The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-10-29
A DESPERADO'S DEATH.
Killing of Maj. Graham in Colorado
strange Career.

strange Career.
The Denver (Col. Tribune of q recent
date says: The complications surround
ing the Pocahontas mine, situated AT
Rosita, not far from Canon City, have
finally resulted in a fierce aud fatal con-
fiict, by which one life has been sacri-
feed, 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 Major was native of New
York and in the early part of the war be
came conspicuous as a partizan COM
mander of the Union forces in North
Carolina. He WAS perfect athlete, a
splendid horseman, an accurate shot, and
as daring and INSCRIPTIONS 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 TO duty in the West. BY
the services he rendered against the In
dams, aided bymore or less political in
huence, Lieut.. Graham soon became
ull-blown Major, and as such became
special favorite at Fort LeavenW orth and
in the city of that name. While at this
post he paid his addresses to one Of the
most attractive ladies of Leavenworth,
and it was only by an accident that the
marriage was not consummated.
The night previous to the day on
which the ceremony was to take place,
the commanding officer at Fort Leaven-
worth received direct instructions from
the War Department to place Maj. Ora
ham in irons, and keep him in solitary
confinement till further orders. Al
though the order created an
immense surprise at the fort,
it was literally obeyed, and
Maj Graham found himself in q felon's
cell, instead of occupying, as he had
hoped, bridal couch. A court martial,
however, subsequently explained what
seemed at the time to be inexphcable.
The evidence before the Court establish
ed the fact that Maj. Graham, while
wearing the honorable uniform of a
United States officer, had been the secret
! head of band of horse thieves in Kan
sas; had also, while in Utah, been in
league with the lowest class of gamblers
and thieves, and that he had systematic
ally stolen and sold horses from the sta
bles of the government. The court
martial sentenced the Major 10 be dis
4 >
! to be debarred from ever holding any
Office of honor or trust under the gov
eminent, and to serve term of ten
years in military prison. Through
some unknown influence this sentence
was indorsed only so far as it related TO
the dismissal of the Major from the ser
vice.
AS soon as he was in possession of
qualified freedom, the Major started for
Denver, and here became, as of yore,
the associate of evil and dangerous
classes. His first attempt at public rob
berry was made on Paymaster Brooks, mt
River Bend. For this of'ense 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, be-
cause he and his associates made good
their escape, but they were all subse-
quently captured, one of them being
killed, and the Major himself severely
wounded. He served out the rest of his
term, and when released went to Rosita,
where he opened whisky-den. 1t was
probably here that he arranged. with
others, the dumping of the Pocahon-
tas mine. The Jumpers kept posses
sion 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 dis
patches tell. The Major was caught on
his way to Rosita. On being halted he
turned to run, but fell dead in his tracks,
pierced by some twenty-five balls.
The Duration OF Life.