual calling. Had he de-
voted the application. ability and consnmmate
shrcwdness he has to rascallty to politics or the
law, there is hardly an eminent position he might
not have reached.
In 1886 James Brown was one OF the loading
founders Of the village ci Boston, Summit county
While there he embarked in IN extensive hog spec
ulation with several individuals, among whom was
his hr uthcr Daniel. This hog company managed
To swindle everybody in it but Jim aud DAN
They escaped One OF the swindled partners in
this hog enterprise joined band OF counter
fctcrs ior the purpose oi having yongcnco upon
the Browns. Soon after no joined the band he
exposed them aud turned States evidence. Jim,
Dan and Ashley were arrested and tnkon to Ra-
VIENNA for trial. Ashley wns convicted and tho
Browns cleared. Ashley in some way escaped
going to States Prison. Previous to this trial the
man who turned States evidence was arrested Mt
the instance Of Brown for stealing. Brown de-
sired to get him out of tho way. The trial was
had before Justice Osborne at Boston. lie was
quilted, and Brown sent u gang OF laborers to
drivo the man from tho county. Tho Hudson
military called out and n pitched battle
seemed imminent. But compromise was affected,
and the military and Browns men dispcrsed.-
This affair created 80 strong n feeling against
Brown that he was forced to leave Boston.
In company with Dan and Ashley. Brown went
to New Orleans, andpurchnscd ship for the Chi
ma trade negro employed Oh the vessel burst into
one of Browns trunks and sole n quantity ot
coin. In endeayoring 10 pass it it WAS discovered
to he bogus, the negro told the police whore he
obtained it, and descent was madc upon tho
ship. Any quantity of bogus coin was found Sc
crcied on board. 1t bad been Browns intention
to 90 to China and buy n cargo of tea with this
coin naturally surprising that John Chinaman, in
his ignorance of the progress of rascality IN
America. Would take the bogus readily. Dan was
arrested, but James, although the chief mover IN
the gigantic game, adroitIy managed to escape an
arrest The New Orleans matter was in litiga-
tfhn some time but finally cleared. After
| the bursting Of the China bubble Jim returned to
| Boston and Vas elected Justice of the Peace.
| holding tho Office f,r three years. At the same
| time il was believed he WAS flooding the country
| with counterfeit money.
| lie has been arrested f,r m king and selling
counterfeit money over fifty times has been con
yiccd several times. but never the inside Of n
States Prison but twice in his life. lie was con-
victcd at Akron II number Of yeais since, and was
| in the Pentcntlary n short time. In consequence
| of his Kindness to prisoners who were afflicted
with cholera an ! his skill III treating their cases,
he was pardonel ont hy President Taylor
| lie WAS tried about year since III the u. ).
h.tripf in TIN. g,tV for Splliutr h,uus
| but was cleared.
One who has known .jamns Brown for mrnv
years says he never passed dollar OF countcricit
| money in his life 1t was his business 10 make
and sell it, lie had few if any contederates.
| Aud however stoutly it might be sworn that par
ties purchased bad money Of him, it would al
ways be more s,ontly swotn that he was Som'.
| uhcrc else at the tine the transaction was a.
| legged to hive occurred 1t seemed to be lmpos-
| sibiiity t, convict old Jim Brown.
| lie had who chip of the old block.
lie succeeded in passing nearly half million Of
counterfeit money III California, and returned to
tie parental ROOD in Summit county. Old Brown
facetious,y welcomed him ms the Prodigal Son =
Officers eumc from California, but death cheated
them out of the object OF their chase. Young
Brown died just day before they reached
A kron.
James Brown was a charitable man. lie gave
to the poor freely. When times were flush with
him, he scattered good money with princoly
haad. lie was Scrupulously honest in all his
dealings with his nclshbors. There was nothing
low about him. He aspired to the grand and CO.
lossDlin crime, and despised the insignificant and
vulgar Some Of his remarks on this head were
extremely humorous. AT his late trial in Grand
Rapids he gravey regretted, in u short speech to
tho Court before his sentence was given, that he
had not introduced the plea Of moral insanity"
James Brown is rising seventy years Of age
Now, in the dim sunset Of his lite, he who has so
long played with law as toy, and avoided it's
clutches so many times,is shut out from the world
IA white haired convict lie may not expect to
be pardoned again.