The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-11-01
DENVER'S QUEER CRIMINAL
HE FEELS RELIEF IN COMPRISING
To MURDER AND ROBBERY.

Lone HtHhvnYmnn ana OccAntOnnI haur-
derer-Poliee In DOUBT About His Confess
sion-The Three Things that He Regrets.
DENVER, Oct. 31.-In d cell at tho county jail.
refusing TO talk to any one, and asking onlv to
die, Hense Downen awaits the action OF the
civil authorities in his case. According to his
own confession. Downen is n murderer, q high
way robber, and q petty thief. The civil au-
thorltios are not sure that all he has confessed
is the truth. Enough, however, has beon con-
nrmed to Justify them in keeping him In close
confinement for tho present.
For six montha or moro n lone highwayman
had been robb!ng people near the city, and the
police authorities had failed to apprehend tho
criminal. A week ago two city detectives
stepped into an uptown bicycle store and ar
rested n man who was waiting to have his wheel
repaired. In this prosaio manner the remarfa-
BILE criminal finally fell into the clutches OF tho
law. He denied all knowledge OF tho crime for
which he was arrested. but when at the city jail
he saw his last victim before him he admitted
that crime. Lator. when the detectives returned
with plumber they had found in his room. Dow
men became confused, and then unbosomcd
himself of his llfes history, and the narration
of his crimes so astounded the officers that they
were slow to believe his story. 1t seemed q re-
lief to Downen to confess. and the stonographic
| COPY of his story was signed by him in tho pres
ence OF witnesses. Taken to o cell used only for
condemned criminals. Downen threw himself
upon the iron bed and burst into tears. sobbing
violently for n long time before he recovered his
nerve. Since that day he has seldom spoken,
and refuses to let any visitor come near him.
Hense Downen was born in Polk county, Mis-
souri,, OF poor parents. forty-fve years ago. In
1853 he came to Colorado with his brother,
mother. and sister. His mother now resides
with her daughter at Bozeman, Mon. and the
brother lives at Salt Lake City. When a boy he
he was quiet and well-hehavcd, but bad COM
papy and a headstroag will led him into crime.
lie stole u mule from n ranchnian named
Twomoly In 1879. was arrested, and re-
leased under bond. which was signed
by his brother. He forfeited the bond and
disappeared. TO turn UP in Tu!nre county.
! California, where he obtained work in q snw-
mil. He became acquainted with nm agent OF
the Weils. Fargo & Company Express. md one
day learning that Sc. 900 was to be shipped by
stage on the f%ollowlng night, lie determined to
hold up that stage. The driver changed his
route that night. and Downen waited In a quiet
place in the road only to and later that he had
been baked.
~ was disappointed In not securing the
So. Ooo." he stated In his confession. and | con-
cludcd to try again the next night. This tlmo
l secured $685. from the treasury box and the
passengers. was somewhat nervous. but
made a good bluff and called upon imaginerr
copfederates to cover the driver and passengers
with guns. | made the people get down and
line up alongside the road and l robbed them
one by one. Vest Townsend. the driver. in
making n report Of the robbery declared that
there were 1T least a dozen rohbors In the gang.
/ never Mt any time in my life worked with an
accomplish.
"A few days later l rode on q train in COM
pany with the Sheriff OF Tulare county and
talked with him about the robbery. After that
l visited San Francisco. ST. Louis and Denver
and returned TO California six months later.
when l again held u2 the same stage line. In
making my escape that time | stole a horse out
OF q farmers barn and was arrested for that
theft. / thought l was wanted for stage rob-
berry and | gave myself away. was tried, con.
victed, and sentenced to twenty-five years in
the San Quentin p'nitent!nry. After being
seven years in prison l became a trusty In tho
laundry. aud. stealing SONS clothes fron u
more substantial! food l begged for something
to tat mt II ranch near Petaluma. The woman of
was eating II her husband came in aud instant
lv recognized me by the descri ptiuns sent out by
the pr . an,h1T,t'.s:; q, h !, az ,M d"Wn between
ed for me to finish my meal. When | attempt
ed TO get CD he levsllea the gun at me and told
the neck. | knocked him down with n heavy
lamp. setting. fire to the house. and ran. the
farmer emptyinE bis revolver ut me as escaped
to the mountains.
Il walked until I reached a small town. and
was shot AT Ivy II watrhman. On reaching Sac
ramento | learned that a policeman had been
murdered, and | Immediately loft town to avoid
icing arrested as a suspicious character. |
managed 10 trade a blanket for. a gun ard then
held up two men al Truckee. Next | heard that
y Chinaman had drawn $4,000 out OF the bank
nj Colfax and was about TO leave for China.
followed him out OF Colfnx and tried I" hold
him up on Il mountain trail. He Jumped over u
c!itf ard was killed, 80 | did not get II cent. |
returned to Truckee and was there arrested
for numbering the policeman Mt sacramento.
Afrail of Icing lynchru II | WAS taken IN that
CITY. | confessed 10 beng an escaped convict
and was sent back TO San Quentiu. After serv.
ing ten years | was pardonsd.
Il then went TO san jose and began working
for a seedman; While there committed "er-
in ST. James Park whom attempted To rob. |
was not suspected. and within n week from that
girls In a buggy on the Alameda. the driveway
between San Jose and santa Clara. They at
a~fterwnrd began living with a Mexican woman.
Quentin for seven years. Within one week after
attempted escape. | .ell IRON u wall and broke /
my right leg, Which slightly crippled me fnr !
NE. | was recapiured aud had to serve out my
II thee went to Spok ane, where / 60, two years
for burglary. | did II JOB In Park county. Mon,
securing sl.5ooi in jewe!ry. which | buried n the
dark near LiyinGrton. AID WAS never able to
visited Ogden. salt Lake. and Cheyenne and
came to beaver u work uron the McCool ranch. !
near bflgn'on. IN Aprll 1 secured u couple OF
guns and began holding up people"
Despatchrs from San jose. Cal. confirm the
two stories Of the park murder and the holding
up Of the yoang man md two companions on
the Alameda.
IF had received n light sentence for that
first stage robbery" said the criminal. "Iwnuld
have reformed. but after putting in years OF
slavery IN PRISON. and being shot by n farmer
when had escaped. ~ he might get tho reward
OF $50. became reckless and grew to be an
enemy of society"
OF Ills exploits about Denver beginning over
a year ago, Downen confessed fully soon after
his arrest. Working OH the McCool ranch. he
would visit Denver occasionally. always COM
hitting some decd of violence. His favorite
plan was to hold up people On the highways
out OF town. even hating three men at a time
and making them stand and deliver. lie
boosted of having. on several occasions. passed
Sheriff Kelley OF Golden. who was out looking
for tho highway robher. and once the impulse
was almost irresistible to stick him" lust Tor
the fun of tho thing. One party of hunters In y
buggy who refused to staId, and who dashed |
their horses into Il mad run. were not to be per-
mitieh, to escape without injury. for Downen
wOundinR one Of the hunters and crlpoliur him