The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1875-10-28
Death of Major Graham-End ola Reck-
less Career.

The Denver Tribune of recent date
has the following:
The complications surrounding the
Pocahontas mine, situated at Rosita,
not far from Canon City, have finally
resulted in fierce and fatal conflict,
by which one life has been sacrificed, if
not more. The man killed was the no.
torious Major Graham, who was well
known in Denver as one of the most
dangerous of daring desperadOes. The
life and adventures of this man would,
if correctly told, furnish material for
dozens of such books as appear under
the title of aJack Sheppard, " the "For-
ty Thieves" ," "Captain Kidd" etc.
The Major was native of New York,
and in the early part OF the war became
conspicuous rs partisan commander
of the Union forces in North Carolina.
He was a perfect athlete, a splendid
horseman, an accurate shot, and as dar-
ing and INSCRIPTIONS as any man who
ever drew a saber. 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 service he rendered against the In
dians, aided by more or less political
influence, Lieutenant Graham soon be-
came a full-blOwn Major, and as such
became special favorite at Fort Leav-
enwOrth, and in the city of that name.
While at this post repaid his addresses
to one of the most attractive ladies of
LeavenwOrth, and it was only by an ac-
cident that the marriage was not con-
summated. The night previous to the
day on which the ceremony was to take
place, the commanding officer at Fort
Leavenworth received direct instruc-
tions from the War Department to place
Mai. 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
obeved, and Maj. Graham found HIM
self in felOn's cell, instead of occupy
ing, rs he had hoped, a bridal couch.
A COurt-martial, however, subsequently
explained what seemed at the time to be
inexplicable. The evidence before the
court established the fact that Maj. Gra-
ham, while wearing the honorable uni
form of United States officer, had been
the secret head of a band of horse
thieves in Kansas, had also, while in
Utah, been in league with the lowest
class of gamblers and thieves, and that
he had Systematically stolen and sold
horses from the stables of the Govern
ment.
The Court-martial 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 a
| term of ten years in military prison.
| Through some unknown influence this
sentence was indorSed only so far as il
| related to the dismissal of the Major
from the service.
| As soon as he was in possession of &
| qualified freedom, the Major started fol-
/ Denver, and here became, as of yOre
the associate of the evil and dangerous
| classes. His first attempt at public rob
/ berry was made on Paymaster Brooks a
River Bend, with the particulars o
which our readers are acquainted. FO
| this Oflense 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 partial, because he and his associates
made good their escape, but they were
all subsequently captured, one of them
being killed and the Major himself Sc
verelv wounded. He served out the
rest of his term, and when released went
| to Rosita where he opened a small
whisky den. It was probably here thai
he arranged, with others, the jumping
of the Pocahontas mine. The ''jump
erS" kept possession until day before
Yesterday, when all the miners in the
| neighbOrhood resolved on clearing the
mine of its fraudulent pOssessors. How
this was done the dispatches tell. ThC
| Major was caught on his way to ROSita
On being halted he turned to run, bu
fell dead in his tracks, pierced by some
twenty-five balls.
Graham's partner, a man named
Boyd, was arrested shortly afterward,
and is likely hung before this. The
rest of the Jumpers" have been ar
rested, but as to what disposition will
be made of them we have yet no mean!
of knowing.
The life and death of Major Graham
is only another verifcation of the time
worn proverb, "honesty is the bes
policy" after all.