Gilpin observer., 1904-05-05
"SHAMUS" O'BRIEN
AGAIN IN JAIL
CAUGHT IN DENVER CHARGED
WITH STEALING HORSES
Has Been Taken to Golden for
Trial-Also Wanted Here

Sundays Denver Post: "Well, yes;
they've chased me around little, l
guess" said John "Shamus'' O'Brien,
smiling at the remembrance, "Shamus"
O'Brien is reputed the most daring and
successful horse thief in Colorado. He
neither admits or denies this, but says
humorously that when fellow once gets
bad name he's held responsible for
everything that happens. 1t was with
difficulty that he could be led to talk of
his adventures with the sheriffs and
their posses, aud he spoke with all the
modesty and bashfulness OF one OF Owen
Wister's cowboys. And. he had the
right for he was COW puncher all his
life.
"They chased me all over Grand
county once" he said. "And they
caught me after they had given up the
chase and started home. l knew they
had quit and wasn't watching. / was in
the same room with one Of their deputys
once, and was right close to them several
times. but always made my getaway.
"When the chase started / was in q
house where I'd had put up, and fel.
low came in and sat down close to me.
l didn't know it at the time. but he was
fellow the sheriff had deputizsd and
had given a gun, and he was after me.
l guess there were too many of my
friends in the room or something, for he
never said a word about wanting me-
and pretty soon sheriff and another
deputy drove up. They didn't come in
but stood outside, and one OF the boys
went out to them. They asked if ! was
in there, and the boy said wasn't and
they sent in for the gun they'd given to
the other fellow and drove on. Then 1
started out afoot. They turned and saw
me getting away and then they started
the chase. That was Friday and they
kept me jumping until next Monday. i
beat them into the timber and kept out
OF sight, and that night friend brought
my pony to me up on Muddy creek
TAsa | kept away from them until Mon
das. =
They gave up the chase Monday and
started home. knew that they quit,
but thought they were further down
than that. So when put up and went
into dinner, and they came in and sat
down at the same table with me. they
got me right.
"And after all that 1 was acquitted.
You bet they got mad"
The renowned OBrien is only 81 years
old. and is tall, lanky young fellow,
with good. .humored smile ever ready
and soft word calculated to turn away
the wrath OF peace officers, He WAS
born in Wyoming, but has lived most of
his life in Nevadaville, Colo. He was ar
rested in January 1901, for burglary aud
larceny and served time in Bueua Vista.
His terms we're from one and half to
three years each, but he wcs paroled at
ter only year. While he was on parole
he was arrested in numerous cases OF
horse stealing and the theft Of saddles
and brides, but evidence to convict was
not found. A little over year ago he
served six months in Jail for stealing sad.
dies and brides.
| The officers of Nevadaville declare
that he has done everything imaginable
ii, the line Of petty thieving, horse steal.
ing and the like.
! One OF the two horses placed in Den
yer stable by O'Brien has been indenti
fed as belonging to Henry Shrock oi
Morrison. The Other horse, saddle and
bride belong to o. G. Blatter OF Golden