The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1875-10-21
MAJOR GRAHAM.
The Life and Death of q Well
Known and Notorious
Character.
An Honorable Early Career
Cl0uded by Crime and
DishOnOr.
Interesting Details OF the Majors
Crime.

Every one IN this city doubtless knew, al
least by reputation, Maj. George Graham,
formerly stationed at Fort Leavenworth
and fually dismissed the service for con.
duct unbecoming gentleman and an Off.
Ger. He was shot and instantly xilled in
Colorado during mining row a few days
days ago, and from the denver Tribune We
get the following particulars of his melan.
cholv death, with short sketch Of his ca.
reer:
The complications surrounding the Pc.
cahontas mine, situated at Rosita, not far
from Canon City, have finally resulted in a
fierce and fatal conflict, by which one life
has been sacrificed, if not more. The man
killed was the notorious Maj. Graham, who
was well known in Denver As one of the
most dangerous of daring desperadoes.
The lie and adventures of this man
would, if correctly told, furnish material
for dozens Of such books as appear under
the title of "Jack Shephsrd," the "Forty
Thieves" captain Kidd, etc.
The major was q native OF New York,
and in the early part of the war became
hbPASoobo oS q RoAeASoh SoAAAAo1s3SA VI
Union forces in North Carolina. He was q
perfect athlete, a splendid horseman, an
accurate shot, and as daring and unscrupu-
lous as any man Who ever drew sabre.
For his services he was appointed, at the
close Of the war, a first lieutenant in the
regular army, and assigned to duty in the
West. BY the services he rendered against
the Indians, aided by more or less political
influence, Lieutenant Graham soon became
a full-blown major, and as such became a
special favorite at Fort Leavenworth, and
in the city of that name.
While at this post be paid his addresses
10 one of the most attractive ladies of
Leavenworth, and it was only by an acct
dent that the marriage was not consum-
mated.
The night previous to the day on which
the ceremony was to take place, the COM
manding officer at Fort Leavenworth re-
ceived direct instructions from the War
Department to place Maj. Graham in irons
and keep him in solitary confinement till
further orders.
Although the order created an immense
surprise at the Fort it was literally obeyed,
and Maj. Graham found himself in a fel-
on's cell, instead of occupying, as he had
hoped, bridal couch.
A court-martial, however, subsequently
explained what seemed at the time to be
unexplainable. The evidence before the
court established the fact that Major Ora
ham while wearing the honorable uniform
of United States officer, had been the Sc
cret head of a gang of horse thieves in
h ansas. had also, while in Utah, been in
league with the lowest class Of gamblers
and thieves, and that he had systematical-
ly stolen and sold horses from the stables
Of the government.
The court-mar,ial sentenced the major to
be dishonorably dismissed from the service,
TO be debarred from ever holding any office
OF honor or trust under the government,
and TO serve term OF ten years in a mill
tary prison.
Through some unknown influence this
sentence was endorsed only so far as it re-
lated to the dismissal of the major from
the service.
As soon as he was in possession Of
qualified freedom, the major started for
Denver, and he became, As OF yore, an AS
sociate of the evil and dangerous classes.
His first attempt at public robbery was
made on Paymaster Brooks, at River Bend,
with the particulars of which our readers
are acquainted.
For this offense he was tried and SEN
tenceo to two years in the penitentiary. Be
fore his term expired he organized an es-
cape, which proved partially successful.
We say partial, because he and his asso-
ciates made good their escape, but were
all subsequently captured, one Of them be-
ing killed, and the major himself severely
He served out the rest OF his
term, and when released went to Rosita,
where he opened small whisky den. 1t
was probably here that he arranged with
others the jumping" OF the Pocahontas
mine. The Jumpers" kept possession un-
til last Wednesday, when all the min
ers in the neighborhood resolved on clear
ing the mine of its fraudulent possessors.
How this was done the dispatches tell.
The N ajor was caught on his way 10 Rosi-
"a. On being halted he turned to run, but
ell dead in his tracks, pierced by come
twenty-five balls.
Graham's partner, man named Boyd,
was arrested shortly afterward, and is like
y hung before this. The rest of the Jump
,rs" have been arrested, but as to what dis
position will he made Of them we have, as
yet, no means of knowing.
The life and death OF. Maj. Graham is
,nly another verifcation of the time-worn
oroverb, honesty is the best policy" af-
er all.