The herald., 1897-01-06
The LONE H|GHWAYMAN !"
Remarkable Criminal Record of
Allen H. Downen
NOW SENTENCED TO DEATH
VIII Be Hanged In Colorado on the 28th
Of This Month
Years Served in California Prisons
Fifty Highway Robberies and Sew
eral Murders in Six Months.
NOW SENTENCED TO DEATH

On the 2sth of this month. in Denver,
Colo. Allen Hence Downen. better
known as the Lone Highwayman." will
be hanged for murder and highway rob-
berry. He is now confined in the Colo
rado state penitentiary. Canon City,
awaiting execution. This remarkable
criminal has a record in California
which Is interesting in view Of what has
been developed since his arrest in Dem
ver, showing that he has for years fol-
lowed his depraved instincts and that
in his removal from earth the commun-
ity will be we'll rid of a desperate and
dangerous criminal. His California rec
ord Is as follows:
Arrested and sentenced to San Ouen-
March 10th, 1874. for twenty-five years
for stage robbery; escaped October 1,
1873; recaptured December II, 1878. Sem
tence commuted by Governor Stoneman
to ten and a half years. Discharged Sep
tember 18th, 1884.
Sentenced to San Quentin for seven
years from Santa Clara county for rob-
berry; received at prison October 18th,
1855; escaped September 18th, 1889; re-
captured September 18th. 1889 Tried in
Marin county for escaping and SEN
fenced for two years more. DISCHARGED
December 18th. 1892.
On December 2Sth, 1898, he was re-
ceived at the Washington state peniten-
tlary at Walla Walla, sentenced from
Spokane county for two years. He serv-
ed his time there. being discharged on
August 2Sth, 1885,
Downen first appeared in Denver,
coming from the west about October
1895, and was first heard of by the police
department in April. 1886. From April
to October of last year he committed
no less than fifty highway robberies.
usually operating in the suburbs and
was known as the Lone Highwayman."
A combined effort on the part of the au-
thorities of Arapahoe and Jefferson
counties was made to capture him. aid
ed by the Denver city police.
On July -. 1896, he was met by Acting
Chief of Police Tuttle and Detective
Duffield and after an exchange Of shots
which resulted in the killing of the horse
driven by the officers. Downen escaped.
He continued his work until October 10.
when he was arrested by Detectives
Loomis and Burlew on a charge of high
way robbery. His room was located at
1885 Arapahoe street Denver, and there
in was found lot of goods taken in his
various holdups.
When confronted with the evidence Of
guilt he made most remarkable con-
fesslon. admitting that he was the Lone
Highwayman' and guilty of several
murders. among them the killing of a
man named Ashworth whom he shot
while resisting robbery and for which he
was convicted and sentenced to be
hanged.
Chief of Police Glass has received
letter from Chief Russell of the Denver
police, in which, after giving Downen's
record, the following remarks are made
1--WE have fully corroborated all Of
Downen's statements made in his
confession and find that his California
record is correct, and also that he served
time in Waila Walla, Wash. His career
of crime In California would fill a VOL
ume. He was very active in his opera
tions in and around Denver. and caused
this department great annoyance. 1t
is not probable that any interference
will be made by the governor in this case
and. no doubt Downen will be executed
in accordance with the sentence i'm
posed"
Thus will end the existence of one Of
the most desperate criminals known to
the western coast, who has for nearly
twenty years persistently pursued
course of crime which had the newt
able end-the gallows. Downen is now
40 years of age, feet, II inches in height
weight 155 pounds He has a light COM
plexion, gray eyes, brown hair, and in
appearance would not be suspected of
the desperate. A knife wound on the
right wrist and the scar of bullet which
is lodged in his chest near the neck
are the only marks borne by the man
who has been one of the most successful
highwaymen known In criminal history.