Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-03-24
THE BORDER DESPERATE.
Full Particulars of the Murders
and Crimes Committed
by James Brown.
A vivid Description of the Killing Of
Tiller-Attemptcd Capture
at o COl0red Dance.
From the Little Rock Gazette, 2lst.l

FULToN, Ark. March Is. 1875.
EDIroRs GAzETTE-Allow me, through
your columns, TO make the following
statement relative to the killing of james
Brown, the murderer Of Patrick Murphy,
of Bowie county, Texas, and Richard
Tiller, of Miller county, Arkansas:
On Friday morning, the 18th of March,
we first learned of the murder Of Muir
ply, and farther, that the murderer had
passed down Red river in a skif a few
minutes before. A posse of men from
Fulton started down the river, on the
Fulton side, while the other side was
guarded BY Tilrer and Green, who
had been N pursuit of the murderer
since the killing and robbiug of
Murphy. Two miles below Fulton the
murderer was overtaken and ordered
TO come ashore, which challenge he
answered by a deliberate discharge of
his gun at Green, who was compelled to
fall back as he was armed only with re-
~volyers, and his partner, Tiller, had gone
across a bend below where it was ex-
pected to overtake the murderer. Seve-
raj shots we're fred by the Fulton party
without effect, and Brown reached the
bank in safety on the opposite shore.
He ran down the road below where he
landed and came in contact with Tiller,
who had taken a tree about the same
time Brown did, they only being about
twenty feet apart. After some CONVEX
sstion, Tiller fired, and before he had
got securely behind the tree Brown dis
charged his remaining load in his left
shoulder which entered the lung and
produced death six hours later. Brown,
after shooting Tiller, passed over his
body on down the road, pursued By
Green, and filler, in bis dying condition,
with one arm fired his remaining load in
his gun and wounded the murderer in the
right side, and followed him s~eventy.fve
yards, where he fell iainting to the
ground. In this fight Brown left his coat,
which contained about $50 in silver and
all his powder and shot. He was in
Butler bend, a horseshoe containing
two hundred and fifty acres of land,
mostly cane, and the shut-of was imme
diately guarded. A general hunt was
made and everybody seemed to join in
the chase. Special trains we're run from
Texarkana, and the utmost excitement
prevailed. On Saturday not less'than
one hundred welEarmed men secured
the thickets, and an occasional shot indi-
Gated that the man was seen. About
two o clock pm. a man was halted by
the thrusting of a double-barrelled shot
gun in bis face and ordered to leave the
brake. 1t is unnecessary to say be left.
That night about twelve o'clock Brown
rolled a log ID the river and got aboard,
making a landing below the picket lines,
Here be went to a freedmans house,
where he traded his gun for a coat and
something to eat, and hired the freed
man to take him to the railroad, but as
he knew him to be a murderer he took
him up the river to where there
a colored dance, and here
effort was made for his capture.
Many shots were fred, and fifty men
crossed the river to join in the chase.
Sunday a vigorous hunt was made, but
Sunday night found him six miles below
Fulton, on the river, for supper. A
Frenchman by the name of Alonzo
took his trail, and, armed only
with a pistol, determined to bring the
murderer to justice. Monday morn
ing he sent word to Fulton that he
had his trail and asked men to come to
his assistance. DIR. Gender, Capt. Hol.
man and Mr. Skater started on the receipt
of the news to help AloD2o. who, in the
meantime, had headed him off at the
crossing on the Bsis Dare. Here the
murderer came up to Lomax and a
freedman and begged to be set across,
which they agreed to do as soon as
they could cross a and child
rem who were ready to 90 over. A boy
went back in the skiff after the murderer,
and here Alonzo wanted to take him but
his friend with him weakened and refused
assistance. After talking a few minutes
Alonzo went TO Doley's ferry, and a posse
came with him to make the capture.
After a hunt OF two hours A. L. Black
we'll secured a fine shot and sent a blue
whistler through the muscle of the left
arm, through the side, through the lung,
heart and the right cavity of chest, the
bail lodging Immediately beneath the
skin. He ran a short distance, fell and
died ia about ten minutes. His body was
searched by. responsible parties, and all
the money amounted to 1913 65. He
had a very good revolver and plenty Of
cartridges, very well dressed and his
appearance was rather prepossessing
His brain weighed forty-three ounces,
and his muscular formation the most
perfect | ever saw. He was, with no ex.
ception, the coolest, most daring and
luckiest daredevil / ever saw, for at
least fifty shots were fred at him before
he was killed. Yours, etc,
SILEx.