“Oh yes,” he replied, “I was near there at that time, but there wasn’t much trouble, anyhow. The way it was: you see some one had told Brown that Tex made the remark, that it would be much better for the country if Brown was out of it. This, of course, was enough for Brown, and swearing vengeance he went on a hunt for the man Tex, and he found him. Now Brown had heard of Tex, but never had seen him, for Tex was at work down in the gulch and seldom went up into town; but one day he had some business up at Mokelumne Hill, and Brown was informed of the fact and started out to find him. Tex was pointed out to him, so Brown crossed the street, and stepping in front of him demanded to know if he had made such a remark which he repeated, at the same time placing his hand upon his weapon.
“Tex asked, ‘is this Sam Brown? at the same time placing his hand upon his gun.
“The latter answered that such was his name.
“‘Well,’ says Tex, ‘I did make that remark and meant it too, and am willing to make the same remark again to your face, if ’tis any accommodation to you, and now what are you going to do about it?’
“Brown took a good square look at that quiet, good natured blue eye of Tex’s, removed his hand from his weapon, and remarked as he turned to leave, ‘oh nothing’; some one asked Brown why he didn’t go for Tex? ‘Oh!’ says he, ‘I don’t want to quarrel with that man.’”
Brown was a noted desperado, a fine looking man, with long curly hair of a sandy color; he was rather of a good natured disposition when perfectly sober, but a demon when drinking.
It was said of him that he had killed in the short space of ten years about a dozen men; but, somehow, he always got clear by pleading self defence.
But his career ended in Carson Valley some time in ’63 if I am not mistaken, when Vansickles, with a few others overtook him on the road with their shot guns, and without the formality of a trial filled his body with buck shot.
Jersey remarked that there was a good story told about Brown, the circumstances of which occurred in some mining camp in the State of Navada. Brown had butchered a man in self defence, as he usually claimed, but the authorities thought otherwise and determined to arrest him; but where was the officer who was willing to take his chances, and make the arrest. An ex-policeman in San Francisco who had monkeyed with that style of man, as he supposed, learning of the situation, volunteered to make the arrest, and was tendered the job.
Brown was informed of the fact, and patiently watched for the coming man. Upon the arrival of the stage into town containing the policeman, Brown was at his post waiting to tender him a cordial reception, and as the former opened the stage door to alight, Brown ordered him to remain right where he was, and enjoy a ride at his (Brown’s) expense, and then ordered the driver to take him away out of town, which he did.