The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1875-11-04
The Last of a Desperate.


ly resulted in fierce and fatal con
tiict, by which one life has been sa.
crlticed, if not more. The man killed
was the notorious Major Graham
who was 80 well known in Denve,
as one OF the. most dangerous of dar,
ing desperadoes. The Major was q
native of Now York, and in the early
part of the war became q conspicu,
Gus partisan commander of the
Union forces in North Carolina. lie
was perfect athlete, splendid horse
man, an accurate shot, and az daring o
and unscrupulous as any man who ev.
er drew sabre. For his services he
was appointed, at the close of the
war, first Lieutenant in the requ~
lar army, and assigned to duty in the
west. By the services he rendered
against the Indians, aided by more
or less political influences, Lieut.
Graham soon became full blown
Major, and as such became a special
faVorito at Fort Leavenworth and in
the city of that name. While at this
post ne paid his addresses to one of
the most attractive ladies of Leaven-
worth, and it was only by an acci,
dent that tho marriage was not con.
summated.
The night previous to the day on
which the ceremony was to take
place the commanding officer at Fort
Leavenwolth received direct instruc
tlons from the War Department TO
place Major Graham in irons, and
keep him in solitary confinement till
further orders. Although the order
created an immense surprise at tie
fort, it was literally obeyed, and
Major Graham found himself in n
fclon's cell, instead of occupying, as
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 Major Graham while wearing the
honorable uniform 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 systemati.
cally stolen and sold horses from the
stables of the Government. The
court martial sentenced the Major to
be dishonorably dismissed from the
service, to be debarrcd from ever
holding any Office of honor or trust
under the Government, and to servo
q term of ten years in military
prison. Through some unknown in>
fuence this sentence was endorsed
only 30 far as it related to the dis
missal Of the Major from the serA
vice.
AS soon as lie was in possession of
a qualified freedom, the Maior start
cd for Denver, and here became, as
of yore, the associate Of evil and
dangerous classes. His first attempt
at public robbery was made on pay
master Brooks, at River Bend. For
this offence he was tried and sen,
fenced to two years in the peniten-
tiary. 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 thon
being killed, and the Major himself
severely wounded. lie served out
the rest Of his term, and when reloas.
ed went to Rosia, probably here
that he arranged, with others, the
jumping of the Pocahontas mine.-
The Jumpers kept possession until
day before yesterday, when all tho
miners in the neighborhood resolved
on clearing the mine of it's fraudu>