, 1892-01-17
A VERY SMOOTH MAN.
The Variesated Career of Johnny
Brown, the Stage Robber.
Wounded in the Abdomen in His
First Venture at Whoop-Up.
Recently Married and Settled Down
on an Ohio Farm.
Arrest and Acquittal for Raising the
Denomination of Bills.

presents the more romantic career OF JOnn
IL. Brown, his partner. These two men
in 1878 held up thu Cheyenne eadwood
coach. Both we're subsequently arrested.
Ross was convicted and sentenced to
twelve years in the penitentiary, but COM
mitted suicide before the expiration Of his
term. RrOwn's case never came to tnal
Tor reasons which were quite satislactory
To the prosecutor and officers. The ap.
pended story Is cleaned from many
sources. Johnny Brown, BY which name
he is generally known throughout the
western country. il now a man OF about
-. He was first married when he was
about Is years old, but the marriage was
not congenial. He is a man OF magnetic
manners and soon becomes much liked
wherever he appears. He was never
known to gamble and seldom takes a
drink or uses ~profane language. When
ever possible he was always a churchgoer,
apparently attending church because he
led to and not from any hypocrtical
motives. Dancing aud theater going are
also decided Weaknesses with him.
There are scores of people in this sec
ton of the west who know part OF Browns
history; there are hundreds who will read
with avldity the extended story as given
herewith:
II FIGHT AT wHooP-UP.
lDaIly Leader. July 8. 1871
Special from Hat creek, July .. The
g nch bound from Deadwood to CHEYENNE
with six passengers was attacked last
riaht bv road agents At Whoop up, sixty
f.c miles south of Deadwood. The
coach contained t. s. Smith ard J.. S
Smith of New York, A. Liberman and
II Liberman Of Chicago and Daniel
Finn and Mrs. Bouton of Cheyenne
Only two road agents came in WOW. and
after placing the passengers 10 line and
7 ,bbiug four of them OF various amount
e money, together with two gold watches,
lacy advanced to Finn, who drew his re
v liver, shooting one robber in the groin.
The robber fell on his knees. rallied, and
n Finn was about to shoot again he was
slot by an accomplice of the robbcr. who
lid in ambush. The pistol ball entered
FInn's face at the left side OF the nose.
and passing through the mouth, came out
in front of the right ear. destroying two
t.eth and inflicting a painful but not
serious wound.
The robbers then retreated, firing sew
oral shots and wounding n. s. Smith in
the leg below the knee and A. Liberman
in the thigh. both flesh wounds. painful
but not dangerous. Mrs. Bouehton was
not molested. The coach arrived here at
: o'clock this evening with all the passen
gers. The wounded were made comfort
able and are now enroute to Cheyenne.
Their friends need not be alarmed, as the
parties injured in the fray are doing well.
About eight highwaymen are supposed to
have participated in this brutal outrage.
MIR. Ward, division superintendent, to-
rrther with other reliable men are now
after the robbers.
The men who held up the stage at
w hoop-up we're Charlie Ross and John
I'rown. The statement that there were
eight highwaymen" concerned in the
rpbbery vas not correct. A. Liberman,
tie man shot in the thigh. died frem the
ELECT of his wound. After the fight Ross
and Brown rode away toward Beaver
creek. The shot received by Brown had
entered the body and passing clear through
:te liver. lodged under the left shoulder
l,ade. lie and Ross, after the wound
Lad been examined and bandaged up the
Inst that could be done under the circum-
~stances, rode as quickly as possible to a
ranch on Beaver creek. Arriving there
they had expected to find shelter and
friends, hut instead were fired upon by
the proprietor. They then took to the
hills where they we're comparatively safe
from being interierrcd with by any officers
who might be on the trail. But Browns
wound became more painful, he could not
ride faster than a walk and it was neces-
sarY to stop and rest frequently. They
continued toward Deadwood, reaching
that place after three days Of wandering
yons with only their awakened cousciences
Tor company.
They dare not travel during the dav,
but kept in hiding. and at night would
move on slowly and cautiously toward the
great mining camp, not knowing whether
they would fall into the hands of friends
or enemies when it should be reached. 1t
had been their first attempt at stage rob-
berry and neither had ever before COM
United a serious crime. During those
three terrible DAYS and nights they bad
time to think over their reckless deed.
They knew that some of the passengers
had been wounded, perhaps killed. II
caught it would 20 hard with them, and
they We're in continual dread of capture.
Ross danger of capture was much greater
by remaining with Brown, but he never
thought of deserving his companion. In
their wretched condition they made
solemn VOWS to each other that if Brown
lived and neither were ever detected their
crime and adventure should forever re-
main a secret and their career as imitation
of Frank and Jesse James at once be
eoded.
These vows were dictated bv thei
feelings. natural enough under the cir