The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-11-11
DENVER'S LONE BANDIT.
CAPTUREDANDF FINDS RELIEF IN MAX
INGAcONFESSIoN.

Hense Downen,s Career-Tells the Story OF
His Life and Lets In Light on Many Rob-
berries and Murders that Have Hitherto
Puzzled the Police.
DENVER, Col., Nov. I'm a cell at
the county Jail, refusing to talk to any
one, and asking only to die, Hense
Downen awaits the action of the civil
authorities in his case. According to
his own confession, Downen is MUIR
derer, highway robber and petty
thief. The civil authorities are not
sure that all he has confessed is the
truth. Enough, however, has been
confirmed to justify them in keeping
him in close confinement for the pres.
ent.
For six months or more lone high
wayman had been robbing people near
the city, and the police authorities
failed to apprehend the criminal. A
week ago two city detectives stepped
into an uptown bicycle store and ar
rested man who was waiting to have
his wheel repaired. In this prosaic
manner the remarkable crimindl fell
into the clutches of the law.
When boy he was quiet and we'll
behaved, bit bad company and a head
strong will led him into crime. He
stole mule from ranchman named
Twombly in 1878, was arrested and re:
leased under bond, which was signed
by his brother. He forfeited the bond
and disappeared, to turn up in Tulare
county. California, where he obtained
work in saw mill. He became &C.
quainted with an agent of the Wells,
Fargo & Co. Express, and one day,
learning that $4,000 was to be shipped
by stage on the following night. he
determined to hold up that stage. The
driver changed his route that night,
and Downen waited in quiet place in
the road only to find later that he had
been baked.
Il was not disappointed in not Sc
curing the $6,000," he stated in his
confession, land I concluded to try
again the next night. This time I Sc:
cured 1855 from the treasury box and
the passengers. l was somewhat ner-
vous. but made good bluff and called
upon imaginary confederats to cover
the driver and passengers with guns.
l made the people get down and line
up alongside the road. and robbed
them one by one. Vest Townsend, the
driver, in making a report of tke rob.
berry, declared that there were at least
a dozen robbers in the gang. I never
at any time in my life worked with an
accomplice.
"a few days later rode on a train
in company 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 Ia
ter, when 1 again held up the same
stage line. In making my escape that
time stole horse out of a farmers
barn and was arr ested for that theft.
I thought was wanted for stage rob.
berry and I gave myself away. Twas
tried, convicted and sentenced to %
years in the San Quentin penitentiary.
After being seven years in prison l
became a trusty in the laundry, and,
stealing some clothes from guard, l
escaped.
81 lived on fruit for a time, but
hungering for more substantial food l
begged for something to eat at ranch
near Petaluma. The woman of the
house gave me a good supper. and
while / was eating it her husband
came in and instantly recognized me
by the description sent out by the pri'
son authorities. He sat down between
me and the door with gun in his
hand and waited for me to finish my
meal. When attempted to get up he
leveled the gun at me and told me to
surrender. I refused and he shot me
in the neck. I knocked him down
with heavey lamp, setting fire to the
house, and ran, the farmer emptying
his revolver at me as 1 escaped to the
mountains.
"I walked until I reached a small
town, and was shot at by watchlnan:
On reaching Sacramento I learned
that a policeman had been murdered,
aud Immediately left town to avoid
being arrested as suspicious charac-
ter. I managed to trade blanket for
a gun and then held up two men at
Truckee. Next heard that China
man had drawn 50, 900 out of the bank
at Colfax and was about to leave for
China. I followed him out of Colfax
and tried to hold him up on a noun
tain trail
''He jumped over cliff and was
killed, so did not get cent: L re-
turned to Truckee and was there ar
rested for numbering the policeman at
Sacramento. Afraid of being lynched
if 1 was taken to that city, l confessed
to being an escaped convict and was
sent back to San Quentin. After serv-
ing ten years 1 was pardoned.
II then went to San Jose and be-
gan working for seedman. While
there I committed several small rob-
berries, and one night killed man in
st. James Park whom l attempted to
rob. l was not suspected, and within
o week from that time I tried to hold
up young man and two girls in
buggy on the Alameda, the driveway
between San Jose and Santa Clara.
They attempted to escape, and in the
excitement I shot and badly wounded
one of the girls.
"Some time aftefward l began Inv.
ing with Mexican woman, whom l
robbed one night. For This l was ar
rested, tried and sentenced once more
to San Quentin for seven years.
Within one week after reaching tbs
.>.;sex I ioinod wiih others in an al