The Ketchum keystone. (Ketchum, Idaho) 1881-1884, 1882-09-01
Murder Of Col. F. II. Adams.


Prom Haley Times, August 10Th.
About quarter TO 3 o'clock this after
noon Frank Brown shot and killed T. N.
Adams, on Main street, in this city, in
front of Riley 4 Tracys drug store.
The circumstances of the killing, as
near as can be ascertained, were as fol-
lows: Geo. W. Taylor, who has been
endeavoring to sell some copper mines
ON Dead Mans Flat, on the Blackfoot
road. to Philadelphia capitalist, met
Frank Brown, on the sidewalk accused
him of .'backcapping' THAT is proven
ting the sale by making unfavorable
statements about the property, called
him a s. Of b. and other name and
said that he would get on his back and
send him out of the country. Paylor
then walked off toward the corner of
Main and Bullion streets, about so feet
away.
frank Brown followed to deny the
''backcapping," and both parties spoke
excitedly-
At this time Colonel Adams, who had
just come in from Dees Creek on horse
back, and was walking back from the
stable, came up with the men, and said
good humoredly: what in h. are you
fellows quarreling about?"
Frank Brown replied gruffiy, reprov
ing Adams for meddhng where he had
no business, but Adams, still good ma
1 tured, laid hands on Brown, to stop the
quarrel.
Brown, who afterward Informed the
the reporter that he thought Adams was
in with Taylor. then reached for sgun,
backing away into the street, and shout
| ing to Adams: Keep off" and Mr. Fay
! lor said he added the epithet, g You s.
of b." Others deny the use of the
epithet.
! Adams now struck Brown on the left
side OF the nose, drawing blood, and the
| two began scuffling. Brown got his gun
/ out, and shot under his arm, the ball
striking Adams square IN the heart.
Col. Adams, now thourghly aroused,
| jumped ON Brown, brought him to the
/ ground, and Brown began to call for
help, shouting; Murder take him OFF,
/ Joseph Oldham and John H. Burns
there upon ran up, the former caught
hold of Adams, and the latter of Brown
and his gun. and Adams, saying: "Tm
| done for" was assisted into the back
room of Riley 4 Tracy's drugstore,
where he dropped to the ground befor
| Charley McCrum, the clerk, had time to
spred a blanket for him. Two minutes
after Colonel F. NJ. Adams was q corpse,
having lived only between four and
five minutes after the shot was fired.
Frank Brown was arrested and taken
to the County JAIL Being interviewed
by Times reporter shortly after, he
claimed to have acted in self:defense.
Ho is mining expert and assayer we'll
known in Utah and Nevada, lived in
Dayton, Nevada in the flush times OF
the Comstock, and has been operating
here in conjunction with Governor Hoyt
of Wyoming. He was formerly Dep
nty United States Marshal in Utah.
not only on the Comstock, bnt III bouTe
Lundy and in other camps in California
as well as in Eureka and Aurora, Nevada
and in Dry Canyon, Silver Reef ant
elsewhere in Utah. He came her
about two months ago as the represent
alive of Chicago and Ohio syndicate
and in that brief space of time succeeded
in placing the Robert Emmett and For
est Greek group, on Deer Creek, tn
oswego, near Bellevue; the ophir GROUP
J up Quigley Gulch; the French Boy
2 group. up Deer Greek, and other Chains
, His death is great loss to this section
as none of us here can command tn
capital and enegy which he could com
mand.