Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-03-13
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A Port Jeryis special says: William
Brown. familiarly known as" Butcher
Brown. died recently on his ARM IN
Dinrman township, Pike county rem.
He had lived on the farm thiriy-hye
wears. and for twenty-five years had
ncddied meat about the county, ch'eny
IN Milford. and dealt largely In stock
Although unable TO read or write eS-
cent ia make scrawl he called his s'g-
nature. he accumulated large fortune,
and when he died he was one OF the
wealthiest men in the county. IL was
generally late at night when he started
home from Milford. Sometimes he went
by what is called the River road and
sometimes by the back road. both oil
Them lonely aud dangerous on dark
nights. lie always fell asleep as soon
as he got into the wagon aud allowed
his horse to follow its own course. IL
was not an unusual thing for the horse
20 reach home alone, having run away,
inset the wagon, or thrown . Browney
out in some other way aieng
the road. The butcher never failed
but twice to turn up all right
at home next morning, however,
although il was generally with a broken
arm. head, or rib, or possibly all three
disasters. Such little things never
Kent him home very long, and on his
first trip to Milford after being laid up
ne would leave for home in the usual
condition of inebriety. No matter how
drunk he might be. or how late the hour
at which he reached his home nj night,
if he was not disabled by the way he
would be in Milford next morning by
daybreak as bright as a dollar, and
with his wagon stocked with all va
rieties of meat dressed in the neatest
and most tempting manner, net small
norton Of the work having been done
by himself in the morning before he
left home.
Brown was noticeable figure on the
street, especially during the latter years
of his life. Strangers seeing him Tor
the first time within the last fifteen
wears would be struck, if not startled,
by the peculiar, almost hideous, ex-
pression of his face. This was caused
by an immense scar, which was the
result of blow intended to cause his
death.
In 1870 Brown sold his butchering
business to two Frenchmen by the name
of Jordan. lie agreed not to engage IN
the business again. 1t was not long,
however. before the old habit OF visiting
Milford with meat asserted itself, and
he once more appeared on the streets
with his well-known wagon. As he
had no equal in the killing and dressing
of meat. and always sold the best of
everything, his old customers returned
to him. The yordans naturally were an
CRY with Brown, and they finally
brought suit against him for breach
of contract. Late one night, while
the lawsuit was pending, Brown left
Milford in his usual besotted condition.
lie went by the back road. His horse
and wagon reached home some time
during the night. but the butcher was
not whit. Little attention was paid to
his absence until late the next morning.
The usual time for his appearance
passed. His wife became alarmed and
sent men to look for him. They found
him lying by the roadside on the bor-
der of piece Of woods half mile from
the old Loreaux brewery. His face
was beaten into shapeless mass.
His skull was crushed. and there
were serious wounds on his body.
He had been assaulted at the
LoreauN gate, where his horse had
to stop for him TO get out and open the
gate, the stopping of the wagon never
failing to arouse him from his stupor.
He had been robbed Of several hundred
dollars. and was dragged into the woods
and no doubt left for dead. He was
unconscious. Physicians pronounced
his case hopeless. There was scarcely
spot upon his body that was not black
and blue, or cut, and many bones were
broken. He lay for weeks without re-
gaining consciousness. His case bafiied
the best medical skill. lie i'm
proved slowly, and in three months
was pronounced out of danger. A
few weeks later he was out again,
but his nearest friends failed to
/ recognize him. lie was most hideously
Scared. He set to work at once with
a will TO bring to justice the parties who
he believed had waylaid him-the Jor-
dams. They had been arrested in the
meantime and were tried, but were ac-
quilted, the evidence not being sufficient
to convict them. For a time after " his
murder" as Brown called the assault.
the butcher did not remain away from
( home after nightiall, but he gradually
resumed his former habits and. SCARED
and crippled as he was, he once more
dared the dangers and risks 81
the night journey heme. He al
ways carried large sums of money with
him, and the fact was generally known.
I Two or three years ago he left Milford
about 9 O'Clock at night to go home by
the River road. An hour later u mar
who was coming along the road two
miles below Milford stumbled over
something in the path. 1t was the bsdy
of man, and procuring a light from q
house near by he discovered that the
body was that Of Butcher Brown. lie
was covered with blood and had eyi.
IDENTIFY been beaten. He was restored
to consciousness, and said that he had
been run into by another wagon
and his horse had run away.
All the circumstances indicated
that Brown had been assaulted and
robbed, but he never admitted the fact.
lie was badly hurt. but was in Milford
three days later. and started home that
night in the usual condition, over the
same road. and with $500 in his pockets.
Brown was siXty-siX years old. and
until he was taken sick few weeks ago
/ was as 1.-the and active as man al
forty, in spite of the yicissitudeS he had
encountered during the past thirty years.
I lie was an Englishman, but never men,
toned his country nor referred to any
I relatives He anneare1 in N,lfnr1