The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1875-10-27
A DESPERADOS DEATH.


Major Graham'S Moving History
and TrasicaA Ter,sa.as fo,s os his
Terrestrial Career.
The Denver Tribuae tells the tale
thus The ceanpfications surround
ing the Pocahontas mine. situated at
Rosita, not far from Canon City. have
finally resulted In scrce and fatal
conflict, by which one life has been
sacrificed, If not more. Fhe man
killed was the notorious Major Gra-
ham, who was we'll known In Denver
as one OF the most dangerous of dar-
ing desperadoes The major was a
native of New York, and in the early
part of the war became conspicuous
as a partisan commander Of the Union
forces in North Carolina He was a
perfect athlete, 81 lendid hesseman,
an accurate shot, and as oasing and
masterpieces as any man who ever
drew a sabre For his services he
was appointed, at the close of the war,
a first lieutenant in the regular army,
and assigned Is duty in the West.
BY the services he rendered against
the Indians, aided by more or less
political influence, Lieutenant Ora
ham soon became full-blown major,
and as such became special favorite
at Fort Leavenvorth and in the city
of that name. While at this post he
paid his addresses to one of the most
attractive ladies Of Leavenwayth, and
it was only by an accident the
MARRIAGE WAS NOT coNsUnMATED.
The night previous 80 the day on
which the ceremony was TO take place,
the commanding officer at Fort Leav-
enworth received direct instructions
from the War Department to place
Major Graham In irons and Keep him
In solitary confinement till further
ovdsrs. Although the order created
an immense surprise at the fort it was
literally. obeyed, and Major Graha nj
ioand himself in telen's cell Instead
OF occupying, as he had hoped brid-
al couch. a court MAJ tial, however.
subsequently explained what seemed
at the tire to be IneSpficable. The
evidence before the court esta b.ishcd
the fact that Major Graham, while
wearing the honorable uniform OF an
United States officer, had been the
secret head OF q ba nd OF hsrse thieves
in Kansas; had also. while in Utah,
been in league with the lowest class
Of gamblers and thieves; and .hat he
had Systematically stolen and sold
horses from the stables of the govern
ment. The conrt-NartMl sentenced
the major 30 be disks8oYably dis
missed from the service, 10 be de-
barred from ever holding any Office of
honor or trust under the government,
and 10 serve . term of tea years in a
military prison. Through some un-
known influence this sentence was
indorsed only 30 far as IL related to
the dismissal of the major from the
service. AS soon as he was
IN POSSESSION OF A QUALIFIED FREE
DON,
the major started for Denver, and
here became, as of yore, the associate
OF evil aud dangerous classes. His
first attempt ut public robbery was
made on Paymaster Brooks, at River
Bend. For this offense he was tried
and sentenced to two years in the
penitentiary. Before his term expired
he organized an escape which proved
partially successful. We say partially
successful because he and his asso-
ciates made good their escape, but
they were all subsequently captured,
one Of them being killed, and the ma
jor himself severely wounded. He
served out the rest of his term,
and when released went to Rosita,
where he opened whisky-den It
was probably here that he arranged,
with others, the jumping of the Poca-
hontas mine. The Jumpers" kept
possession until Friday. the I'D inst. |
hood resolved on clearing the mine of
its fraudulent possessors. How this ,
was done the dispatches tell. The
major was caught on his "; > to Rosita.
On being halted he returned to run,
but fell dead in his tracks, pierced by
some twenty FIVE balls. Graham's
partner. man named Boyd, was ar |
rested shortly afterward, and is likely |
hung before this. The rest of the
Jumpers" hayc been arrested, but as
to what disposition will be made of
them we have as yet no means OF
knowing.