Part III: Pages 41-60

 (41)

the matter he had been praying about came into his mind. The spirit of the Lord said to him, "Why don't you ask the patriarch?"

And he said that immediately upon the dismissal of the meeting he went down into the congregation and took Patriarch Hatch by the arm and took him out back of the meetinghouse. They sat on a pine stump and he said to Patriarch Hatch, "The spirit of the Lord has directed me to ask you to answer my prayers. He said that Patriarch Hatch put his hands on his head and answered his prayers to his satisfaction.

All this came to me while I was praying in the evening. I thought to ask Patriarch Skousen, the father of my wife Eliza, to answer my prayer. I got up very early the next morning as usual and made my rounds visiting the families and Patriarch Skousen. I sat down at the table and were eating our breakfast and as I was leaving that morning for Douglas, Arizona I finished eating before he did. I had not mentioned this matter to him, and in fact it had slipped my mind. As I started to get up from the table he put his hand over mine and said, "Brother Orson, wait a minute, the Lord has a blessing for you."  When he had finished breakfast he got up and put his hands on my head and instead of giving me a patriarchal blessing, he answered my prayers. He said, "The Lord has heard your many prayers and supplications and through this my servant Patriarch I say unto you that your labors and sacrifices have been acceptable unto me. In no way whatsoever do I hold you responsible for the adverse conditions that have existed in this colony, and bless you with this spirit of love, in the which you have been devoted."

This assurance to me gave me great strength to continue in the work of the Lord.

(41a)

Another Incident … along the 1890's
Moses Thatcher "resting his strength upon his own arm of flesh"

Apostle Brigham Young, Jr. came to Juárez to a General Conference of Juárez Stake. Ex-apostle Moses Thatcher, his brother-in-law, Aaron Farr, and a man by the name of Standing also came with Brother Young. During the morning session Apostle Brigham Young Jr. arose and said, "There are those here in this building who will not like what I am going to say and now I will give them an opportunity to retire from the building." And he stood without speaking for a few minutes. His words threw a cold wave over the whole congregation for without doubt it was Apostle Brigham Young Jr. speaking without the spirit of the Lord. Moses Thatcher and his two companions were sitting at the back of the stage but they made no move to retire. When Brigham Young Jr. resumed speaking he manifested that the spirit of the Lord was with him. And in humility and thanksgiving he bore one of the most wonderful testimonies and related many of the manifestations of the goodness of the Lord to him in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

At the dismissal of the meeting Brother Moses Thatcher and his two companions accompanied me to my home for dinner. After we were seated I said to Brother Thatcher, "There's something very strange. You have always sat at the front and we have always looked to you as one of the greatest leaders of Zion. I am not unmindful of the wonderful promises made to me when you set me apart in Pima, Arizona for the mission for coming to Mexico. When I said I enjoyed the outpourings of the spirit in the testimony of Brigham Young Jr. but there is something about all this I can't understand."

Then Brother Thatcher answered, "I too, enjoyed the testimony of Brother Brigham Young Jr., and I too have a great manifestation from the Lord Jesus Christ." He continued, "When my brethren of the authorities of the Church are persecuting me I went into my secret closet and in humble prayer sought the Lord and said unto him, "Oh Thou my Father in Heaven, in the

(42)

name of Jesus Christ why is it that Thou hast allowed my brethren who preside over me to persecute me the way they are doing? And the voice of the Lord came unto me and said, "Oh thou my servant Moses, why doest thou depend upon the arm of flesh?"

Then Brother Moses said, "My cause will yet be hailed from the housetops throughout all Zion."

And he spoke with the spirit of defiance and not humility. Then there came to me a great testimony that Brother Thatcher had been resting his strength upon his own arm of flesh and upon those of his evil advisors. For he said then, "How could I submit to their arbitrary rules after the Lord Jesus Christ had thus spoken to me?"

And I answered, "Brother Moses, I can't understand how you misinterpreted the voice of the Lord that spoke to you telling you in plain language that you were resting your strength upon your own wisdom and upon your own arm of flesh."

To me this was a most momentous occasion for I had learned to love and honor Brother Thatcher. Now the testimony that had come to me with regard to him was satisfactory; that it was he who was wrong and not his brethren who presided over him. And notwithstanding this testimony it grieved me very much that a man whom I had learned t love was in rebellion against the prophets of the Lord and by his actions had been disfellowshipped from the Church. And it grieves me now to think of it.

At a later conference Apostle Heber J. Grant came to Colonia Juárez and it was he who made the first statement with regard to Moses Thatcher and the fact that he had been cut off from the Church and it caused a feeling of mourning at what he said. He related how he and Moses Thatcher had been bosom companions and how at the quorum meetings he would second the propositions advanced by Brother Thatcher not realizing to the fullest extent what he was doing. He said they had been inn a council meeting. Brother Thatcher had opposed advice given by one of the Brother Apostles that was almost unanimously accepted. He and Brother Thatcher opposed it so vigorously that the other members of the quorum couldn't

(43)

sustain their opposition and so the question was suspended until another meeting. Then he said he and Brother Thatcher came out of the Temple arm in arm. Brother Moses Thatcher said in a loud voice, "Well, we showed those old fogies where to head in again."  Meaning the other members of the Twelve Apostles.

Heber J. Grant went on to say, Apostle Erastus Snow caught up with us, slapped us both on the shoulders and as we turned around he said, "Unless you young men cease coming into the council of the Twelve Apostles and the President of the Church with your minds made up as to what you are going to do and are not willing to allow the spirit of the Lord to direct and counsel in those meetings you will apostatize and go to hell."

As they walked along Moses Thatcher said, "Well Heber, you again hear the predictions of a father-in-law had made upon our heads."

Heber J. Grant replied, "I don't know Moses, but I believe Brother Snow is right."

Apostle Grant continued by saying, "I know Brother Snow was right and from then on I avoided the company of Moses Thatcher. This showed the haughtiness and lack of humility of Moses Thatcher."

(44)

1893 or 1895  Orson Witnesses the Healing Faith
of President  Karl G. Maeser

"I am reminded of a trip I made to Colonia Diaz. President Ivins asked me to go there, and bring back to Colonia Juárez, President Karl G. Maeser [1828-1901], of the Brigham Young University at Provo, Utah. Brother Maeser was about 65-70 years of age.

When we arrived at the head of the Casas Grandes River we got out of the buggy, unhitched the team, watered and fed them. Then got out our lunch and Brother Maeser, very much excited exclaimed, Brudder Brown, I have left my catheter at Brother Johnson's house. I haven't been able to urinate in 10 years without it. I don't know what to do."

I answered, "We'll return if you wish but you won't be able to keep your appointment in Colonia Juárez tonight if you go back." He looked very pale and I felt very sorry for him. He was suffering very much. We had stopped under a big cottonwood tree. He stepped around the tree and knelt down and said, "Father in Heaven forgive me for not having faith in thee. I pray thee Father to relieve me. I am on your mission, doing your work. I must be in Colonia Juárez to keep my appointment with your servants. Help me and heal me. I have left der instrument in Colonia Diaz at Brudder Johnson's." He got up on his feet and immediately was relieved. And then in tears and humility he said to me, "Oh Brudder Brown, how thankful I am to the Lord for his blessing to me for I am healed."

Before we got to Juárez he got out of the buggy and was relieved again. He remained at Colonia Juárez two or three days and it was my privilege to take him back to Colonia Diaz and on to Deming, New Mexico. He never needed his instrument again. He related many instances wherein the Lord had blessed him and it was a great privilege to associate with such a grand, humble servant of the Lord."

(45)

March 1896 [this must have occurred after 1901]

While President Joseph H. Smith and Apostle Heber J. Grant were visiting at my home in Colonia Juárez, Mexico, a discussion of the colonists of Mexico was precipitated by President Smith in the which he said, "Heber, the people of these colonies are the salt of the Church. The salt of the world. The fact that they have left their comfortable homes of the north and have come down to these desert wastes to be able to live the higher law of the gospel of plural marriage marks them, as I have said before, "the salt of the earth.""

And the Apostle Grant replied saying, "Brother John, I believe you are correct. I have the same impression with regard to the people living here in these colonies." Apostle Grant further said, "My constant prayer is that I will be able to live in such a manner that I will be worthy of any calling the Lord sees fit to call me to."  It was then revealed to me by the spirit of the Lord that Apostle Heber J. Grant would be the next President of the Church.

Next morning I went over to President Ivins home and I said, "President Ivins, Brother Heber is going to be the next President of the Church." And he answered, "that's almost impossible, at least it's very improbable because there are four members of the apostles ahead of him: Joseph Fielding Smith, Brigham Young Jr., Amasa Lyman, and John Henry Smith. These men are all strong vigorous meanwhile Heber is in very delicate health."  And I replied, ""It doesn't matter, even the state of Brother Heber's health at present because the spirit of the Lord has revealed it unto me."  He then answered, "Well, we'll wait and see, I don't believe it."

And later [after 1919] when Apostle Grant was made President of the Church I went to Brother Ivins, who was now an Apostle, and reminded him of this fact and he said, "Well, Orson, that's one time you were right and I was wrong."

(46)

c.1895 While Tracking Stolen Cattle Orson Becomes An U.S. Customs Officer,
a Deputy in Deming, Captain of Rurales Police, and an Officer of the ISGPA

I received a telegram at Ciudad Juárez from our bankers, Kottleson and Degatian (Ketelson and Degeteau) ,  at El Paso to come out immediately as there seemed a discrepancy in our bank account. In particular with E.L. Taylor's buying and selling of cattle. Brother Taylor had gone out to Deming, New Mexico, enroute to Conference in Salt Lake City. I went to El Paso, wired him at Deming and received return wire to come immediately to Deming. On arrival he said that cattle thieves were not only stealing our cattle but cattle belonging to other Colonia Diaz residents.

I went to Chief of Customs at El Paso, Mr---- and told him undoubtedly they were smuggling those stolen cattle across the border into the U.S.A. There was no fence along the international line between Mexico and the U.S. Cattle drifted from one side to the other. The Chief of Customs made me a U.S. Customs Officer, wrote a letter to Mr. Jack Kyle, his man in charge at Deming. I went to Deming and my partner Taylor said that he had information that cattle had been stolen and brought to the U.S. I went to the sheriff of the county and he deputized me and I hired two gunmen and we started out.

In ten days we had six American cattle thieves behind bars. As we couldn't do a thing to them for stealing cattle in Mexico we applied the law of smuggling cattle without paying duty to the U.S. government. One bad man in particular with the alias of John Hall, had six notches on his six shooter saying he had killed six men along the Texas-Mexican border. He sent me word that if I didn't go back across the border and stay there he would leave my carcass on the desert for the buzzards to pick. I immediately offered $100,000 reward for information leading to his whereabouts.

We had suspected that a man by the name of Tom Word had been buying stolen cattle from Mexico. We learned that he had written a letter and sent it to his ranch with a boy. We overtook the boy, took the letter

(47)

and found that Hall would be staying that night at an old deserted fort east of Deming about 20 miles. We arrived there just before daylight. The guide and myself stayed on the outside while the other three of our party went inside to get breakfast. I had given the guide with me my pistol, foolishly going into the house without a gun. I was sitting with my back to the door when I heard a horse coming. The guide shouted, "My God, it's John Hall. I said, "Give me my pistol," he was frozen with fear, couldn't move. I turned my chair around, jumped up just as John Hall stepped into the room pulling his pistol. I grabbed his gun twisted it from his hand and stepping back shouted, "Put'em up you son of a bitch."

Then the other three men came running down. We took him to where other ranchers had stolen cattle and I left John Kyle about a quarter of a mile from a ranch guarding Hall. No one was at the ranch when we arrived. After about two hours two ranchers came and with them was a Kansas City stock buyer. We'd left our guide with our horses down in the creek. One man was at the corner of the house. One man behind the chicken coop and I was in the doorway as these men rode up. I stepped out with a double -barreled shot gun and had the boys come out and disarm them. The man from Kansas City was so scared and smelled so strong that we had to get him a clean pair of pants. These ranchers by the name of Shaw and Eddie, were partners. Next morning we took them down to Deming, together with Hall and they said that they had bought the cattle from Hall and a man named Gurelle and that they had helped to bring the cattle from Mexico to the U.S.

The U.S. attorney made a case against all of them for smuggling stolen cattle from Mexico. Gurelle (sp) had turned states evidence. I then went to Chihuahua and laid the matter before Governor Ahumada. He authorized me to act for the State Government and made me Captain of Rurales Police for that district. I came back to Deming and got together all the prominent stockmen along the border, both from the Mexican and the American side and we organized the International

(48)

Stock Growers Protective Association. Lu Brown, President of the Bank of Deming and also President of a big cattle company of New Mexico was made President of this new organization. He was authorized and instructed to run down and bring to justice the cattle thieves on both sides of the border. He named me his officer. While I was there Apostle Teasdale came out from SLC and when I explained the situation to him he blessed me and set me apart to defend not only the interests of the Association but the interests of the colonists in general against bandits and thieves. He promised me that if I would serve the Lord and keep his commandments I would be protected against all such kinds of people. In performance of my duty I always depended upon that blessing and promise.

There had been a gang of men headed by one Israel King, attorney by profession, and who had bought a large tract of land near Deming on the Members(sp) River, nine-tenths dry. With maps and charts King showed that steam ships run up the Rio Grand on up the Members River to a town by that name. Going east he sold this interest out to people there for about $150,000. With this money he went into the cattle business on both side of the border. When I met him he said, "I have a bunch of gun men and we will take what we want and where and when we want it. And they started in with that kind of game. They bought a big herd of cattle at Palomas and as they had no permit from Mexican authorities to pass them over the line a Mexican lieutenant with 25 Federal soldiers stopped the cattle and the men. King's foreman, Henry Coleman, a gunman and a killer, called the lieutenant aside and pulling his pistol told him to tell his men to let the cattle pass or he would be killed. Coleman took the lieutenant and the cattle across into the U.S. Later we had evidence that part of these cattle were stolen. We also learned that King, Coleman and three other of their men had started a roundup crossing the border at a place away from the customs house. I took three of my men and went to the site of their operations. They weren't there but when

(49)

they came into camp we arrested them and took five of them to jail at Ciudad Juárez. Here they were taken care of for a while.

I received information that some of these stolen cattle were taken to north-eastern New Mexico. Ted Houghten who was superintendent of Corrolitos Cattle Company in Mexico accompanied me to a railroad station named Wagon Mound and here the stolen cattle were being rounded up and shipped into Indian Territory. We cut out some of the stolen cattle, killed four or five of them, skinned them and shipped the hides to El Paso, Texas as evidence against these thieves.

While we were here in New Mexico King got out of jail on $10,000 peso bond. Houghten received word that King would be on the afternoon passenger train. He said to me, "Be careful for I'm afraid there will be a killing." I asked, "What do you mean?"

Tom answered, "King is a killer and you want to watch out."

"I replied, "Well, if there is going to be anybody killed it will be the other fellow for I'm not going t take any chances."

So as King got off the train he was met by the man he had sold the cattle to with two other armed men and Houghten, King asked, "Where is Mr. Brown?"

"There he is standing by the water tank," they answered.

He came running toward me. I put my right hand on my pistol and awaited his coming, watching him very closely. As he came up to me he extended his right hand to shake hands with me. I stuck out my left hand and he asked, "Mr. Brown why do you do that?"

I answered, "I'm taking no chances with cattle thieves and murderers."

Then he exclaimed, "For God's sake don't put me in the penitentiary with my wife in the poor house and my daughter in the orphanage."

I said to him, "King, you are a member of the International Stock Growers Protective Association and know what my instructions are from the President and Manager of the Company.

Houghten went east to Kansas to look up more of our stolen cattle. Previous to going east King and his attorney came to me in El Paso and asked, "Brown, do you know who I am?"

I replied, "No."  The attorney

(50)

continued, "We are Free Masons, if you continue to prosecute Mr. King you will suffer the consequences at the had of Free Masonry."

I said to him, " I know a lot of Free Masons and I know them to be gentlemen. You may be outlaw Free Masons and think you can intimidate me but if ever you cross the border into Mexico again I'll put you behind the bars with the rest of them."

Henry Coleman was a brother of a U.S. Senator and when he was sentenced to three years in a Mexican penitentiary they tried influence to get him out of jail.

A while later, a companion of Coleman's, John Cox had been to Juárez to arrange to get Henry Coleman out of jail. They planned to throw a rope over the wall. This rope H. Coleman would tie around his body and Cox on a horse would put him up to the top of the wall. Coleman would then slip down onto the back of Cox's horse and with four other companions, each with two six shooters apiece were to drive off any guards and so escape.

But when Cox pulled Coleman half way up the wall the horse balked and sending Coleman down. A guard saw this and hit Coleman over the head, untied him, and took him to his cell and locked him up. Then the guard gave the alarm. It was a running fight across the Rio Grande River into the U.S. Then these men, including Cox, had come into Deming. Here they swore vengeance against "Mormon" Brown and that if ever I came back to Deming I would be served the same medicine as was served Colonel Fountain and his son who were murdered in the sand hills while they were traveling from Las Cruses to Carlsbad, New Mexico. Colonel Fountain was prosecuting attorney for two counties and had been after outlaws and thieves and they had murdered him and his son.

Tracking Cattle Thieves Closer to Home

I received word from home in Mexico that thieves were stealing my horses and cattle among which was three mares, colts and a very fine stallion. I took an Indian guide as tracker. We followed them up a canyon over a mountain, into another canyon. The wind was blowing very hard. We saw the mares and stallion grazing and smoke coming out of a cave in the side of the mountain. I dismounted, the Indian was afoot, he wouldn't ride a horse, we slipped up to the cave and there were three men eating a piece of calf they had killed and roasted. We held them up, brought them out, and tied their hand behind them and then tied them together. We then partook of the roast dinner. I went to sleep leaving the Indian to guard them in the cave and telling him to awaken me when the moon reached a certain point, which would be about midnight. When he finally awakened me it was coming daylight. We gave them breakfast and ate. I let the Indian drive the horses ahead while I followed the thieves making them walk to Casas Grandes.

As I was needed at home it was a month before I went out again. While home a runner brought a letter from Father Gurelle to whom I had sold a lot of sheep the year before. The letter stated that bandits had driven his sheep and the herder across the border into Texas. He asked me to come and take care of the matter. I rode horseback to Colonia Diaz. Father Gurelle want me to get them back and sell them and

(51)

said, "They have murdered one of my boys and the other is in jail and I have one to take care of them."

So I went to Palomas and arranged with Mexican officials to release the sheep and have them taken back toward Deming. While I was at Deming I shipped Father Gurelle's sheep to Kansas City and he received about $2,000. more for his sheep than they had cost him the year before. This was settled, a very disagreeable situation.

'Mormon Brown Confronts John Cox in Deming

While in Palomas a Jew who owned a local store came down from Deming and looked me up to say, "Mr. Brown, where are you going?"

I answered, "I'm going to Deming from here."

He said, "No you aren't, they'll murder you as soon as you get there."

I took the mail stage to Deming. The wind was blowing hard. I put a Mexican hat on my head to disguise me somewhat. I got off the stage at the Deming Hotel and went up to my room. Then I went down to a furnishing store to see a Mr. Pullock. He exclaimed, "My God, Mr. Brown, what are you doing here?"

"I'm here on business," I answered, "and I want you to go to Sheriff Peters to tell him to come up to my hotel room.'

Peters came to my room saying, "My God, Mr. Brown, these men have the town and any time you go down on the street there'll be a killing and I don't want to be seen here with you at all for I want to live a little longer."

Then down the back steps of the hotel he went, as I replied, "Well, I'll see what I can do."

Before going he had outlined a plan by which I could escape. He said, "I'll go to the depot and arrange with the freight train that goes to El Paso at 10:00 this evening. A car will pick you up and take you to the freight yards. Wrap up in an Indian blanket, he cautioned. "Well, I'll see" I answered. He left.

I knelt down and prayed, telling the Lord that I was here in the interests of his people. And if it was his will that I should stay here and tend to it to give me the heart of a lion that I would not fear any

 (52)

thing and to protect me in so doing. And if I should get away to put fear in my heart so that I would accept the suggestions of Sheriff Peters.

When I got off my knees I felt that with the help of the Lord I could whip the whole bunch. I put on my hat and walked down into the street. A man by the name of Jack Gibbons was standing on the corner. He had bought a mule, a horse and saddle from a Negro who had stolen them. As I came up to him I said, "Jack, you've got those stolen animals and you take care of them or I'll put you behind the bars."

A man came near and I asked him pointing to another, "Isn't that John Cox?"

He replied, "Yes, and you had better go, he'll kill you."

I answered, "You stay here as witness." And as Cox neared the center of the street I was within five steps of him and I called him. He whirled with his hand on his pistol; I had mine cocked and I asked him, "Is your name John Cox?"

And he replied, "Yes."

I answered, "Well, I'm 'Mormon Brown', and as you and your gang have said you'd better bury me when I came out here so I thought I'd better come out and be present at the funeral." He commenced shaking his hands above his head and yelling, "You damned coyote you."

I said, "Get your gun and get into action." Shaking all over he said, "No, no, no." I drove him into a store, had the men take off his gun and then I told him just what he was and further told him that if he or any of his gang made another crooked move we'd hang them right here. Three of the International Stockholders Assn. came in just then and one of them remarked, "We'll have to do as they do in Montana, hang him from a telephone pole.

I answered, "Here's one right here, let's hang him right now."  Cox was scared nearly to death. One of the men, Shorty Rector, who had accompanied Cox to Ciudad Juárez to get Coleman out of jail came to me and said, "Mr. Brown, you befriended me one time and I've never forgotten it. And I'm not going to be mixed up with this bunch anymore, but if I were you I'd leave this country for they plan to murder you."

I answered, "Shorty, I appreciate your advice but whenever they open up on me I will get two of them for one. I'm not afraid of them."

(53)

Outlaw Henry Coleman

Just before all this happened John Cox had been to Juárez to arrange to get Henry Coleman out of jail.  They planned to throw a rope over the wall. This rope H. Coleman would tie around his body and Cox on a horse would pull him up to the top of the wall. Coleman would then slip down onto the back of Cox's horse and with four other companions each with two six shooters apiece were to drive off any guards and so escape.  But when Cox pulled Coleman half way up the wall the horse balked and Coleman went down a guard saw this and hit Coleman over the head. Untied him took him to a cell and locked him up. Then he gave the alarm. It was a running fight across the Rio Grande River into the U.S.  Then these men including Cox had come into Demming and here they swore vengeance against "Mormon" Brown and that if ever I came back to Demming I would be served the same medicine as was served Col Fountain and his son when they  were murdered in the sand hills while they were traveling from Las Cruses to Carlsbad, New Mex.  Col. Fountain as prosecuting attorney for two counties had been after outlaws and thieves and they had murdered him and his son.

My first run-in with this Henry Coleman had been at Colonia Diaz. We were sleeping in the same room when a young woman came to the door and said, "Henry, Henry, my husband has a shot gun and is coming to kill you."

He answered, "I'll just step out and kill that old man."

I said, "You'll just step out of here, take your saddle, saddle up and get out. Any man that will monkey with another man's wife needs killing." I followed him out and saw that he got away. He hadn't been gone ten minutes when the outraged husband came with a shotgun to kill him.

Finally Henry Coleman got out of jail by paying the jailer a big fee. By this time he was so weak that a big Negro had to carry him out. Coleman then went to Deming, married a sporting girl, moved to Gallup, New Mexico, bought a ranch. Later he divorced this girl, married another New Mexico girl. The woman he divorced went back to this

(54)

ranch and it was reported that he murdered his ex-wife and the boy helper and just as Coleman was running away from the ranch another rancher whom Coleman regarded as an enemy came along. Coleman was afraid this man would testify against him so had two Mexican deputies arrest this rancher and while they were leading him away from his ranch Coleman shot him in the back. Because of the influence of Coleman's brother who was a U.S. Senator, he went free. Next he got into trouble with a Mexican rancher and killed him.

He came over to El Paso and into Mexico and down to Juárez. His brother was arranging to get him land south of Juárez and trying to get his cattle from New Mexico onto this land. A friend of Coleman's said to me one day, "Mr. Brown, what would happen if you should meet Coleman?

"I've seen him. I know where he is," I answered.

"Well, he wants to meet you and see what can be done about getting his cattle down here."

I saw Henry Coleman later and he told me he was going down into New Mexico to get his cattle. I replied, "Well, I'll say goodbye to you then, for those people have your number and will kill you on sight."

"Why?" he asked me.

I answered, "Well, I'd do the same if I had papers for Henry Coleman. I'd shoot first and then read the papers.

"Well, that's a pretty bad reputation," he answered.

"That's what you are," I replied.

He went into New Mexico and his old friend John Cox and six other men all of the afraid of Coleman found out he was at his ranch and went out to lay for him. When he came along all seven fired at him but only one bullet hit him The bullet cut an artery in his leg. He jerked his pistol laid in the wash where he bled to death. Finally, one man dared to look over to see shy he didn't move and saw him lying there and shot him in the back of the neck. Then they walked over to where he lay. Later the doctor said he was dead before the second shot hit him. So ended the career of a bandit and a murderer and a thief.

Mormon Brown' Receives Rewarding  Opportunity

About this time Israel King was dying in Deming from pneumonia and had authorized a Mr. Sim Holstead act with the power of attorney

(55)

in selling his interests and settling up his affairs. Mr. Holstead came to me saying, "Mr. Brown, we have an offer of $2,000.00 for Mr. King's interests on this side of the line as well as the cattle over the border in Mexico. We can close the deal if we can get a guarantee from you that the purchaser will get protection in going into Mexico to get the cattle. We talked awhile and finally he said, "Why don't you buy this outfit, Mr. Brown?"

"Well," I answered, " If I should then they'd raise a howl that I had King on his back where he couldn't help himself."

He replied, "Your friends know you better and you don't care a damn about your enemies anyway, so let them how. Make us an offer. How much would you pay if you wouldn't pay $3,000.00?"

Finally I said, "You make out a bill of sale for the remnant of his cattle and horses on this side as well as in Mexico together with the Three C Ranch, including all equipment on the ranch such as wagons, buggies, harnesses, drilling machine, etc. and I'll give you $3,000 for it.  $1,500.00 now and a note to be cashed at the bank in six months. That will be $1,000. more than you have offered to sell it for."

This was the month of October and there was a general round up of cattle all over this southwestern country of New Mexico. I collected and delivered at stockyards at Deming enough cattle in three weeks time to bring $2,400.00. I took 50 head of fine cows, 3 bulls, 20 calves, 2 buggies, 4 sets of harnesses, a wagon, a drilling machine, and a lot of tools down into Mexico. I sold the ranch for another $1,000.00. By the end of the year had collected enough cattle in Mexico to bring another $2,000.00. All this helping to pay for the cattle they had stolen from us.

Mr. King died and his widow sold their home and returned to Illinois. Before she left Deming she sent her kind regards by Mr. Holstead thanking me for my liberality in purchasing their outfit.  I got two of the …King outfit released from jail at Juárez and sent home because…so young.

 (56)

Just before I had sold out the Three C Ranch I was down at the stock pens at Deming when John Cox and a murdering companion came there. It was six o'clock in the morning. I thought they had come to clean me up as they had threatened to do so many times, but they began talking to the corral man. I* was taking no chances, I pulled my pistol and moved behind a post. They saw I was ready for them so they moved on.  I asked the corral man where they were going. He answered, "They are going to the Three C Ranch for horses." Then realizing it was the Ranch I had bought he changed by saying, "No, they were going up into the North Country."

That was enough for me. I took the corral man by the shoulders and bought him a few drinks and he began to talk. He admitted they were going after horses at the Three C Ranch. I went over to the livery stable and had Gibbons saddle my horse. While I went after my Winchester rifle and my double-barreled shotgun and with the six-shooter I always carried I got my horse and mule and started for Three C Ranch. About half way there I saw two men driving horses towards me. I stopped behind a big mesquite tree beside the road. As the horses came by they shied from me. The men reached for their pistols as I yelled, "Hold up your right hand and with your left unbuckle your cartridge belt and let it and your guns fall."

They were surprised and scared plenty and did as I told them. "Now ride forward a little, get off your horses and get out in front there." I said to Cox, 'I told you that if ever I caught you at this business again I'd kill you and that's just what I should no now. You are murdering thieves," just then two boys came riding from Deming hunting jack rabbits. I knew the boys and as they rode up one called, "Why what's the matter Mr. Brown?"

I answered, "I was just going to kill these thieves when you boys came, Now go unsaddle the horses they were riding and saddle their own and turn the rest of the horses back towards the ranch."

Then I said, "Take all the cartridges they've got, put them in this nose bag I have here and give them their rifles

 (57)

and pistols. Then I turned to Cox and said, "These boys saved your lives, I was going to kill you and dump your bodies in that well over there. Now hit out and if ever you so much as turn around once I'll let you have it."

I hired the oldest of the two boys to go with me to the ranch and with two other men from the ranch we rounded up the cattle and horses and drove them into Mexico.

(Papa explained to me that in the many times he was at the point of justifiably killing some of the thieves' something always interfered and so he was prevented from committing murder. He felt that it was the hand of the Lord protecting and watching over him. G.B.K.)

(58)

c. 1892 Emilio Kosterlitzky and Williams Set Embargo on Colonists Land Holdings in Oaxaca

Relative to the early colonization of the Oaxaca Colony (pronounced oh haw ka). This colonization scheme was promoted by George C. Williams (a man who had apostatized from the church). A number of the brethren with their families went over to Oaxaca and began the colonization of a large tract of land. They were under contract with Williams and had paid some $20,000.00 pesos, and he in the contract had agreed to make title to them for their holdings. But as he had not made full payment to a one Colonel Kotzterlitsky (a Polish Russian) From who he had made purchase of this Oaxaca land therefore he had no title to this land and consequently could not give one to the colonists. Finally, Emilio Kosterlitzky and Williams entered into an agreement.  They made a scheme by which they could make the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints pay the balance of about $30,000.00 pesos to Emilio Kosterlitzky by getting an embargo on the interests of G. C. Williams in the Federal Count at Montezuma, the head of the district and making it apply to the colonies.

Bishop Scott, who was then presiding over the colony sent a runner to President Anthony W. Ivins at Colonia Juárez, stating in the communication that Colonel Emilio Kosterlitzky and his rural police were on their way to Colonial Oaxaca to embargo all of the interest of the colonists and he asked Brother Ivins to come immediately. President Ivins was having an appointment at Mexico City called me and said, "Orson, I would like you to go over to Colonial Oaxaca and untangle this difficulty. I immediately saddled my horse and covered the 150 miles by evening of the second day. The brethren were very much excited and did not know what to do. The next day Colonel Emilio Kosterlitzky with 25 of his men and the President and Judge of Bavispe (pronounced Va vi spe), arrived about 10:00 in the morning. He sent word that he wanted to see all the men of the Colony. We met in the Little Schoolhouse and Colonel Emilio Kosterlitzky, a tall military figure, arose and in his authoritative manner said, "I have come here with an embargo from the Federal Court on all your properties, your cattle, horses, wagons, household goods, agricultural equipment, every thing you have. And I state to you that I shall leave all of your interest here in the

(59)

hands of the judge and will leave also ten of my soldiers to see that my orders are enforced until you pay $30,000 pesos which is the balance due on the Oaxaca purchase. Bishop Scott had notified him that I was their representative. He turned t me and asked, "Do you understand this embargo?"

I answered, "No, I don't understand this embargo. These people have no contract with you whatsoever. Let's hear the contents of the embargo." He ordered the judge to read the embargo. And when the judge finished reading the embargo which was on all the interests of G.C. Williams in favor of Amelia Emilio Kosterlitzky I arose and in a defying manner said, "Apply the embargo where it belongs and don't you try to apply it on the interests of these people for we won't stand for it."

He jumped up cursing and said to the judge, "Vamanos! Vamanos! as he went out of the door where two of his police were guarding I said to the brethren who where pretty much excited, "He's made his bluff and we have called it, and if needs be we'll protect these interests with force of arms!"

I then went to the house of G.C. Williams and knocked on the door. Sister Williams opened the door and I asked, "Is the Colonel and Brother Williams in?" She answered they were in that room, pointing to the door. I heard Williams going out the back door not wanting to confront me. As I entered Emilio Kosterlitzky with an oath exclaimed, "You've raised hell with me."

"Well Colonel", I said, "you've barked up the wrong tree when you and Williams concocted this scheme to make the Church come to the rescue of G.C. Williams."

A few months later President Ivins received communication from Colonel Emilio Kosterlitzky telling him the balance due on the Oaxaca purchase was due his superior officer and that if Mr. Ivins would come to Magdalena, Sonora, Mexico, where he was living they would be glad to take a discount and fix up the matter of the title. President Ivins asked Bishop Scott and me to accompany him to Magdalena. Here President Ivins made the deal with the superior officer, receiving title for the Oaxaca property and as I remember it was settled for $15,000 pesos instead of for $30,000 pesos. So was settled a very vexatious and disagreeable matter for the time being only.

(60)

---

Emilio Kosterlitzky became known to the American troops as the "Mexican Cossack". In 1885, Kosterlitzky became a member of the Gendarmería Fiscal

Copyright 1944 and 2001 www.OrsonPrattBrown.org