The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-09-07
RACE TRACK MURDER.
Turf Millionaire and Policeman
Killed at Chicago
DURING A GARFIELD PARK RAID.
Another Policeman Dying-Ths Haw-
thorne Track Had offered City on
cials $50, 900 to Close Its Rival.

OF them millionaire, another diving, and
an open question as to whether Chicago's
mayor or its superintendent of police is
wiliful perjurer are today's results OF the
attempt to close the Garfield Park race
track. The dead men are James NJ. Brown,
of Fort Worth, Tex, a prominent
Western turfman. and Policeman
John Powell. Henry Mcdowell, another
policeman, will die. Both officers
fell before Browns revolver. Who killed
the millionaire turfman is not known ex-
actly, as several policemen were firing at
him. including Mcdowell, who, notwith-
standing the fact that his life was ebbing
fast, raised himself upon his elbow and
fired repeatedly at the man who laid him
low.
Shortly after O'Clock large body Of
police, under Inspector Lewis, appeared
at the gates to make third raid upon the
park, in obedience to warrants taken out
by Thomas Winsor. Seven wagon loads
of policemen rolled rapidly down the track
toward the grand stand, and men and
women made a wild break for liberty.
The police paid no attention to the fee
ing spectators, but quickly surrounded the
betting ring and the judges stand. gather
ing in all the officials on the track who
could be found. A detachment of officers
was then sent to the stables to gather
in the crooks and jockeys. J. NJ. Brown
was standing upon the roof of one Of
the stables, together with Bob Rice,
another weil-known racing man. Brown
had repeatedly said during former raids
that he would allow no man to arrest him
so long as he had not violated the law.
Policeman Powell hailed Brown and asked
him to come down. "What for?" said
Brown. $50 l can arrest you" replied
Powell. Brown replied CURLY that he
would not come down and would not be
arrested, and then when the policeman
started around he quickly sprang to the
ground and walked toward the gate OPEN
ing upon Fortieth street. Powell followed
and Brown began to run, paying no at
tention to the officers call that unless he
halted he would be fired upon. Powell
finally drew q revolver and fired over
Browns head.
Brown instantly wheeled around, and
his revolver flashed in the sun. He fired
and Powell fell forward on his face, dead.
Brown fed rapidly along Fortieth street.
and Officer Mcdowell. hearing the shot
and seeing the form of his comrade, ran
after him. Brown darted into yard and
around the side of an unfinished house.
Mcdowell was few seconds behind him
and. instead of following Brown, turned
around the house in an opposite direction.
The two men came face to face in mar
row passageway., Mcdowell grasped
Brown fercely by the throat and bore
him back against q fence, at the same
time trying to hold Browns arm so be
could not raise the revolver he
still held in his hand. Brown
struggled desperately, but could not break
away. Finding the endeavor to raise his
revolver likewise futile, he pushed its muz-
zle against the body Of the officer and
fired. With a cry of pain Mcdowell fell
back, clasping his hand over his alb
domen, through which the bullet had
torn a CHASTITY hole. By this time
dozen policemen were close
at hand. and, as Brown paid no attention
to their demands to surrender, sew
eral of them opened fire upon
him. Mcdowell managed to raise himself
up on one elbow, and with determine.
ton to even up matters with the man who
had shot him, opened fire with his re-
volver. Brown could not escape, and in
moment moro a bullet crashed through
his right lung and another tore away his
Jaw and the lower part of his face. He fell
to the ground, and after one or two con-
vulsive struggles to rise, expired.
James NJ. Brown was a man with a
record, and if Mcdowell dies he will be the
fourteenth man Who has gone down before
Browns revolver. Brown was 81 years OF
age and native of Kansas, but has lived
in Texas since his boyhood. He was for
ten years sheriff in Lee county and it is
said that all the killing he did was is an
official capacity. He had been interested
in the running turf for the last twenty-five
years and had amassed fortune. He
leaves wife and five children.
Both Powell and Mcdowell were excel
lent policemen, with good records. Pow
ell leaves a widow and two children and
Mcdowell wife.
Chief McClaughrey said tonight that the
tragedy confirms his determination to
close the track. Stephen A. Douglas, one
of the chiefs attorneys. says today's trag-
edy winds up the Garfield Park raids.
A question of veracity between Mayor
Washburn and Chief McClaughrey came
up this morning in Justice Blum's court.
Ihirty-four men who were arrested in
tHc HISt EdlU last WSSh were on
trial for running place of
amusement without q license. The
attorneys for the defense had subpmnaed
several city officials with view to prov
ing by them that the opposition to Garfield
Park came from Edward Corrigan, propri-
etor of the Hawthorne track, who is
anxious TO remove the rival from his path
When the mayor was asked il proposition
was ever made 10 him to close the Gar
field Park track for pecuniary consider
alton. he said: About three weeks ago
Chief Of Police McClaughrey told me that
James +. Burke, who WAS interested in
the Hsw thorne track, had come TO him
and told him they would pay big money
If We closed the Garfield people up" The
mayor added that the chief told
HIM that Burge had said if the
Garfield park track were closed the Haw-
thorne people would contribute $50 900
10 q campaign fund. Then Chief Nc
Claughrey was called TO the stand. and
when asked If Burke had ever suggested
that the Hawthorne people would give
$50 Go TO have the Garfield track closed
up, replied empha,ical!y, No. he never
did"
Did you talk to the mayor about
Eurke's proposition 10 give $4,000 70 =
campaign fund if the Garfield track were
cIosed?'
NO. no, sir"
Did you have 10 take any advice from
Bu7keG"
es, some; hut did not know unril
lately that he was Hawthorne man"
In reply to the reiterated question.
chief NeCiaughrev emPhatically stated